How to Make Almond Milk (Recipe + Variations) (2024)

Almond milk is a healthy and inexpensive alternative toconventional dairy that you can easily make at home!Statistics show that many people are choosing dairy-free milks and other products due to allergies, concerns about sourcing, or just taste preference.

Why Make Almond Milk?

Like virtually every other food or drink, almond milk is both less expensive and healthier when you make it yourself. While there are decent store bought brands available now, many brands contain additives like carrageenanto remain shelf stable and a keep aconsistenttexture.

Almond milk is a low glycemic alternative to rice milk, and doesn’t cause problems with hormone levels like soy milk does. It can be used in place of regular milk in recipes and baking. It is easy to make and has a light taste.

We used almond milk when we were working on reversing our son’s dairy intolerance and I still often use it (or homemade coconut milk) in recipes, coffee, or to drink simply because it is so inexpensive and easy to make.

If you are dairy free, making your own almond milk is a great way to save money and avoid additives. As a bonus, you can use the leftover almond pulp to make almond flour for use in recipes! If you are nut free as well, coconut milk is another good alternative.

If you go through a lot of almond milk in your home, I have found that it is much faster to use the Nutr Machine. While it can be pricey (use code WELLNESSMAMA10 for a discount), it can pay for itself very quickly if you use it often enough!

How to Store Homemade Almond Milk

This recipe lasts approximately 4 days in the refrigerator. Our family easily consumes this much almond milk in a few days, but if you won’t use this, it is best to reduce the recipe and make less to use as you need it.

How to Make Almond Milk (Recipe + Variations) (1)

Homemade Almond Milk Recipe

This almond milk recipe is super simple to make at home in just minutes! It is customizable so you can adjust the sweetness and even add flavor, plus it is naturally dairy free, paleo, vegan and all around delicious!

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Servings

4 cups

Ingredients

Instructions

  • If desired, soak almonds for at least 12 hours in pure water with 1/2 tsp sea salt. This is an important step as it breaks down the phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors and cultures beneficial enzymes in the almonds. The longer the almonds soak, the creamier the finished milk will be. (Side note: soaking nuts should be done before eating them as well. Soak nuts in salt water for 12 hours, rinse them, and dry in oven on lowest heat. See tutorial here.)

  • Drain the soaking water and rinse the almonds well. Do not keep this water to re-use as it contains phytic acid and is best to discard it.

  • In blender or Vitamix combine almonds and pure water along with vanilla, sweeteners, or any other optional ingredients. See the notes below for some flavor suggestions.

  • Blend 2-3 minutes until smooth and creamy. Mixture will expand some, so make sure your blender is not full before starting it.

  • Strain mixture into a large bowl through a sprout bag, cheesecloth, or thin kitchen towel.

  • Pour into glass jar or pitcher and store in refrigerator for up to four days.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Homemade Almond Milk Recipe

Amount Per Serving (1 /2 cup)

Calories 34Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g6%

Saturated Fat 0.3g2%

Sodium 6mg0%

Carbohydrates 1.9g1%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 0.4g0%

Protein 1.9g4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notes

Reuse the Pulp: Save the pulp of the almonds, put on cookie sheet and dehydrate in oven on lowest heat until completely dry. Run through blender or food processor to make almond flour, which can be used in recipes in place of flour. Alternately, just store in the refrigerator for use in baking or smoothies.

Flavor Variations: Add ½ cup strawberries for strawberry almond milk, 1-2 TBSP cocoa powder for chocolate almond milk, or any other flavor you can imagine!

Imitation Store Bought Almond Milk: This recipe will produce a creamy almond milk that is much better than store bought almond milk (in my opinion). Most store bought milks only use 2% almonds so they are low calorie but you’re essentially buying water in a box. If you prefer this type of almond milk, you can reduce the amount of almonds to ¼ or ½ cup and use the recipe above.

Like this recipe? Check out my new cookbook, or get all my recipes (over 500!) in a personalized weekly meal planner here!

Do you eat almonds? Ever used almond or coconut milk in place of regular milk? Tell me below!

How to Make Almond Milk (Recipe + Variations) (2024)

FAQs

How do you make almond milk better? ›

Flavor boosters: if you love vanilla almond milk like I do, you'll want to add some vanilla extract, honey and a pinch of sea salt. You don't need much but it gives the almond milk such a delicious flavor.

