Vanilla Custard Drink for One: Eggnog Lite Recipe
A comforting, creamy vanilla custard drink that’s both indulgent and nutritious. This drink is everything you love about eggnog: smooth, rich, and full of cozy vanilla flavor, but with a lighter twist, and perfect for a solo treat!
Equipment
- Small saucepan
- Whisk or Fork
- Fine mesh strainer (or blender/immersion blender)
- Favorite mug
Ingredients
- 1 cup full-fat milk (can also use almond, oat, or coconut milk)
- 1 1/2 - 2 tbsp maple syrup (can also use granulated sugar or coconut sugar)
- Small pinch of salt
- 1 whole large egg
- 1/8 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk, maple syrup, and small pinch of salt, and heat just until it starts to bubble (stir occasionally to avoid scorching at the bottom).
- While the milk is heating, whisk the egg in a separate cup or bowl.
- Once the milk mixture begins to bubble, pour about 1-2 tablespoons of the hot milk into the egg, and immediately whisk together. Continue whisking 1-2 tablespoons of milk at a time into the egg, until you’ve added roughly half of the milk. This is called “tempering” the egg, which is a technique used to gently heat the egg to prevent it from curdling/scrambling when added to the hot milk.
- Pour the egg mixture into the saucepan with the rest of the milk, and heat on low for about 5-8 minutes while stirring continuously, until the mixture thickens slightly.
- When finished, it should be slightly thick and coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla extract, then pour into your favorite mug through a fine mesh strainer (to catch any potential pieces of cooked egg). Alternatively, you can use an immersion blender, or a regular blender, to blend it all together before enjoying!
Notes
Tips
- Temper the Egg: To avoid curdling, add the hot milk slowly into the whisked egg, and stir constantly.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh milk, a high-quality egg, and pure vanilla extract make all the difference in flavor.
- Don’t Overheat: Once the egg mixture is added to the saucepan, make sure to keep the heat on low and stir constantly to avoid scrambling the egg. When finished it should be slightly thick and coat the back of a spoon. This can take 5-10 minutes, and patience is key. I once thought I could raise the temperature to medium-low to speed up the process. Nope, no, no bueno.. I ended up with a milky egg scramble!
- Strain or Blend: Even if your technique is flawless, pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve or blend it for a silky smooth finish (because you will likely still find tiny bits of cooked egg, unless you don't mind that).
- Adjust Sweetness: Start with 1.5 tbsp of maple syrup - or sweetener of choice - and add more as needed to suit your taste.
Variations:
- Dairy-Free: Swap the milk for almond, oat, or coconut milk.
- Protein and Nutrition Boost: Add a scoop of plain collagen powder to the mixture.
- Spiced: Top with a sprinkle of ground nutmeg or cinnamon for a festive, spiced version.
- Sweetener Swap: Use honey instead of maple syrup or sugar. Just use a bit less honey, as it’s generally sweeter than sugar. You can also use monkfruit sweetener for a natural zero-calorie option.
- Caffeine Kick: Add a shot of espresso to the mixture for a nice pick-me-up.
- Boozy Kick: Mix in a splash of rum, brandy, or bourbon for a grown-up treat.
- Cold Treat: Place your drink in the refrigerator to enjoy it cold, or let it cool and then blend it with ice!
- Garnish: Top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, or toasted shredded coconut for extra indulgence.
- Pair it: While this drink is delicious on its own, it pairs wonderfully with my browned butter chocolate chip cookies for two, low fat sourdough pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, or small batch sourdough pumpkin spice bread.