I had not bought eggnog in years and I’m not exactly sure why.
This smoothie reminded me what I have been missing.
And what a fool I’ve been the past few holiday seasons for not eggnogging it up.
I like eggnog best when it’s doctored up with other flavors.
I had some chai spice on hand and combined that with some sugars, a banana, the eggnog and seconds later got my ‘nog on.
Creamy, sweet, frothy, and made me feel like the holidays and Christmas are just around the corner. They are, but it’s been unseasonably warm here and the eggnog reminded me that yes, it really is almost Christmas.
The chai flavor was present and delicious, but if you are not a chai fan, you can skip it.
I loved it in this smoothie and think it complemented the eggnog well.
Then again, rum would complement the eggnog well, too.
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Eggnog Chai Smoothie
1 c eggnog
1 medium banana (previously frozen in chunks is optimal but not necessary)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 c white sugar
1/4 c brown sugar
1 c ice
1/2 tsp + chai spice blend, or more to taste (buy it here or here or here)
Make your own chai spice blend by combining and mixing the following in a small bowl:
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon white pepper (or 1/2 teaspoon black pepper)
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Store the extra spice blend in a cool dark place in a covered container
Optional:
Add nutmeg, garam masala, allspice, all to taste.
Use another sweetener such as stevia in place of the sugar.
The banana is mostly added for texture rather than flavor. You could replace the banana with approximately 1/2 c soaked cashews or approximately 1 c tofu, pressed and diced, if desired.
Add 1 ounce of rum or other liquor, i.e. Bourbon, brandy, whiskey, cognac, Grand Marnier, Cointreau, Triple Sec, Vodka, Malibu, etc.
Directions: Combine eggnog, banana, chai spice, other spices, sugars, and ice in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. In a Vita-Mix, this took about 20 seconds.
Yields: About 2 cups of smoothie.
Tips:
All ingredients listed are essentially optional and to taste. Adjust seasoning types and levels to your palate and preferences.
Share with a friend or save half for later in the freezer and remove frozen portion about 30 minutes prior to drinking to allow it to melt a bit and come up to room temperature. It’s best when slightly melty for optimal creamy flavor. I make double portions of all my smoothies as long as I am dirtying dishes, I make extra.
Steep one teaspoon of chai spice blend in a teapot with your favorite tea for a delicious treat or add to coffee, water, etc.
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Apparently everyone had nog on the noggin’ the past few days because my local TJ’s was sold out of the regular version of eggnog.
The Trader Joe’s Light Egg Nog I used was a little “thin” tasting on it’s own, but used with the banana and other ingredients, it was perfect for smoothie making.
This smoothie and eggnog and the tweaks I can make and the directions I can go with it will be on my noggin’ for awhile.
I’m thinking:
eggnog and coffee
chai spice + bananas + eggnog in muffins
eggnog cake
chai spice anything
Oh, so many things I could make….
But for now I slurp.
Questions:
1. Do you like eggnog? If so, favorite brand or recipe? With or without alcohol added?
It’s a seasonal offering and that puts the buy-it-now-or-else pressure on and of course I’d like to buy a tasty version of it.
And alcohol added is welcome, depending on the time of day or what else is going on.
Some days you just need a little somethin’ somethin’ extra.
2. Do you like chai spice?
It’s one of those flavors not everyone ‘loves’. Same with eggnog, some people love it, some people would rather leave it.
I like it but occasionally rather than daily. I know some people could drink a chai latte every day. I’m not in that category but I do enjoy a good chai drink every now and then.
P.S. A few of my other recent favorite smoothies are
Blueberry Banana Recovery Smoothie
Caramel Maple Pumpkin Pie Smoothie <— dessert in a cup!
Thanks for the $50 Asian Food Prize Pack Giveaway Entries
I like chai spice … and I have never had egg nog!
What a delicious idea :) Ive just bookmarked to try out tomorrow. Thanks! Belle
enjoy and lmk how you like it!
God I love eggnog. I rarely buy it , just consume it at holiday parties, so I don’t have a preferred brand.
