Sweet, slurpable, and perfectly seasonal, my Healthy Eggnog Milkshake is a delightful way to sleigh the day. Despite tasting like dessert, it’s nutritious enough to drink like a smoothie for breakfast.
If you’ve been following the blog for a while, you might know I’m something of a Christmas elf. I just LOVE the holidays! So it should come as no surprise that I’m already dreaming of a winter wonderland filled with cozy treats — in July. Don’t judge! I mean, don’t you remember how good my Whole Wheat Christmas Donuts were?
This frosty eggnog smoothie recipe is one I’ve been craving lately. Filled with creamy eggnog, warm spices, sweet banana, and a big hit of vanilla, it tastes naughty but is actually quite nice. Best of all, it’s sure to make your spirits bright!
With just 6 ingredients and all of 5 minutes of prep, you can have this tasty eggnog-flavored protein shake ready for sipping. And the best part? You’ll still have one hand free for tackling your holiday to-do list.
Jump to:
What do eggnog milkshakes taste like?
Rich, creamy, and decadent are all words that come to mind when I think of this tasty eggnog shake. It’s made with real eggnog, but instead of reaching for vanilla ice cream like most milkshake recipes, I swap in sweet and creamy frozen banana instead.
Adding a full teaspoon of vanilla extract and a hefty sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice helps to bolster the warm richness I associate with eggnog, and totally masks any lingering banana flavor. A scoop of vanilla-flavored protein powder gives the shake added nutritional heft while keeping it light and dreamy.
Still need more convincing? It tastes like a McDonald’s eggnog milkshake, but without all the artificial ingredients!
Ingredients
You don’t need much to make this eggnog-flavored smoothie. Here’s what to gather:
- Eggnog – Grab whatever brand you like best. Feel free to reach for a vegan version if needed!
- Unsweetened Almond Milk – Since eggnog is pretty creamy already, you can get away with using a non-dairy, low-fat milk alternative. Make sure you reach for unsweetened to keep the added sugars to a minimum.
- Frozen Banana – The relatively high starch content of bananas makes them the perfect dupe for vanilla ice cream in this shake recipe. They get ridiculously creamy and thick when blended!
- Vanilla Extract – Using a full teaspoon of vanilla extract in a protein shake might seem a little over the top, but it really helps to bolster the eggnog flavor we’re after.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice – Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove, and allspice all in one convenient spice mix!
- Vanilla Protein Powder – Technically optional, but well worth the addition. Make sure to use a high-quality protein powder like Designer Whey. It’s full of probiotics and fiber, which makes it great for digestion. It also naturally sweetened with monk fruit and stevia, meaning you’re not adding a bunch of extra sugar to the mix.
Substitutions
This healthy eggnog milkshake is pretty perfect as is, but there’s always room for customization. Here are some substitutions to try:
- Eggnog – Since this is an eggnog shake, I don’t recommend making any substitutions here. That said, feel free to use non-dairy eggnog if needed!
- Unsweetened Almond Milk – Any unsweetened milk (dairy or plant-based) will also work.
- Frozen Banana – Frozen sweet potato or pumpkin would be good options here for their natural starchiness, but note that the shake will then taste more like pumpkin or sweet potato pie than eggnog.
- Vanilla Extract – Vanilla paste or powder would also work here.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice – Any warming spices are welcome here. I suggest using mostly cinnamon with a shake of nutmeg, ginger, or allspice.
- Vanilla Protein Powder – You could opt to use egg white powder or a pasteurized egg white to add protein here, or simply omit it.
How to Make An Eggnog Milkshake
My eggnog protein shake comes together in almost no time flat! Here’s how it’s done:
Step 1: First Blend. Pour the eggnog, almond milk, frozen banana, vanilla, and pumpkin spice in your blender. Blend on high for about 30-60 seconds, until smooth.
Step 2: Optional Second Blend. If using, add in protein powder and blend again until well combined. Serve immediately!
Tips & FAQ
It honestly depends on the brand. If you buy eggnog made with actual eggs in it, then there is the possibility for it to be a relatively good source of protein. That said, remember that traditional eggnog is one of the most calorically dense beverages around, so be sure to only consume it occasionally.
Again, it depends on the brand and how often you’re indulging. Traditional eggnog recipes call for heavy cream, whole milk, egg yolks, and sugar, among other ingredients, which would definitely have the potential to make you gain weight.
Generally speaking, vegan eggnogs available at stores are lighter in terms of calories, fat, and, often, added sugars. You can also help to control the nutrition by considering making your own eggnog from scratch.
As always, check the nutrition label before making your purchase. I suggest choosing a brand that has as few grams of added sugar and saturated fat as possible!
If it is made with milk and eggs, eggnog can be a rich source of calcium, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin D, and phosphorous.
Pro Tip: Peel your bananas before freezing! While I’m sometimes lazy and toss a whole bunch of browning bananas into the freezer with their peels on, it makes them less versatile. Granted, those bananas can still be used for things like my Blueberry Banana Oatmeal Muffins or Strawberry Banana Bread, but they’re hard to peel while they’re still frozen and end up quite mushy.
Instead, peel the bananas and slice them into roughly 1-inch pieces, then freeze on a parchment-lined plate or tray. Once they’re frozen through, you can store them in mason jars or zip-top bags for up to three months. Nice cream, smoothies, and healthy milkshakes, here we come!
Storage and Freezing
If you’d like to do some meal prep, I suggest measuring out the banana and vanilla in a wide-mouth glass jar or a quart-sized zip-top bag. When you’re ready to blend, simply measure out the eggnog, milk, spices, and protein powder to cut back on a few steps. The bananas will keep for up to 3 months.
Nutritional Info
While this eggnog protein shake is a bit more calorically dense than many of my other smoothie recipes, remember: it’s intended as a treat. Despite being much healthier than a regular milkshake, it’s still a milkshake!
The total nutritional content will definitely depend on the eggnog, milk, and protein powder options you choose. I used regular, full-fat dairy eggnog in mine and I have zero regrets. It was delicious! That said, I probably wouldn’t recommend drinking one every single day.
Even so, this tasty beverage is potent enough to replace a full meal, boasting a whopping 26 grams of protein and an impressive 7 grams of fiber per serving. For that reason, I feel perfectly fine trading it in for my breakfast on occasion. After all, ’tis the season!
Total nutritional content per shake is:
- Calories: 451 calories
- Total Fat: 15 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Sodium: 237 mg
- Carbohydrates: 57 g
- Fiber: 7 g
*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.
Pricing Info
This is what I personally paid to make this recipe:
- ⅔ cup eggnog: $0.33
- ⅓ cup unsweetened almond milk: $0.10
- 1 cup frozen banana: $0.23
- 1 tsp vanilla extract: $0.26
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice: $0.13
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder: $1.06
The total comes out to be around $2.07 per shake!
Other Smoothie Recipes
Tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comments below! I would really appreciate your feedback!
Recipe
Eggnog Milkshake
Equipment
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup eggnog
- ⅓ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 cup frozen banana
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional)
Instructions
- Pour the eggnog, almond milk, frozen banana, vanilla, and pumpkin spice in your blender. Blend on high for about 30-60 seconds, until smooth.
- If using, add in protein powder and blend again until well combined. Serve immediately!
Video
Nutrition
If you end up making this and loving it, take a photo and tag me on Instagram! I’d love to see your versions of my recipes! And feel free to rate it down below in the comment section. I would really appreciate it!
xoxo Megan
Kathleen says
I’m a big fan of everything eggnog. This smoothie is perfect for me and a great way to start the day.
Megan Byrd, RD says
I’m so glad you love it! 🙂
Beth says
Eggnog for breakfast?? Yes, please! I am not waiting for the holidays to enjoy this healthy drink!
Megan Byrd, RD says
Right? I wish you could buy eggnog all year round, but making your own is easy, too!
Andrea says
The perfect eggnog milkshake for this eggnog lover. The added almond milk hit the spot and made for a creamy milkshake.
Megan Byrd, RD says
So glad it came out perfectly 🙂
Carrie Robinson says
Oooooo… I just love eggnog! Definitely saving this recipe for the upcoming holiday season. 🙂
Megan Byrd, RD says
Yay! I’ll be making this myself as I wrap presents this year haha
Michele says
I love egg nog and milkshakes. So this combination includes two of my favorites and I was not disappointed. It was delicious! I will definitely make this at Christmas time.
Megan Byrd, RD says
Yay! That makes me so happy to hear! 🙂