Real Food Eggnog Recipe {dairy-free option, Paleo, Low Carb} (2024)

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This traditional Real Food Eggnog recipe gives you a thick eggnog (the best texture) — without the unnatural thickeners so common in commercial recipes. Use your favorite non-dairy or raw milk. Suitable for ancestral real food diets: Paleo, Gluten-free and Low Carb, this holiday favorite is at its best without refined sweeteners or additives.

Jump to Recipe

What’s the best eggnog texture? How to make it thick …

Commercial brands of eggnog use thickeners such as carrageenan and guar gum, some of which have been linked with inflammation — undesirable for a pure, whole food diet.

Truth be told, I like a thick eggnog, one that is almost custard-like. So I have added what I consider the gentlest and healthiest real food thickener — sustainably-sourced gelatin, to my recipe.

The added step is worth the mouth-feel reward you get from the finished recipe!

Gelatin is optional. If you want a simpler, quicker version of the recipe, just omit the gelatin, and purée all the other ingredients in a blender briefly. Chill, garnish and serve.

What’s the history of Real Food Eggnog

This high fat, high cholesterol, sweet treat nourishes us and connects us with history.

Although eggnog originated among the English aristocracy, it quickly became popular on American farms of the 18^th and 19^th centuries — rich with farm eggs, jersey cow milk and cream, and the nutmeg and cheap rum from the Caribbean.

For the historic dairy-free version of Real Food Eggnog, see the recipe Notes version below, that derives from Puerto Rico!

How to use the leftover egg whites

Real Food Eggnog uses eight raw egg yolks … But, don’t throw away the whites! There are three easy options I’d like to share with you:

1) Beat the egg whites until stiff and then fold them into the finished eggnog. This is the traditional use for the whites, as recorded by George Washington!

2) Those protein powerhouses can be used in any bread or waffle recipe in place of whole eggs! The effect will be slightly different, but frugal and good!

3) You can also make an egg-white omelette adding back in the missing fat and cholesterol by cooking it in lots of butter, lard or bacon grease, and filling it with aged cheese (if you eat dairy) and high-fat meat. Yummy.

To use alcohol or not? Which alcohols are grain-free

I don’t drink alcohol, but if you do (and it is indeed traditional for eggnog), I discuss below the Paleo options and how much to use.

What sweetener to use in Real Food Eggnog

I use a combination of sweeteners in this recipe: either honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, maple sugar or a low carb sweetener (for the low carb version) … PLUS stevia or pure monk fruit sweetener — based on your diet and preference.

Occasionally I am asked why I use stevia in recipes when I have already used another sweetener, such as honey. The answer is two-fold:

1) Many natural sweeteners, such as honey or pure maple syrup, have a very strong and distinct flavor, one that might be distracting from the recipe itself. Stevia adds additional sweetness as a silent partner. With the amount I use, you don’t know it’s there, but its addition accomplishes just the right amount of sweetness.

2) Because of our health history, we like to keep our “sugars” to a minimum. Even too much honey can upset one’s flora balance or blood sugar levels. By using part stevia we cut down on the overall amount of “sugar” in a recipe and decrease the risk of consuming too much sweetener. Stevia, made without dextrose, in our experience, is harmless and helpful with no side effects.

For those who feel stevia does indeed cause an imbalance, pure monk fruit sweetener (find it here) is a good alternative. Or just add more of your favorite sweetener, to taste, if you prefer.

Print Recipe

4.93 from 13 votes

Real Food Eggnog (Ancestral, Paleo, Gluten-free, Low Carb)

Real Food Eggnog gives you a thick eggnog (the best texture) but without the unnatural thickeners or refined sugars so common these days. Use your favorite non-dairy or raw milk.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Equipment

blender or hand blender (or frother)
saucepan

Ingredients

4 cups milk (raw) or non-dairy milk of choice (such as coconut milk or homemade cashew milk for Paleo, or homemade macadamia nut milk for low carb)
1 cup cream or non-dairy high fat milk, such as cashew milk or macadamia nut milk made with less water so it's richer
½ cup honey , pure maple syrup, coconut sugar — or low carb sweetener for low carb (The Keto version of this recipe has 2 grams net carbs per serving.)
8 egg yolks (raw)
¼-1 ½ cups rum brandy or cognac (optional, fine to omit)
1 tsp. gelatin
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. nutmeg
⅛ tsp. stevia NuNaturals brand or to taste (depending on the potency you buy); this ingredient is optional (pure monkfruit, to taste, may also be used)

Instructions

Place the heavy cream in a small saucepan.
Whisk together the gelatin, cinnamon, nutmeg and stevia.
Sprinkle the gelatin and spices over the cream’s surface, whisking to incorporate, allowing one minute for the gelatin to dissolve.
Heat the cream over medium heat, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes, until the cream is steamy, but not yet simmering.
Remove the pot from the heat and add your sweetener of choice. Stir to dissolve.
Allow the cream to cool for 5 minutes.
Add all the components to a blender: raw milk or non-dairy milk, egg yolks, optional alcohol, and cream mixture.
Blend briefly on low speed, 10 to 15 seconds, until the ingredients are well mixed.
Chill and serve, sprinkled with more freshly grated nutmeg as a garnish.

Notes

Variation

In Puerto Rico, eggnog is made with coconut milk and is called coquito. To make this non-dairy version, simply substitute in 5 cups homemade or canned coconut milk for the milk and cream.

Nutrition

Did you grow up enjoying eggnog during the holiday season? Did you buy it or make it homemade?

You’ll also love this Eggnog Cheesecake recipe! It’s one of my all-time favorite desserts.