Oat Milk Eggnog (Vegan)

This oat nog recipe is the perfect way to celebrate this holiday season, no eggs or dairy needed! It's creamy, sweet, perfectly spiced, and so easy. Enjoy the basic 4-ingredient oat milk eggnog, or blend it with cashews for an extra creamy and decadent oatnog. Honestly, I love it both ways! It's delicious hot or cold and SO much better than store-bought options!

A dark wood board with 2 glasses of vegan eggnog and a shot of bourbon.

Even though there are plenty of dairy-free egg nog brands in stores these days, honestly, homemade tastes SO much better. And when vegan oat nog is this quick and easy to make, it's not like grabbing a bottle of that over-priced, artificial-tasting stuff at the store even saves much time or effort.

Plus, with homemade oat nog, you're in control of the ingredients and flavor!

You can whip up a batch of oat milk eggnog in just a few minutes, with only 4 ingredients and no special equipment needed. It's sweet, creamy, and oh-so-delicious, or...

If you're craving a more decadent oat nog, I'll show you how to blend it with cashews for an extra thick consistency, just like traditional eggnog!

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"This is my favorite! I have made it for the last two years and can't wait to have it again." ~Emily

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Ingredient Notes
How to Make Oatnog
Helpful Equipment
FAQs
Top Tips
You Might Like
Recipe
💬 Comments

Ingredient Notes

Labeled photo of the ingredients needed for oat milk eggnog.

oat milk - You can use store-bought or homemade oat milk for this recipe, with one important note:
👉If you plan to simmer the oat nog, ONLY use a store-bought oat milk, like Oatly or my oat milk recipe. Basic homemade oat milks include starch that gets slimy and gloopy when heated (like oatmeal). Commercial oat milks (and my recipe) use enzymes to convert those starches into sugars. So you can simmer it to activate the creaminess of the cashews and it won't slimy.
maple syrup - Substitute regular sugar, if needed, but during recipe testing we much preferred the batches made with maple syrup. It's just so good!
cashews - optional; as mentioned above, you can create an extra thick and decadent vegan eggnog with the addition of raw cashews. If you don't have a high-speed blender, be sure to soak them first.
nutmeg - Ground nutmeg is the key spice and flavor in eggnog, aside from the booze, of course! I've also tried it before with cinnamon and cloves, which is tasty, but in my opinion doesn't taste as authentic as vegan eggnog made with nutmeg only.
vanilla extract - Just a little bit of pure vanilla extract adds to the overall flavor.
liquor - optional. We like bourbon in our oat milk eggnog, but brandy and spiced rum are also classic choices for eggnog. Or skip the booze altogether, and double up on the vanilla!

See the recipe card below for quantities and full instructions.

A short glass filled with oat milk eggnog with cinnamon sticks and bourbon nearby.

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How to Make Oatnog

For the basic oat milk version, prep is ridiculously easy! Simply combine the ingredients in a lidded jar or blender, and shake or blend until combined and frothy.

For the cashew-oat version:

Optional: soak the cashews. Place cashews in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Soak for about an hour, then drain. Tip! If you're using a Vitamix or other high-speed blender, soaking is optional.
In a blender combine the drained cashews with the other ingredients. Blend on high speed until completely smooth. Enjoy as is, or pour the eggnog into a medium saucepan and bring it to a simmer. Cook for just a couple of minutes, until thick and creamy. During recipe testing, we also found that briefly simmering the oat nog developed and improved the flavors.
Refrigerate oat milk eggnog until cold. Serve with a dollop of vegan whipped cream and a dash of nutmeg or cinnamon on top!

Pro tip! You only need the extra tablespoon of maple syrup if you're including cashews and liquor. Otherwise, we thought 3 tablespoons of sweetener was just right.