If I did buy it though, I think I’d thicken it up with ice cream, or maybe pumpkin…though I’m intrigued by your tofu option:)
yeah the tofu option…lots of vegan/veg bakers use it in baked goods, pies specifically, and I am sure that you could get a similar texture from ‘fu rather than bananas but would impart almost no taste. Some ppl hate bananas at all costs. But yeah tofu in raw or in nobake vegan baking…pretty common.
Thanks for the tip!
I don’t hate bananas-they just aren’t my favorite thing:)
Can I be honest here? I didn’t realize people drank eggnog WITHOUT alcohol until my friend told me she does all the time today. She also told me that Silk makes and awesome “Nog” which I will be hunting down soon…this smoothie looks amazing!! LOVE your photos!
Hope you had a nice holiday!!
I actually didnt know it til I was in college…I assumed that everyone drank nog with booze! I grew up that way…so when people were drinking virgin nog I was like..huh?! :)
Funny … I tried putting eggnog in my chai tea after my daughter insisted we buy eggnog, then didn’t drink it. It was SO good! So I bet this smoothie would be just awesome. I want to try the version with the alcohol! Maybe some rum or brandy … mmm :)
don’t forget the rum or brandy..LOL
and kids are classic for wanting things in the store but then not wanting them at home.
Oh yumm.. I love anything chai spiced – definitely making this :)
Horizon makes a low fat organic eggnog. That’s my FAVE! This smoothie looks DELISH!
LOVE chai spice, eggnog and icy-creamy cold drinks. These are an obvious BIG HIT!! Would love one right now. I can’t believe you leave Friday. Bet you are soooo excited! XXOO
Like you don’t even know, my friend. Can’t wait!
I do love eggnog, which is why I need to get my hands on some of this lightened up version! I too have been thinking about eggnog smoothies…now I can’t wait to get to work on my recipe! Yum!
If you don’t mind the lightened up variety…you will really like the TJs then!
I am not a fan of eggnog, but the rest of my family is so I will be making this for them. I love chai anything though and have made my own spice in the past. I used to drink chai tea every morning, but got hooked on my java again!!
hope your family appreciates your efforts!
Wowzers! I’ll take one for sure! I just got back into egg nog a few years back. A sip now and then but I’ve never done anything this tasty with it!!
I had forgotten about it for years, too. I’ve been reminded what I am missing :)
I adore chai spice and anything thick smoothie really.
Have you tried making your own egg nog? It’s really easy to do and (imho) always tastes better than the store version. you can do it with egg, or without, with banana, or lucuma is great in there too…
Haven’t tried it…yet!
I go back and forth whether I like eggnog or not. I think I need to buy some again to try it out. My taste buds have changed over the years, so maybe this year I’ll love it. As for Chai, I love it. I don’t think I could have it every single day, but I love an occasional Chai Latte.
Even if you don’t ‘love’ eggnog, I can almost guarantee you will like this smoothie. It’s really doctored up!
Ok, I do love me some nog, but I dont think it likes me…then I was just told that there is real raw egg in it, that freaked me out! LOL!!
This looks delish and I love the nog lattes from starbies when I have the balls to drink one!!!! Yours looks so much healthier!! xxoo
Orange julius’ are served with raw egg, Hollandaise sauce, so many things that people forget about. Not necessarily always raw eggs in them, but often. That said, no raw egg in my version :)
My dad puts brandy in his nog. I like a little Captain. Each year (usually the week before Christmas) we bicker about which is better by alternating a glass of EggNog&brandy with a glass of EggNog&rum. He’ll even drink it with my non-nogs (soy, coconut, etc). It’s really my only Christmas indulgence. We get pretty sloshed and have a blast! I guess we both win!
Addition: I even have an aunt who puts red wine in her egg nog. She doesn’t get to play with us. That sounds gross!
I am obsessed with So Delicious’s coconut nog. I have never actually had alcohol with nog before. It seems too thick for an alcoholic drink. But perfect for a smoothie!
The thick + alcohol is great…a jacked up smoothie is just what the doctor ordered some days :)
Well I’m certainly curious, I’ll have to give it a try sometime!