Nothing warms up the holiday spirit quite like a cup of eggnog. With its comforting temperature and warm winter scents like cinnamon, vanilla, and nutmeg, eggnog has been a winter staple.
This Yuletide drink has probably been around for a thousand years. According to TIME, it originated from the early medieval Britain “posset”-- a hot, milky, ale-like drink.
Its ingredients like, eggs, and sherry were foods of the wealthy, so eggnog was often used in toasts to prosperity and good health, becoming associated with holiday festivities.
As the Ingredient Guru, I encourage you to make it from scratch instead of consuming the store-bought eggnogs. These are definitely not the “real” thing! One of the most popular grocery store brands contains the following ingredients:
- Milk, cream - these are not identified as dairy products from cows not treated with rBST - so they probably have this added hormone which is not a good choice for health.
- Sugar - let’s face it, eggnog is not a low-calorie food
- High Fructose Corn Syrup - this sweetener is linked with obesity, diabetes, and negatively affects the liver
- Egg Yolks - eggs from free-range chickens are best, otherwise, you want at least eggs from chickens that are not raised in battery cages
Side Note: the USDA allows eggnog to be made from as little as 1% egg yolk - not a whole lot of egg in your nog there
- Fat-Free Milk - see the dairy note above. And know that fat-free is not a good choice.
- Guar Gum - food gums can be upsetting to the gut, especially if you consume a lot of them
- Carrageenan - this is a horrible ingredient which can cause serious gut health issues; it should be removed from the food supply
- Mono & Diglycerides - these are a form of trans-fats. Trans-fats have been removed from the Generally Recognized As Safe list, but are not banned for use in the food supply. These should be avoided.
- Red 40, Yellow 5 & 6 - artificial colors are made from a petrochemical base and should be avoided by everyone
If you’re not fond of eggnog, this may be the best time of the year to give it another try. For those that love the luscious taste of classic eggnog, but who are not fond of using raw eggs, this recipe is especially for you.
Non-alcoholic Holiday Eggnog Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 eggs
- 1¼ c. organic sugar
- 4 c. organic whole milk
- 2 c. organic evaporated milk
- 2 c. organic half & half
- 2 t. vanilla extract
- 1 t. ground nutmeg
- Garnish: Cinnamon sticks, Dash nutmeg, Organic whipped cream
Instructions
- Combine eggs and sugar in a bowl and whisk until well-combined. Transfer to a saucepan and stir in whole milk, vanilla extract, and ground nutmeg.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the evaporated milk and half and half. Set aside.
- Turn the heat under the egg mixture to medium-low heat, stirring constantly to prevent the milk from scorching. When the mixture reaches 160 degrees on a candy thermometer, remove from heat and slowly whisk in evaporated milk mixture.
- Pour the eggnog into an airtight container. Store in the fridge overnight or until thoroughly chilled. Serve in mugs and whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, or dash nutmeg. Enjoy!
Healthy Holiday Recipes
