Ingredients

6 pitted Medjool dates

1 c. (115 g.) raw cashews

2 1/4 c. water, plus more for soaking

1 c. canned full-fat coconut milk

1/4 c. pure maple syrup

1/3 c. bourbon or rum (optional)

1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. grated fresh nutmeg, plus more for serving

1/4 tsp. kosher salt

Dairy-free whipped topping, such as Silk dairy-free heavy whipping cream, for serving

Preparation

Step 1Place dates and cashews in a resealable container and cover with at least 2" water. Cover and soak at least 4 hours or up to 12.Step 2Drain and rinse dates and cashews. Transfer to a high-powered blender. Add milk, maple syrup, bourbon (if using), vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and 2 1/4 cups water. Blend until smooth and creamy.Step 3Transfer eggnog to a resealable jar or airtight container. Refrigerate until thickened and cold, at least 2 hours and up to 3 days.Step 4Serve cold (shake before serving if mixture has separated), dolloped or piped with dairy-free whipping cream and sprinkled with more nutmeg.

As it chills in the refrigerator, the vegan eggnog thickens up a bit, so don’t worry if the mixture seems thin after blending. You can always stir in more liquid—like water, your favorite plant-based milk alternative, or even more bourbon—just before serving to thin if necessary. We recommend using a high-powered blender to get the mixture as silky and smooth as possible, but if needed, the mixture can be strained through a fine-mesh sieve to strain out any lumps. No eggnog would be complete without a dollop of whipped cream. Our favorite dairy-free whipped topping is Silk’s dairy-free heavy whipping cream. Sweeten it with a little maple syrup (or powdered sugar if you’d like). If you want a stiffer topping that’s more like the whipped cream from a can, you can whisk up some of the leftover coconut milk. If you still have a spoonful or two of coconut milk on hand, throw the dregs of the can into your morning smoothie or stir into a plant-based soup to make it extra-creamy. Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below!