Alcohol-free eggnog
Thick, spiced custard eggnog with no booze. Cooked gently, so it is safe to serve to everyone.
- Time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Glass
- Mug
- Strength
- Alcohol-free
How to make alcohol-free eggnog
- Warm the milk and cream. Heat the milk, cream, vanilla and cinnamon in a saucepan over a low heat until steaming but not boiling, about 5 minutes. Take it off the heat.
- Whisk the yolks and sugar. In a bowl, whisk the yolks and sugar until pale and slightly thick, about 2 minutes.
- Combine slowly. Pour the warm milk into the yolks in a thin stream, whisking all the time. Tip it back into the pan.
- Cook until it coats a spoon. Stir over a low heat for 5 to 8 minutes, until the custard coats the back of a spoon and holds a line when you draw a finger through it. Do not let it boil or it will curdle.
- Strain and chill. Strain through a fine sieve, stir in the nutmeg, and chill for at least 2 hours. It thickens as it cools, so loosen it with a splash of milk if needed.
- Serve. Whisk briefly, pour into small glasses and grate fresh nutmeg on top.
- Glass
- MugNo mug? Any small glass or teacup.
- Ice
- No ice
- Garnish
- Freshly grated nutmegOr: A cinnamon stick.
What you need to make alcohol-free eggnog
Kit
SaucepanBig enough to hold the whole batch.
Whisk or shakerTo loosen cream until it just pours.
Fine strainerA small tea strainer catches ice shards.
Bottles we'd use
- Whole nutmeg and a graterPre-ground nutmeg goes flat quickly; freshly grated tastes far warmer.Find it on Amazon
- Vanilla bean pasteGives the flavour and the flecks of seed without any alcohol.Find it on Amazon
Links to Amazon are affiliate links: if you buy through them, Bar Bandol may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The alcohol-free eggnog story
Eggnog is an old English drink of milk, eggs and sugar, usually with spirits or sherry, which crossed to North America and became a Christmas fixture there. Exactly where the name comes from is unclear; most explanations are guesses.
This version is a light custard. Cooking the yolks to about 75°C makes it safe without raw egg, and gives it more body than a shaken drink. Nutmeg and vanilla do the work the spirit would normally do, so be generous with both. Serve it cold, or warm if you prefer.
Alcohol-free eggnog: your questions answered
What is in alcohol-free eggnog?
Alcohol-free eggnog is made with 500 ml whole milk, 150 ml double cream, 4 egg yolks, 60 g caster sugar, vanilla bean paste and nutmeg, which makes 6 glasses. Garnish: freshly grated nutmeg.
Is this alcohol-free eggnog alcohol-free?
Yes. This alcohol-free eggnog is made without any alcoholic ingredients, so it suits drivers and anyone taking a night off.
What glass do you serve alcohol-free eggnog in?
Serve alcohol-free eggnog in a mug. No mug? Any small glass or teacup.