How is almond milk made? ›

Making homemade almond milk starts with soaking almonds overnight in cool water. The water is then drained out and the almonds are added to a blender along with fresh water, salt, and any additional add-ins (such as dates for sweetness or vanilla, cacao powder, or berries for flavor variations).

How many almonds does it take to make almond milk? ›

Ingredients Needed to Make Almond Milk

Start with a ratio of 1 cup almonds to 2 cups water when making almond milk. This makes a milk that is roughly the consistency of 2% milk. If you'd like a thinner milk, use more water next time; for thicker milk, use less.

What makes almond milk different? ›

The main difference between them is that almond milk has fewer calories than regular milk. Almond milk is prepared by blending almonds with water and then draining the mixture to remove solids. Many manufacturers of almond milk add supplements to it to match the nutrient levels of regular milk.

How do you make almond milk taste creamier? ›

My general rule of thumb is to soak almonds for at least 12 hours and up to 48 hours—any longer and your almonds may start to spoil or sprout. The easiest way to do it is simply to set up the soak before bed and let them sit overnight. You'll have creamy, dreamy almond milk just in time for your morning cup of coffee.

Does homemade almond milk taste better? ›

Homemade nut milk also tastes way better than store bought! It actually has the natural flavour of nuts and you can add your own personal touch such as cinnamon, nutmeg, dates, maple or vanilla bean.

What are the three ingredients in almond milk? ›

Three simple ingredients create our simply delicious Organic Almondmilk. Water, almonds and sea salt blend together for dairy-free goodness in its purest form. Smooth and versatile with zero compromise. Certified organic.

How do you thicken almond milk? ›

If you want a thicker and more creamy almond milk, you can use 2 cups of almonds to 3 cup of water. If you have a powerful blender like a Vitamix, it will be able to blend this no problem.

What is the main ingredient in almond milk? ›

Almond milk is made from almonds that have been soaked in water. The almonds are usually blended, and the liquid is strained to remove solids. Not all almond milk is the same: Some options offer more nutrition.

Do I have to soak my almonds before making almond milk? ›

I've made almond milk with soaked and unsoaked nuts, and both methods work as long as your blender is strong enough. Soaking the nuts, however, cuts down on the amount of phytic acid.

Is it cheaper to make almond milk or buy it? ›

The Verdict. If you're purely looking at numbers, the answer is clear: It's mostly cheaper to buy packaged milk than to DIY. This is likely because non-dairy milk producers buy massive quantities of nuts in bulk, which reduces cost significantly.

Is it cheaper to make almond milk than buy? ›

Yes and no. If you're making nut milk and using a ton of nuts to make only a few cups of milk, then yes, it's quite pricey. However, if you're making oat milk, it would end up being even cheaper than buying it from the store.

Is there a downside to almond milk? ›

Cons of almond milk

It's not a good source of protein. It may contain carrageenan, which may cause digestive issues in some people. There are some environmental concerns about the amount of water used to cultivate almonds.

What is better than almond milk? ›

If, like many of us, you're looking to pump up the protein and fiber in your meals to maintain a healthy weight and feel satisfied, oat milk may be the milk alternative to add to your cart, as it contains more of each macronutrient.

Does almond milk go bad? ›

Once opened, store-bought almond milk lasts for up to 10 days when kept in the refrigerator. Homemade almond milk perishes more quickly. “It will separate when it sits for a few hours. Give it shake and it's good as new, but I would use homemade almond milk within 3 days,” White says.

How do you make almond milk taste like cow's milk? ›

It's the best of both worlds if you take your cream with a little coffee. So saying, the only way to add milk flavor to your almond milk would be to add milk components. Lactose (sugar), whey and casein (proteins), butter fat, and more all contribute to the flavor of milk.

Is it OK to heat up almond milk? ›

Almond milk: Almond milk is a popular choice for smoothies, cereal, and other cold drinks, but it can be a bit trickier to use in cooking and baking. While it can be heated, it has a tendency to separate and curdle at high temperatures, so it's best to use it in recipes that don't require a lot of heat.

What does almond milk taste best with? ›

Almond milk is also terrific in place of dairy milk in French toast, bread pudding, mashed potatoes, creamy bisques or curries, ice cream (churned), baked goods and, of course, smoothies and milkshakes.

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