There’s a precise moment that signals the holidays have officially arrived: the playlist shifts, the sweater comes out. You take that first sip of something warm and spiced and think, yes, this tastes like December. This year, that cozy moment doesn’t need eggs, cream, or a sugar crash to come with it.
In this blog, we’re walking through a simple oat milk recipe for a vegan “oat-nog” base you can make once and keep in the fridge, plus easy ways to turn it into hot and iced oat-nog lattes for brunches, movie nights, or post-dinner treats.
Why Go Dairy-Free with Eggnog and Lattes This Holiday Season
Traditional eggnog is nostalgic, yes. It’s also famously heavy. Thick cream, eggs, and lots of sugar can leave you feeling more sluggish than festive, especially if you’re sipping more than one mug over the season.
That’s why so many people are quietly rethinking their holiday drinks. Not to be restrictive, but to feel better after enjoying them. Going dairy-free doesn’t mean giving up nutmeg, vanilla, or that cozy richness. It just means reworking the base.
A vegan oat-nog built on a solid oat milk recipe gives you all the warm, spiced comfort without the heaviness. Koatji’s slow-crafted oat and koji milk makes that swap feel easy. It’s creamy, gently sweet, and built to work in coffee drinks, which means your oat-nog can live comfortably in both mugs and lattes all week long.
What Makes a Great Vegan “Oat-Nog”: Flavor, Texture, and Sweetness
Flavor comes first. Nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, and a hint of clove. These spices do the nostalgic heavy lifting, bringing warmth and familiarity without overpowering coffee or espresso later.
Texture matters just as much. You want it thick enough to feel festive, but still pourable. Something that steams well without turning syrupy when heated.
Then there’s sweetness. The best versions are gently sweet, not dessert-level. Koatji's fermentation process breaks down some oat starch into natural sugars, giving the milk a rounded sweetness that lets you use less added syrup overall.
Once you understand those three pieces, the oat-nog base becomes easy to batch and even easier to reuse.
Koatji Oat-Nog Base: One Oat Milk Recipe for a Week of Holiday Drinks
Start with Koatji Barista Oat & Koji Milk. Add a touch of maple syrup or your preferred sweetener, vanilla extract, freshly grated nutmeg, cinnamon, and a small pinch of salt to wake everything up. If you love deeper spice, a whisper of clove or allspice works beautifully.
Whisk the spices and sweetener into a portion of the milk until smooth, then top it up with the rest. Taste, adjust, and chill. A few hours in the fridge lets the flavors settle and soften into something cohesive.
Stored in a sealed container, this oat-nog base keeps well for three to four days. Sip it cold, heat it gently, or turn it into lattes as the week unfolds. It’s flexible by design.
Turn Your Oat-Nog into a Hot Latte: Cozy Mugs for Movie Nights
Hot oat-nog lattes are where this really shines.
Brew a shot or two of espresso, or strong coffee if that’s what you have. Heat or steam the Koatji oat-nog base until it’s glossy and lightly foamed. Pour it over the espresso, finish with a soft cap of foam, and dust with nutmeg.
The drink feels rich without being heavy. Koatji’s barista-friendly foam holds up beautifully, so you don’t need syrups or cream to make it feel special.
If you want to tweak it, go extra-spiced for peak holiday energy, or use decaf for late-night movie marathons.
Iced Oat-Nog Lattes and Dessert-Style Drinks for Holiday Gatherings
The same oat-nog works cold, which makes it surprisingly useful for entertaining.
Shake chilled oat-nog with espresso and ice, then strain into a glass. If you have a frother, a little cold foam on top adds a café touch. Garnish with cinnamon, an orange peel, or even cookie crumbs along the rim for a dessert-leaning vibe.
For after-dinner drinks, use decaf espresso, add extra vanilla, and serve in smaller glasses. It feels indulgent without tipping into too much.
Benefits of Choosing Koatji for Your Holiday “Eggnog” Base
One of the benefits of oat milk during the holidays is its adaptability. One carton can cover coffee, tea, baking, and festive drinks without feeling out of place.
Koatji fits that role exceptionally well. It’s plant-based, dairy-free, and made with organic, non-GMO ingredients. There are no gums, fillers, preservatives, or added sweeteners hiding in the label.
The result is a base that feels indulgent but not overwhelming, which is precisely what most of us want this time of year.
Is Oat Milk Gluten-Free and What About Koatji?
A common question that comes up is: Is oat milk gluten-free?
Oats are naturally gluten-free, but they may be exposed to gluten during cultivation, transport, or processing. That means not all oat milks are certified gluten-free.
Koatji is made with naturally gluten-free ingredients, but it is not certified gluten-free due to potential cross-contact. For people with celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivity, certified options are essential, and labels should always guide the decision.
Hosting and Gifting Ideas: Oat-Nog in a Bottle, Koatji by the Carton
This oat-nog travels well, which makes it great for sharing.
Pour it into glass bottles with handwritten labels as host gifts. Set up a vegan oat-nog latte bar with Koatji, espresso, spices, and toppings for brunch. Or pair a carton of Koatji with a jar of homemade spice mix as a thoughtful, dairy-free present for coffee lovers.
Where Koatji Fits in Your Holiday Ritual (and Beyond)
A good oat milk recipe can anchor an entire season of drinks, especially when it’s built on a milk designed for coffee and flavor from the start.
Koatji’s slow-crafted oat and koji blend brings natural creaminess, gentle sweetness, and barista-friendly foam to vegan “egg-nog” and oat-nog lattes alike. It works hot or iced, festive or everyday.
If you’re looking for your first oat milk recipe of the season, this oat-nog is a great place to start. Cozy, flexible, and easy to come back to long after the playlists change.
Explore Koatji and its slow-crafted oat and koji blend today!
