Vegan Holiday Nog

• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk (or any other non-dairy milk of your choice)
• 1/2 cup full-fat canned coconut milk (for creaminess)
• 1/4 cup maple syrup or any other sweetener of your choice (adjust to taste)
• 1/4 cup raw cashews, soaked and drained (for creaminess)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• A pinch of ground cloves
• A pinch of salt
• Optional: 2-3 tablespoons of your favorite rum, bourbon, or whiskey (for an alcoholic version, adjust to taste)

Directions:

1. Soak the raw cashews in hot water for about 30 minutes to soften them. Drain and rinse the cashews after soaking.

2. In a blender, combine the soaked cashews, almond milk, coconut milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, and a pinch of salt.

3. Blend on high speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy. This might take a couple of minutes, depending on your blender.

4. If you’re making an alcoholic version, you can add your choice of liquor to the blender at this stage and blend for a few more seconds to combine.

5. Taste the eggnog and adjust the sweetness or spices as needed by adding more maple syrup or spices.

6. Place a nut milk bag over a large bowl or pitcher, and carefully pour the eggnog mixture through the bag to strain out any remaining cashew bits and spices. Squeeze the nut milk bag gently to extract as much liquid as possible.

7. Discard any solids left in the nut milk bag or keep it for any holiday cookie recipe you might like ✨

8. Cover the strained vegan eggnog with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 4 hours or overnight to chill and allow the flavors to meld.

9. Before serving, give the eggnog a good stir. If desired, garnish each glass with a sprinkle of ground nutmeg.

10. Serve your dairy-free or vegan eggnog chilled and enjoy!

Straining the vegan eggnog through a nut milk bag helps achieve a silky-smooth texture while removing any remaining cashew bits or spices. It’s a great way to ensure a velvety and delicious drink!