If you’re on the hunt for dairy-free milk alternatives, this almond milk recipe is for you.
Remember those iconic “Got Milk?” ads from the ‘90s? It seems you couldn’t flip a page in a magazine or see a billboard without spotting a celebrity rocking a milk mustache. Thirty years later, milk alternatives are the rage. Supermarkets and grocery stores stock every kind of nut and bean milk. Starbucks offers dairy-free coffee drinks like the Almond Milk Honey Flat White and the Coconut Milk Latte.
Got Dairy-Free Milk?
In this day and age, more people are choosing to reduce or completely eliminate dairy products from their diets (there’s even a Kardashian whose family only drinks homemade almond milk, organic rice milk, or organic coconut milk). Whether it’s for ethical reasons, allergy management, or health-driven, you can’t deny that the nut milk population is large.
Nuts and cereals have different nutritional values. Noom has a great guide on which alternative milk to choose based on your needs. Oat milk is a fan favorite in cafes that offer dairy-free alternatives because of its silky texture that foams and froths well for lattes. This is an excellent option for those with nut allergies and tastes great in your morning cup of joe.
With its savory taste and satiny finish, cashew milk is excellent in soups, sauces, and gravies. Coconut milk is arguably the richest and creamiest of all the dairy-free alternatives. It’s a great addition to soups, curries, and stews and is excellent for baking bread, muffins, or custard-like treats.
Almond Milk: Store-Bought or Homemade?
Almond milk has a slightly sweet, nutty flavor and a creaminess similar to low-fat cow’s milk. This makes it a popular choice to add to coffee, cereal, smoothies, and oatmeal (I love to drink it plain).
According to Women’s Health Mag, the downside to almond milk is that it’s low in protein; only 20% of the protein you’ll get from a glass of soy milk and 18% of what you’ll get from a glass of low-fat cow’s milk.
Note: If you are looking at almond milk as a dietary alternative to cow’s milk, make sure that the rest of your diet provides you with rich sources of protein, calcium, and vitamin D.
It has been argued that store-bought almond milk is low in actual almonds and high in thickeners, flavorings, and sugars. Making it yourself at home mean that you are in charge of everything that goes into your milk. You can decide how many almonds to use, use natural sweeteners if necessary, and omit additives or preservatives like carrageenan that may potentially harm your body.
How is Almond Milk Made?
Making almond milk in the comfort of your kitchen is a fun DIY project that is quick and easy.
You first start by soaking raw almonds in cold water. I like to add sunflower seeds to mine. If you can give it 6 to 8 hours, that’s great, but I prefer to soak mine overnight. The aim is to make sure that the nuts become saturated with the water, which makes it easier to blend, and you get a smoother, creamier texture.
Another benefit of soaking the almonds is that it becomes easier to pop the skins off before blending. But blending them with the skin won’t affect the outcome of your milk.
Place your almonds in a high-speed blender. You can either use the water that was used to soak them or fresh, filtered water. For every cup of almonds, I like to add 4 cups of water. Sometimes I add a tablespoon of raw tahini paste and hemp seeds to fortify the drink with calcium and omega-3 fats. If you want to add some sweetness to the drink, you can use dates that have been previously soaked in water or your natural sweetener of choice.
Blend for 1-2 minutes, ensuring that everything gets pulverized. Drain the contents of your blender into a nut milk bag that is draped over a container like a mixing bowl. I use a nylon nut milk bag in the video, but you can also use reusable bags made of unbleached cotton that can be found here.
Squeeze tightly to extract all of the liquid. And that’s it!
Making Almond Milk At Home: How Long Does It Last?
You now have some refreshing nut milk that tastes great when cold. But you might be wondering "Does almond milk go bad?" To answer the question of how long it will last before it goes bad, homemade almond milk can last 4-5 days when refrigerated.
But this is dependent on several things. Sterilization of your storage jars is a crucial factor. The freshness of your almonds and the temperature of your fridge also play a big part.
Almond Milk Recipe: Tips and Tricks
- Don’t use roasted, fried, salted, or sugared nuts. Using salted or sugared almonds will give you salted or sugared milk. Roasted almonds produce nut milk that is not as creamy and may even have a bitter taste. Raw, unseasoned nuts are your best bet.
- Your blender matters. Your blender plays a big role in the outcome of your milk. A regular one will give you watery and bland nut milk, with just a slight almond flavor. A powerful machine produces a creamy blend with a distinct almond flavor. Thrive Cuisine recommends blenders like Blendtec and Vitamix if you want to splurge, and the Nutribullet Pro 900 if you’re on a budget.
- Fresh nuts produce yummy milk. That “off” flavor you may be picking up in your almond milk could be because the nuts were not fresh when you bought or used them. Always purchase fresh nuts and store them in the freezer or a cool, dark place in an airtight container.
- Try adding seeds! In the video you'll notice that I used half a cup of almonds with half a cup of sunflower seeds. This is fun for variety and also adds different nutrients.
If You Enjoyed This Almond Milk Recipe, Then You Should Try…
This highly nutritious chlorella smoothie that gets its nutty kick from almonds.
My pantry granola recipe that includes nuts like almonds, pistachios, and hazelnuts.
The Parent Spot has a yummy almond milk berry smoothie that is simple and quick to make.
*Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through my links.
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Almond Milk Recipe | Ready in 10 Mins
Description
This is so easy and fun to make. It's a great way to use up leftover nuts and seeds in your pantry!
Ingredients
½ cup raw almonds
½ cup sunflower seeds
3 or 4 cups water
1 soft pitted date
Instructions
Soak the almonds and sunflower seeds in water to cover overnight.
The next day, strain the nuts and seeds. Place them in a blender with 3 cups fresh water. Add the date. Blend for 1 or 2 minutes, until creamy. Strain through a nut milk bag or a fine mesh strainer. Enjoy fresh and store any leftover milk in the refrigerator for 5 days or so.
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