this post was created in partnership with Planet Oat. all thoughts and opinions, as always, are my own.
the holidays, but christmas in particular, is taking on a bit more of a magical vibe this year. with amesy at 3, he gets the idea of santa clause, the north pole, decorating, stockings, etc., etc. we got our tree the other day, and for the first year he was actually interested in decorating it. he carefully picked out which ornament he wanted to put on the tree, then jotted over, climbed up the ladder, and carefully (and without wanting any help), placed it on a branch of the tree, ending with a very proud: TA-DA! i did it! when he woke up the next morning to find the tree all lit up, he exclaimed: it’s beautiful! so all the things i swore i would never do as parent are coming back to bite in me the butt, because honestly, it’s just the sweetest thing. and if a few decorations, and festive lights make his face beam, then i’m all in 100 million percent!
i’m finding myself getting into the holiday spirit even more just because i know it makes ames so happy. i think it’s true what they say, that holiday cheer is kinda contagious. i’m finding myself doing things that i would'n’t typically do. like making eggnog! while i’ve never had any issue with eggs, and actually love them (when cooked). i don’t love the idea of downing raw egg yolks. as such, i wanted a version that quick, and thick and creamy just like a traditional eggnog. enter: oatnog! if you’ve ever tried oat milk you know that it’s creamier than many other plant-based milks. that’s why it’s my go-to here. especially Planet Oat’s extra creamy oat milk. it’s rich, creamy, and full-bodied. and it also has a delicious, yet neutral flavor which i find important since we really want that eggnog flavor to shine here. it’s a great milk alternative for any recipe, really.
i love making eggnog, mostly because it’s so diverse. while you can certainly drink it there are so many other ways of utilizing it! my personal favorite is heating a bit up and adding it to a tea or coffee latte for a holiday twist. you could add it to overnight oats, cook your oatmeal in it. it could also be used in the batter for french toast. the list goes on and on! i hope you get the chance to make this one!
big holiday hugs!
oatnog | gf (vegan option)
-this recipe can easily be doubled, especially if you’re serving a crowd, or if you want a big batch to last throughout the week.
-i also love using it in a tea or coffee latte. simply heat up a serving, froth with an electrical frother, and pour over your brewed tea/coffee.
-for a nut-free version, simply swap the cashews for 1 cup coconut cream, and you’ll be good to go!
| makes roughly 3 cups |
1/2 cup raw cashews, soaked at least 4 hours, rinsed
2 cups Planet Oat Oatmilk (extra creamy)
1 vanilla bean, scraped (or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract)
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
pinch of salt
to garnish (optional):
fresh nutmeg, grated on a microplane
cinnamon sticks
pomegranate seeds
chocolate shavings
method
place all the ingredients in the cup of an upright (preferably high-speed) blender. whiz on high for 2 minutes, until smooth and creamy. pour oatnog into a large lidded jar and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. place a large ice cube in each glass, pour in oatnog, garnish as desired. oatnog stays best in a lidded jar for up to 5 days.
if serving warm, pour oatnog into a small pot over medium-low. stir, and heat until steaming. serve it in a big cozy mug, and garnish as desired.