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Ahhh yes… The holiday season is here! For me that means the warm smell of cinnamon and cloves that my mom heats on the stove, decorating the Christmas tree to the sound of holiday music, tasting all 12 different kinds of cookies made by my grandmother, spending time with my wonderful family, singing christmas carols, wrapping and unwrapping presents, enjoying a hot chocolate while bundled up on the couch by the fire, and the struggle to not drink the entire carton of eggnog.
Ahh eggnog… thick, creamy, dreamy, nutmeg-spiced eggnog; the epitome of Christmas, winter-time, and pure happiness – in my humble opinion. It is a treat I look forward to all year ’round. The first appearance of eggnog on the shelves in early winter, ignites a fervent Christmas spirit within me. My brother and I used to beg our parents to buy some as soon as it was available, as well as each time it would run out, always much too soon.
When I lived in France (an eggnog-free country), I was so homesick for eggnog over the holiday season that I made it from scratch – raw eggs, heavy cream, and all. It’s pretty gross when I think about it now, but at the time, I was all about it. Now that I don’t consume dairy, eggnog isn’t something I can just pick up at the grocery store any more, and thank goodness for that! Who know how many calories of that thick, high-fat drink I guzzled down each season!?
But! Because of this deep, tradition-fueled love affair, going home to my family’s houses and seeing that glorious carton of eggnog in the fridge used to be really hard for me. I used to convince myself that I could drink the stuff thinking, “I’ll treat myself for the holidays” or “I’ll only have half a glass”, which never ended very well for me, or the eggnog.
Whether you are allergic to dairy, are vegan, or just can’t stand all the calories and fat that it requires to enjoy your favorite holiday drink, I have a solution to all of our not-being-able-to-drink-gallons-of-eggnog problems.
This thick, sweet, spiced eggnog recipe is going to knock your socks off. I’ve been drinking it basically every single day because it tastes like winter happiness and it’s full of incredible nutrients. Eggnog that’s good for you? Blasphemy!
But no, really. This eggnog is good for you!!!!
And you know… if you feel like adding some brandy, bourbon, or rum to this recipe for a special occasion, I won’t tell if you don’t!
Holiday Eggnog
An amazingly tasty holiday drink that fills you with holiday cheer instead of fat and calories! Total Time: 5 min Serves: 1
Ingredients 1.5 very ripe (spotty) bananas 1.5 cups almond milk 2 tsp imitation rum extract 1/2 tsp powdered nutmeg
Garnish (optional) a few pinches of cinnamon or nutmeg
Instructions 1.Place all the ingredients in a blender and liquify. 2.Add cinnamon or nutmeg on top for garnish.
Variation 1.Add ice to create a yummy eggnog frappé!
A couple notes: Make sure your bananas are actually ripe! Bananas are ripe when they are spotty and have brown on them. This means the starches have converted to sugars, which is much easier on your digestive system. Ripe bananas also better at bringing a lovely natural sweetness to the drink.
This picture shows bananas at the very beginning of ripeness. I prefer my bananas to be much more brown than these.
When choosing almond milk, try finding the ones that are not too high in sugar. I find that opting for the “original” flavor rather than the “vanilla” flavor can shave off 6-8 grams of sugar per serving.
When drinking large amounts of this, I like to cut the almond milk with water. I actually do half water and half almond milk. If you try this as well, add more imitation rum extract, nutmeg, or even your favorite natural sweetener to adjust for the flavor.
I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating winter in whatever way you do! Show your family love with delicious plant-based foods and healthy sweet treats. Cut the calories and fat where you can, and never sacrifice the happiness of your tastebuds! Incorporate healthy recipes in your holiday traditions, so that you and your family start to crave those comforts of home.
Happy Holidays!
