Healthier Egg Nog Recipe (2024)

December 11, 2019 29 Comments

A healthy eggnog recipe? Can it be done?

Healthier Egg Nog Recipe (1)

I don't know if I would call this recipe "healthy"- but I would call it a massive improvement over the original recipe and anything you can buy in the store.

The problem starts when you ask me, "Snack Girl - make eggnog into a zero calorie treat!" - my reaction is BLECH.

There are recipes for eggnog that feature egg substitute, stevia, almond milk and non-fat milk - and I just can't go there. How can you get a concoction with that combo that touches the real ingredients of eggnog - milk and/or cream, sugar, eggs, and liquor (with a little nutmeg).

It is not supposed to be healthy - is is supposed to be DREAMY.

Healthier Egg Nog Recipe (2)

But, I do HATE the corn syrup, additive filled, containers of eggnog that grace our supermarket dairy section. They are packed with calories and they taste, well, fake.

Check out my DIY Peppermint Mocha and how to make an iced mocha at home for other drink recipes that use real ingredients.

You have to make your own eggnog to get the TRUE flavor of eggnog. After trying homemade eggnog, you will never buy a container of eggnog again.

Now, I use raw egg in my eggnog. For those of you with a deep fear of salmonella, this is not for you. I know the source of my eggs (a family farm in my region) and they have never had an outbreak of salmonella so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Below my raw version is a cooked version for the risk averse.

Where can you cut calories?

  • portion control - stick to 4-6 ounces and savor them!
  • use lowfat milk - not as DREAMY but still tastes good.
  • make it once or twice for the holiday season and share with friends.

Since I am WAY over 21, I like rum in my eggnog. Bourbon, brandy, and scotch are also good additions. I've seen eggnog served in a martini glass - which I think is a great idea to help you SIP it.

Have you made homemade eggnog?

Healthier Egg Nog Recipe (3)
Healthier Egg Nog Recipe (4)

Healthy Eggnog Recipe

3.9 from23 reviews

6 servings

Print Pin

Ingredients

3 eggs
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups lowfat milk
1/2 cup rum (optional)
nutmeg for dusting

Instructions

Separate the eggs and beat the yolks with the sugar. Stir in vanilla, milk, and rum. Beat the egg whites and fold them into the milk mixture. Pour eggnog into a SMALL glass and top with nutmeg. ENJOY!

For cooked eggnog:

Separate the eggs and beat the yolks with the sugar in a medium bowl. Reserve egg whites for another use. In a medium saucepan over high heat, mix milk, and vanilla. Bring to a just to a boil and remove from heat.

Mix the hot liquid gradually into the egg and sugar to prevent the egg from cooking. You add small amounts and mix thoroughly until all of the hot milk is mixed in. Pour everything back into the pot and heat until it reaches 160 F. Remove from heat, add rum, and put in the refrigerator to chill. When eggnog is cold, top with grated nutmeg and serve.

Nutrition Facts

For a five ounce glass without rum: 99 calories, 3.4 g fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 10.3 g carbohydrates, 10.6 g sugar, 6.9 g protein, 0 g fiber, 85 mg sodium, Green 4, Blue 3, Purple 3 Points

Points values are calculated by Snack Girl and are provided for information only. See all Snack Girl Recipes

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First 20 Comments: ( See all 29 )

When I was little, I was given eggnog --for the nutritional value I guess. Anyway I love home made eggnog. No rum though:)

Judy

I love eggnog too and have discovered that joys of Silk Eggnog. It tastes pretty decent but a bit on the thin side. I add some Cool Whip free to it and give it a spin in the blender. Nutmeg on top...liquor or not and I have a passable version that gives me the taste w/o the fat/calories of the "real" thing. Just another option for those of us less than inclined to make much from scratch.LOL

Judy

I've always "cut" my egg nog... 1/2 egg nog, 1/2 milk... since I was a little girl. Another way to slice some calories.

Sarah

Wow, those calorie counts arent' bad at all - so when I drink a half gallon of your recipe, it's at least a LITTLE better than when I do the same to a storebought version! :)

Janine @ The Purple Giraffe

I take Silk eggnog, So Delicious unsweetened vanilla coconut milk (50 calories a cup but really rich since most of the calories are fat--but it's the good saturated fat, those MCTs that don't get stored, they get burned) and a 1/2 shot of liquor and shake them in a blender bottle with some ice. Then I put a little whipped cream on top. Yum.

