A combination of two of my favorite winter drinks. It’s rich, creamy, & super chocolatey, with hints of warm spices and eggnog flavor. Oh and it’s vegan and dairy-free!
I can’t believe it’s already December 1! Holiday season is in full swing and Christmas is less than a month away. Woah!
This is my favorite time of year! There is just something so magical and nostalgic about Christmas and the holiday season. I love all of our family traditions this time of year and the anticipation and countdown to Christmas. I also love how festive and beautiful the city looks filled with lights and sparkle from the holiday decor. Ahhh swoon!
One of my favorite things to do this time of year, especially when it’s bitter cold outside, is have date night at home with my hubby to watch a cheesy holiday movie while drinking a cozy cup of hot cocoa….or a rich, delicious glass of eggnog. Two of my all time favorite winter drinks! So sometimes it’s hard to pick between the 2!
Then I had the genius idea of combining these two classic winter beverages. Why not enjoy both of them together! So I created Hot Chocolate Eggnog… and it’s as delicious, rich, and creamy as you would imagine! Plus, my version is dairy-free and vegan but still tastes absolutely amazing! A true holiday miracle!
Let’s get to cooking.
The beauty of making hot cocoa from scratch is it only takes a few minutes and minimal ingredients.
In a medium sauce pan, combine the eggnog, maple syrup, cocoa powder, sea salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Bring to a soft boil and whisk continuously until all of the ingredients are well-incorporated and the mixture is hot. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
To keep this recipe vegan and dairy-free, I used Califia Farms Holiday Nog. It’s got all the flavor and creaminess of regular eggnog, but much less calories and sugar. Plus, its dairy-free, soy-free and vegan. It’s a great, healthier alternative to regular eggnog.
However, you can also use light or regular eggnog in this recipe if you prefer! I would just add the maple syrup to taste as regular eggnog is already pretty sweet and may not need much extra sweetness.
I also used cinnamon and nutmeg in this recipe to help bring out the flavors of the eggnog. Plus, warm spices and chocolate are a natural and wonderful pairing!
Finally, once the mixture is made, pour between glasses and top with coconut whipped cream (or whipped cream of choice or marshmallows) and a pinch of cinnamon. And enjoy this rich, chocolaty goodness.
It’s like a big, warm hug on a chilly December night. It’s delicious and oh so comforting and reminiscent of the holidays. It’s my new favorite go-to winter drink! It would even be good with a little bourbon to really help amp up your holiday spirit!
I hope you love it and get to enjoy it on a cozy, cold night at home! 🙂
Hot Chocolate Eggnog
A combination of two of my favorite winter drinks. It’s rich, creamy, & super chocolatey, with hints of warm spices and eggnog flavor. Oh and it’s vegan and dairy-free!
Ingredients
- 2 cups Califia Farms eggnog*
- 2 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- Pinch of sea salt
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
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In a sauce pan, whisk together all of the ingredients.
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Bring to a gentle boil and keep whisking until all of the ingredients are well incorporated, about 2 minutes. Stir in vanilla.
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Pour the hot cocoa mix between mugs, and top with dairy-free whipped cream and cinnamon, if desired.
Recipe Notes
You can also use regular or light eggnog in this recipe, if you are not dairy-free or vegan.
You can store extra hot cocoa mix in fridge for up to two weeks and reheat when ready to drink.
