Almonds are loaded with nutrition. They offer protein, fiber, calcium, iron, fat, vitamin E, antioxidants and other minerals.
Making homemade almond milk is simple, delicious and can be extremely cost effective if you’ve already got a blender and nut milk bag.
While, yes, of course it is convenient to be able to drive over to your local grocery store and purchase a jug of almond milk, there’s often a long list of ingredients and it can be quite pricey! Plus, homemade almond milk just simply taste better! Homemade almond milk means you have complete control over what you’re putting in your milk; no gums or additives needed. Just keep it simple with almonds, filtered water and your sweetener of choice and you’ll have some delicious homemade almond milk ready to go in a just a few minutes (post soaking).
Here’s what you need:
- Almonds – any kind will work!
- Filtered Water
- High Powered Blender
- Nut Milk Bag
That’s it! Of course, you can always add salt or sweeten the milk with vanilla extract, maple syrup, cinnamon or dates. Even add in 1 or 2 tablespoons of cacao powder and you’ve got yourself some chocolate milk! Yum!
Directions:
- Soak 1 cup of almonds with a pinch of salt in cool water overnight or for at least 6 hours. If time is of the essence, soak 1 cup of almonds in VERY hot water for 1 hour instead.
- When almonds are done soaking, drain and rinse. Add soaked almonds and 4 to 5 cups of fresh, filtered water to your high powered blender and blend until smooth. For a creamier milk, start with 4 cups of water. For a less creamy milk, add 5 cups of water.
If you are adding salt or any sweeteners to your milk, do so now and continue to blend until smooth (1-2 minutes).
- Grab a large mixing bowl and place your nut milk bag over the bowl. Pour the almond milk and carefully bring the top of the nut milk bag together, while lifting up at the same time.
- Squeeze until all liquid has been extracted.
- Transfer milk to bottle or jar and store in the refrigerator.
Milk will last for 4 days in fridge. Shake prior to use.
*Notes: If you’re starting with blanched almonds, follow directions as listed above. If you’re starting with almonds with the skin on, follow directions here first. Once the almonds are done with their “soak bath”, if you put an almond between your thumb and pointer finger, the almond should pop right out, leaving the skin behind in your fingers. Do this to remainder of the almonds before placing into blender with filtered water. This step is not necessary, though. You can make almond milk with or without the skin!
What to do with all that fresh, homemade almond milk?
Use it in your cereal
Make chia pudding or overnight oats
Add it to your morning coffee or matcha
Make a smoothie or milkshake with it
Use it in baked foods and ice creams
Want to learn how to make cashew butter next? Click here for easy step by step instructions!