Can’t do dairy? Eggs all wrong? No need to forsake the land of nog! It turns out that there’s plenty of nog for all. There’s nog made from oats, from soy, from nuts and coconut too.
While every alternative nog promises the luscious combination of holiday spices and creaminess, it seemed high time to find out which egg- and dairy free options can deliver the delight of the best versions of traditional eggnog.
Making eggnog without the key ingredients is clearly tricky, as evidenced by many of the nogs on the shelf. The bad ones range from watery to wonky. But there are some luscious, lower-calorie versions of the much-loved (albeit polarizing) holiday drink.
Great alternative nogs deliver a creamy note along with a splash of familiar eggnog flavors, such as nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla or rum. The best are so flavorful and rich that it’s hard to believe they don’t include cream and eggs.
Sadly, many nogs are flawed. They are too thick or too thin, or have so little flavor that they taste more like a glass of sweet alternative milk.The worst incorporate odd ingredients intended to mimic the mouthfeel and richness of the traditional drink — and yield truly nasty results.
Here’s the scoop on the silky, creamy non-dairy nogs to serve up this holiday season, and the nasty nogs to avoid. Nutrition info refers to 8 ounces.
So Delicious Holiday Nog Coconut Milk
Rich, thick and deliciously spicy, this one should be at the top of every grocery list. It has all the richness of a dairy nog — and about half the calories. 90 calories, 2 g fat, 115 mg sodium, 15 g sugar, no protein. $3.50 for a quart at Raley’s. (4 stars)
Planet Oat Oat Nog
A warm hit of cinnamon in this silky yellow nog makes it every bit as delicious as traditional eggnog. 90 calories, 2.5 g fat, 80 mg sodium, 12 g sugar, no protein. $5.49 for 52 ounces at Safeway. (4 stars)
Silk Original Soy Nog
While this pours a bit more like milk than eggnog, it delivers plenty of nutmeg plus a hint of rum. 80 calories, 1.5 g fat, 70 mg sodium, 12 g sugar, 3 g protein. $3.99 for a quart at Safeway. (3½ stars)
Chobani Oatmilk Oat Nog
If you love cotton candy, this is the nog for you. It’s light and pleasant, with an ever-so-delicate touch of nutmeg. 100 calories, 4.5 g fat, 55 mg sodium, 9 g sugar, 1 g protein. $4.99 for 32 ounces at Whole Foods. (3 stars)
Almond Breeze Almondmilk Nog
This surprisingly creamy nog has nice balance, but it needs a serious spice boost. 70 calories, 1.5 g fat, 75 mg sodium, 11 g sugar, 1 g protein. $4.99 for a quart at Safeway. (3 stars)
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Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment