We Found the Best Eggnog at the Grocery Store

The best eggnog (or the best egg nog, depending on your preferences—we prefer eggnog, one word) should be creamy, sweet, and spiced. Nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, and allspice are all welcome in this eggnog tasting. Eggnog is a special holiday treat; we don’t drink it often, so we want it to blow us away.

Eggnog is great because it’s so damn rich and luxurious. Eggnog has buttery, thick, fatty richness going for it, and that’s reflected in the nutritional facts (don’t read those on a carton of eggnog, btw). But, hey, all the best foods certainly shorten our lifespans. And in addition to being dangerously decadent, the best eggnog is also warmly spiced and comforting. Eggnog, like all of us, contains multitudes. 

Every holiday season, we scour the dairy aisle to find new eggnog brands, limited edition eggnog flavors, and more options for the best store bought eggnog that we may have overlooked. And just to be clear—these are all non-alcoholic options. If you want to spike your nog, you’ll have to BYOB (bring your own bourbon, brandy, or, uh… b-rum).  We’ve got oatmilk eggnog, lactose free eggnog, low fat eggnog, almond milk eggnog, or classic, full-fat, full-dairy eggnog. We looked for eggnog with a deliciously rich flavor, bold spice, and appropriate thickness. Good eggnog should feel like a special treat. So what’s the best store bought eggnog for the holidays this year? Let’s get into it.

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Best Lactose Free

Lactaid Lactose Free Eggnog

Walmart

Instacart

As we found in our best lactose free milk taste test, lactose free milk is often quite sweet on its own—so it’s a good base for eggnog. And this lactose free eggnog is still creamy, too. My only issue with it is that it’s not spiced enough for my liking. It tastes like liquid vanilla pudding or melted vanilla ice cream, which is not a bad thing. I just wish there were more spices in the mix to make it taste more like the holidays. — Justine Sterling  

Credit: Merc / Instacart

Rating:

6.5/10

Sporks

Best Vanilla

Shamrock Farms Vanilla Spice Eggnog

Instacart

Shamrock Farms Vanilla Spice Eggnog is basically a vanilla milkshake disguised as eggnog. That might not appeal to everyone, but it’s undeniably delicious. It’s extra thick, rich, and creamy, with a sweet vanilla flavor that’s gently warmed by a mild blend of cozy spices. It’s more of a dessert than a classic, old-timey holiday drink; I could see kids (and vanilla latte devotees) really enjoying this egg nog flavor. —Ariana Losch

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

Best Almond Milk Eggnog

Almond Breeze Almond Nog

Instacart

Almond Breeze almond milk eggnog actually edged out a lot of the full-fat eggnogs I tried. The almond flavor provides some really excellent flavor. It’s made with cane sugar, rice starch, and almond milk, and it maintains that fatty, spiced nog flavor that we were looking for in the best dairy free eggnog. Managing editor Gwynedd Stuart was a big fan of it, citing it as “refreshing.” I concur. This is the best vegan eggnog if almond milk is your alternative milk of choice. — Danny Palumbo

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best Flavored

Kroger Rich & Creamy Cinnamon Eggnog

Ralphs

Kroger came out with a full line of eggnogs this year, including pumpkin flavored eggnog, vanilla eggnog, and low fat eggnog. But the cinnamon flavored eggnog was the only one that really stood out. If you’re interested in eggnog but don’t like nutmeg, then allow me to introduce you to this cinnamon-only eggnog, it may be the best tasting eggnog for your palate. Think of creamy, thick chocolate milk—now imagine the chocolate is gone and instead it’s cinnamon. That’s what this eggnog tastes like. It also reminds me of Häagen-Dazs cinnamon ice cream, which is probably my favorite Häagen-Dazs ice cream. If you feel similarly, head to your local Kroger or Kroger affiliate, ASAP. —Justine Sterling 

Credit: Merc / Ralphs

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best Eggnog with Booze

Sprouts Organic Eggnog

Instacart

Now this is eggy eggnog. (How eggy is it?) It’s so eggy, that it droops and gloops out of the damn container like fancy Christmas sludge. Because of the thickness, I think this is the one of the best eggnog brands to mix with alcohol. The problem with mixing things like bourbon and rum with store bought eggnog is that the nog becomes too thin and thus loses its iconically thick texture. That won’t be a problem with Sprouts eggnog, which is almost made for booze. And the flavor of Sprouts’ eggnog is on point too. The nutmeg provides some warm, nutty notes. And it’s rich, buttery, and delicious. Buy it, then stir in some alcohol with confidence. — Danny Palumbo

Credit: Liv Averett/Instacart

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best Extra Creamy

Broguiere’s Eggnog

Amazon

Instacart

This eggnog made me say “good lord” out loud (to absolutely no one but myself). Broguiere’s eggnog is curiously rich, but I think the secret ingredient is egg yolk powder. That powder offers a lot of rich, fatty, condensed flavor, so the egg flavor in this nog is really off the charts. Broguiere’s puts their eggnog in a faux milk bottle complete with a smiling cow on the label, so it comes off as eggnog straight from the farm—but that’s misleading. Broguiere’s uses corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup in their ingredients. Combine that with egg yolk powder, and it doesn’t exactly scream homemade. It could also benefit from some aromatics. Still, the flavor is very, very good. Sweet, creamy, and lavish, Broguiere’s is the best eggnog for those who like a full egg yolk flavor. — Danny Palumbo

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best Vegan Eggnog

Chobani Oatmilk Oat Nog

Walmart

Chobani makes the best non dairy eggnog we tried. You get the thickness of a classic eggnog—we’re talking super-duper creamy—and the flavor is spot on. It’s sweet and nutmeg-y. And you don’t really even taste the oatiness of the oatmilk. You could definitely pass this off as standard oatmilk, which makes it the best vegan eggnog to buy. —Justine Sterling

Credit: Merc / Walmart

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best Classic

Trader Joe’s Egg Nog

Trader Joe’s

If you’re a devoted Trader Joe’s shopper during the holiday season (which, I totally get it—the winter vibes are immaculate), don’t even look anywhere else for the best eggnog. This stuff is everything you want. It’s creamy without being too heavy. It’s frothy, but still smooth and rich. It brings the whole gamut of spices with every sip—and you can really taste the cinnamon here, too. I’ve noticed that even some of the best eggnogs could use a cinnamon stick or two. —Ariana Losch

Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Classy

Promised Land Old Fashioned Eggnog

Instacart

Ralphs

To me, the best eggnog almost tastes a little boozy, even when it’se alcohol-free. Promised Land’s Old Fashioned Eggnog finishes on a neat, sophisticated note that actually reminds of bourbon in an Old Fashioned. (Maybe that’s just the power of suggestion in the name, but I swear I can taste it!) The kick of nutmeg adds a clean, punchy spice that balances the rich creaminess and elevates the overall taste. I’m addicted to this stuff, plain and simple. It’s limited edition, too, so buy it while you can! —Ariana Losch

Credit: Liv Averett / Ralphs

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Low Fat Eggnog

Organic Valley Reduced Fat Eggnog

Instacart

Ralphs

I can’t believe this is low fat eggnog. Okay, maybe it’s not, like, fat-free, but it is 33% less fat than Organic Valley’s regular eggnog. And you’d never know it. It’s so, so thick and decadent. But even beyond that, it’s a very unique eggnog. It tastes like it was spiced with freshly grated nutmeg. You get this drying effect on the end of every sip, which keeps you coming back for more. And while it’s certainly sweetened, it’s not super sweet. You won’t mistake this for melted ice cream. If you want an eggnog that’s scaled back on fat but still a treat, this is the best eggnog brand for you. —Justine Sterling 

Credit: Merc / Ralphs

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Spiced

Alexandre Organic A2/A2 Homegrown Eggnog

Instacart

Ralphs

Alexandre Homegrown Eggnog is the best tasting eggnog in my opinion. While a lot of products just sort of mysteriously list “spices” in the ingredients, Alexandre lists cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove, and turmeric. That’s a lot of warm, spiced flavor, and no other eggnog comes close to matching Alexandre’s wonderful blend of aromatics. Alexandre eggnog is also made with cane sugar, egg yolks, organic milk, and organic cream. Alexandre is one of the best eggnog brands for those who like to feel a little fancy and decadent. —Danny Palumbo

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

Southern Comfort Traditional Egg Nog

Walmart

Instacart

Amazon

Southern Comfort eggnog is rich, creamy, and has just the right amount of sweetness. A lot of eggnog can be far too sugary, but Southern Comfort gets everything just right. It’s made with milk, cream, egg yolks, and also high fructose corn syrup. I don’t love that there’s high fructose corn syrup in it (like, why?), but the taste is absolutely undeniable. For me, the best part about it is you really taste the egg yolks. It’s deliciously rich because of that bold, eggy flavor. Sweet, subtle, and luxurious, Southern Comfort is the best eggnog we tried. —Danny Palumbo

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Other products we tried: Southern Comfort Vanilla Spice Eggnog, Alta Dena Eggnog, Simple Truth Eggnog, Califia Farms Eggnog, R.W. Knudsen Eggnog, Lucerne Eggnog, Hood Eggnog, Silk Eggnog, Kroger Rich & Creamy Pumpkin Egg Nog, Kroger Rich & Creamy Low Fat Egg Nog, Kroger Rich & Creamy Original Egg Nog, Good & Gather Oatmilk Holiday Nog, Bolthouse Farms Holiday Nog, So Delicious Coconutmilk Holiday Nog, Favorite Day Egg Nog, Favorite Day Light Egg Nog, Good Karma Dairy Free Pumpkin Spice Nog, Trader Joe’s Oat Non Dairy Egg Nog, Trader Joe’s Almond Nog