Sue

Yes! Silk Eggnog is the best. I don't really add anything to it cause it tastes pretty good as is. Adding alcohol ups the sugar, yikes.

DeskSnacker

I still swear by Hungry Girl's No-Nonsense Nog made with unsweetened vanilla almond milk. One whole cup for 2 Freestyle points! Make sure you use a blender and put in fridge a couple hours (to thicken slightly). I make up a large batch and bring it in to my Weight Watchers group around this time every year. It is always a big hit!

Shirl

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I will try Silk Eggnog and Hungry Girl's recipe as well as cutting mine with milk.

Snack Girl

The recipe says you cook the yolk, but not the egg whites, you add the egg whites raw?? How is it safe to use raw egg whites but not raw yolks? Confused..

Karen Kress

@Karen - good point. You don't need the egg whites so I will change the recipe. Sorry about that!

Snack Girl

How long will this keep in the refrigerator? I’d like to make it a few days ahead if possible. Thanks.

Katina Varmazis

@Katina - It depends on your milk. If your milk has plenty of time before it goes bad - it should stay good until that date. Great question!!

Snack Girl

Is rum really optional? lol

Madeline

Use UHT milk and it will stay good for much longer. I have used it for many things including making yogurt. It is shelf safe before you open it and then refrigerate it after. You can add guar gum if you want it thicker. Also, you can cook your egg mixture until it becomes thick, just until it becomes pudding, then thin it if needs be with more milk and blend. My favorite, buy the vanilla pudding, the kind than needs cooking, in the package from the store, cook it and drink it hot. Better than eggnog. You can use nonfat milk or Silk to cook it with too.

IFortuna

Re: raw eggs for the nog - I spoke with someone at Egg Beaters to ask if I could use their pasteurized product uncooked in my homemade Caesar Salad and was assured I could, so for those who wish to stay away from raw store bought eggs, this would work.

Marlene

For Marlene: Believe it or not, not all eggs have salmonella. If you are concerned, however, eggs can be coddled and if you are using only yolks (which I recommend) they can be cooked as in making pudding which is basically what the eggnog is. BTW, egg whites are severely lacking in vitamins and minerals. Whites have zero vitamins but do have 1/2 the protein of a whole egg. I eat 2 or 3 whole eggs everyday and never have a problem. My labs are perfect. Cholesterol is primarily an inherited problem and not specifically due to diet. Google Harvard studies on this.

IFortuna

To what point are the egg whites to be beaten?

Teresa

For cooked eggnog method sugar is mentioned twice but only 1 amount in recipe. Can you please confirm that only 2 tablespoons of sugar is needed and when to add it. Thanks.

Geraldine

Question For cooked eggnog, directions say ‘Separate the eggs and beat the yolks with the sugar in a medium bowl.’ Then is says ‘In a medium saucepan over high heat, mix milk, sugar, and vanilla.’ The recipe only states ONLY 2 tablespoons of sugar so once you mix it with the egg yokes then where is the extra sugar (and how much) do you heat with the milk and vanilla in the sauce pan???

Jenn

@Jen - that was a mistake. You only need to mix the two tablespoons sugar with the egg yolks. I have changed the recipe above to reflect that change. Thank you for our comment!

Snack Girl

See all 29 Comments

Healthier Egg Nog Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is homemade eggnog healthy? ›

Traditionally made with eggs, cream, milk, and sugar, no one would say that eggnog is a healthy drink. Even a small serving can pack significant amounts of calories, fat, saturated fat, and added sugars. And then there's the fact that homemade eggnog made with raw eggs can be a food-poisoning risk.

Does eggnog have any health benefits? ›

The dairy in eggnog can also add protein to your diet, as can the eggs—those also provide B vitamins as well as choline, a nutrient that supports brain health, said Cohn.

Which eggnog has the least sugar? ›

Bolthouse Farms Holiday Nog
  • 80 calories, 1 gram saturated fat, 13 grams carbs, 12 grams sugar (9 grams added sugar)
  • Ingredients include cow's milk, sugar, agave, whey protein, carrot juice, egg yolks.
  • 60% fewer calories and 80% less saturated fat than traditional eggnog.
  • Rich and creamy like regular eggnog.
Dec 15, 2021

What is a substitute for cream in eggnog? ›

Full-fat Coconut Milk: To replace the cream in traditional eggnog, we'll be using full-fat coconut milk. It MUST be full fat for it to work properly, so this is key! Brown Sugar: Brown sugar makes this eggnog perfectly sweet, but you can also substitute coconut sugar to make this recipe refined sugar-free!