Helpful Equipment

For the basic oat nog, you don't need any special equipment, but for richer, extra creamy version, you'll need:

blender - I use a Vitamix, but a standard blender is also fine. After soaking the cashews and blending, if the mixture isn't completely smooth, you can always strain it through a nut milk bag.
medium saucepan - You don't have to simmer the mixture, but if you want a thicker consistency, more similar to classic eggnog, heating the cashews is key. And it only takes a few minutes.

FAQs

Can I make vegan eggnog with any kind of non-dairy milk?

Absolutely! Beyond this oatnog recipe, you can make vegan eggnog with other types of non-dairy milk, like soy, coconut, cashew, and almond milk eggnog.

How long does it keep?

Homemade oat milk eggnog will keep for up to 6 days in the refrigerator. Always keep it covered and chilled.

Top Tips

Start with the lesser amount of sweetener and liquor, if using. Taste and add more if desired.
With the basic oat milk eggnog, we thought it was sweet enough with 3 tablespoons of maple syrup. But with the optional ingredients, you may want the extra tablespoon for a bit more sweetness.
The bourbon can be added initially or to individual servings. We don't have children, so I usually add it to the whole batch! Also, we noticed that simmering the oat milk eggnog enhanced and improved the spice, vanilla, and bourbon flavors.
NOTE that a very small amount of alcohol may be burned off during cooking, but not enough to make it appropriate for children or those avoiding alcohol.

You Might Like

I hope you enjoy this creamy vegan oatnog! If you try the recipe be sure to comment below and let us know.

Recipe

Two glasses of vegan oat nog on a wood board with a shot of bourbon in background.

Author: Lori Rasmussen, My Quiet Kitchen

Oat milk eggnog is the perfect way to celebrate this season - no eggs or dairy needed! It's creamy, sweet, rich with nutmeg, and very easy to make! Oat nog is delicious as is or blend it with cashews for an extra thick and rich vegan eggnog!

5 from 6 votes

Servings: servings

Prep:10

Cook:7

Chill time (optional):1

Total Time:17

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Equipment

high-speed blender - optional
medium saucepan - optional

Ingredients

2 cups oat milk - see Notes; I used Oatly
⅓ cup raw cashews, optional
3 to 4 Tablespoons maple syrup
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 to 4 Tablespoons bourbon, optional - (this is ½ to 1 oz. liquor per serving)

Instructions

Basic oat milk eggnog (without cashews): Combine the oat milk, 3 tablespoon maple syrup, nutmeg, vanilla, and 2 tablespoon bourbon, if using, in a lidded jar or blender. Alternatively, add the bourbon later to individual servings. Shake or blend to combine. Taste and add more bourbon or nutmeg, if desired. Serve cold with a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg on top.
For thicker, oat-cashew nog: Place cashews in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Soak for 1 hour, then drain. Note, if using a Vitamix or similar, there's no need to soak.
Starting with the lesser amounts of maple syrup and bourbon, combine all ingredients in a blender. Alternatively, add the bourbon later before serving. Blend on high until completely smooth.
Pour into a heavy-bottom saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, whisking occasionally. Once the oat nog is hot, whisk frequently and simmer for about 2 minutes or until thickened. This step activates the starch in the cashews for a consistency more similar to classic egg nog. (We also felt like heating improved the flavors.)
Remove from heat and let cool for a few minutes. If a skin forms on top, simply whisk to smooth it out. Pour into a container, and refrigerate until cold. Serve with vegan whipped cream and a dash of nutmeg or cinnamon, and enjoy!

Notes

Type of oat milk - Important! If you plan to include cashews and heat the oat milk egg nog, either use store-bought oat milk or my homemade oat milk recipe (it includes enzymes to break down the starches). Do NOT use a "regular" homemade oat milk. The starch in the oats will become gloopy and slimy when heated.

Store oat milk eggnog in the refrigerator for up to 6 days.

Nutrition info will vary depending the exact ingredients used. The numbers shown represent the cashew version made with classic Oatly and 1 oz liquor.