Is eggnog bad for your cholesterol? ›

It also has a significant amount of cholesterol, which you really can't do anything about since it's from the eggs. (And without the eggs in eggnog it would just be, well, nog.) Try substituting heavy cream and full fat dairy products with low fat dairy products or a milk alternative like almond or oat milk.

Is it OK to drink eggnog by itself? ›

Serve your eggnog chilled and plain for a classic treat.

The most classic way to serve eggnog doesn't involve any prep, and it's perfect as an after-dinner treat around the holidays. All you have to do is pour chilled eggnog into a glass. It pairs nicely with sweets, especially baked goods make with milk or cream.

Is eggnog good for the kidneys? ›

Eggnog can be considered a higher potassium and phosphorus food. Due to these nutrients, this drink food may be limited for those with kidney disease who are on a low potassium, low phosphorus diet.

Is egg nog inflammatory? ›

The spices can be anti-inflammatory- Eggnog commonly contains nutmeg, which has anti-inflammatory antioxidants. Downing a glass of it isn't the same as popping an Advil, but it's something. And now for the downside- Any health benefits in eggnog are undone by the alcohol, according to registered dietitianLiz Weinandy.

Why do people eat eggnog? ›

"Milk, eggs, and sherry were foods of the wealthy, so eggnog was often used in toasts to prosperity and good health." Those who could afford milk and eggs and costly spirits mixed the eggnog with brandy, Madeira wine or sherry to make a drink similar to modern alcoholic eggnog.

Should diabetics drink eggnog? ›

Beverages such as soda, punch and eggnog contain high amounts of sugar, which will also raise your blood glucose. To ensure you're staying hydrated while also keeping blood sugar levels in mind, choose water, herbal tea, coffee or diet soft drinks.

Who makes the best eggnog in the world? ›

Best Overall: Turkey Hill Egg Nog

It's perfectly classic — not too thick or sweet — and has a lush butterscotch taste that almost makes it seem boozy right out of the container (even though there's no booze in it!)

How long does homemade eggnog last? ›

Non-alcoholic eggnog: Consume within 1 day. Eggnog with 1/2 to 1 cup liquor: Refrigerate for several days. Eggnog with 1 1/2 cups liquor: Refrigerate for several weeks in a sealed glass container or mason jar, where it will continue aging and thicken up quite nicely.

Why do they stop selling eggnog? ›

Most plants keep producing eggnog through New Year's, and start dumping their unsold product in January. Although associated with the holidays, eggnog doesn't need to be seasonal. Dairy plants could produce small batches of eggnog off-season for hard-core nogheads, but they don't because it's not cost-effective.

What drink is similar to eggnog? ›

Typically made around Christmastime, the Tom and Jerry is a classic co*cktail that looks and tastes a lot like eggnog. Its exact origins are unclear, but there's evidence to suggest that the Cognac and rum-spiked drink's roots date back to England in the 19th century.

What makes eggnog taste better? ›

Add a splash of vanilla or almond extract, or turn your eggnog into an iced eggnog latte by pouring a shot of espresso into the shaker. Either way, you'll feel the spirit of the holidays!

Is it OK to drink a lot of eggnog? ›

“Think what's in it: heavy cream, milk, sugar, whipped eggs and alcohol.” And with the recommended serving size a paltry half a cup, eggnog is easy to over-indulge. High in fat and sugar, a single serving contains one-third of the fat Americans should eat daily.

Why should you be careful with that eggnog? ›

“The most recent estimates indicate that about three out of every 10,000 eggs is positive for salmonella,” Schaffner said. “This means the risk from any individual egg is low, but of course the more eggs you combine, the higher the risk.” Pasteurization is one of the keys to avoiding salmonella poisoning from eggnog.

Is eggnog full of sugar? ›

Traditional eggnog has a significant fat content, due to the use of cream, and a high sugar content. Ingredients vary significantly between different recipes.

What are the nutrition facts of homemade eggnog? ›

One serving of eggnog (3.5 oz / 100g) has 133 calories (58 calories from fat). It contains 6.5g total fat (3.2g saturated fat), 114mg cholesterol, 78mg sodium, 86mg potassium, 14.2g total carbohydrates (13.3g sugars), and 5.5g protein. Enjoy the Christmas with homemade eggnog.

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