• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Real + Vibrant logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Tips
  • Cookbook
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Tips
    • Cookbook
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Drinks

    How to Make Almond Milk

    Published: Nov 13, 2018 · Updated: Apr 7, 2020 by Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Three bottles of almond milk.

    Learning how to make almond milk is a great place to start when you're looking to cut down on dairy. Almond milk is a delicious vegan alternative and easy to make. It's made with only a couple of ingredients - almonds and filtered water.

    Bottles of homemade almond milk

    Almond milk has a neutral taste so it's ideal for daily use and works well with most recipes that call for milk. You can easily customize the flavor of the milk, based on desired sweetness, additional ingredients you choose to use and desired consistency.

    For individuals who follow a vegan diet or are looking to cut down on their dairy intake, almond milk is a tasty and affordable alternative to dairy.

    However, making your own almond milk can be just as affordable, if not cheaper (depending on the cost of almonds and whether you opt or organic almond).

    Ingredients you'll need

    To make almond milk at home, you'll need the following ingredients:

    • Raw almonds: Soak the almonds in water overnight. Remove the peel or leave it intact.
    • Water
    • Medjool date: Remove the pit and soak in water for 15 minutes.
    • Vanilla extract: For a vanilla flavor, add vanilla extract or vanilla bean.
    • Sea salt: Just a pinch.
    Pouring a glass of almond milk.

    How to make almond milk

    Making your own almond milk is simple, straightforward, and comes down to these 5 simple steps:

    1. Soak raw almonds: I prefer organic almonds, however, they aren't always easy to find and can cost significantly more. They will double in size as they absorb the water. In the morning, rinse the soaked almonds well in cool water.

    2. Combine with water: in a blender, combine the rinsed almonds with 4 cups of water. Use 3 cups if you like your almond milk a little thicker. Add any sweeteners and a pinch of sea salt.

    3. Blend: process until smooth and creamy, for about 1-2 minutes.

    4. Strain: Using a nut milk bag, strain the milk into a glass bottle.

    Storing for later

    Store the milk in an air-tight glass bottle in the fridge for up to 3 days. Be sure to smell the almond milk before enjoying it as it will start to smell tangy when it's starting to go bad.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is almond milk vegan? Yes. Almond milk is vegan since it's only made with almonds and water. No dairy is used to make almond milk.

    Is soaking the almonds necessary? Almonds don't need to be soaked in water beforehand. However, I recommend soaking them for a smoother and creamier milk texture. After the nuts have soaked in water, it takes about 5 minutes to make the milk.

    Is it worth my time? That's for you to decide. After you learn how to make almond milk and practice making it a couple of times, you'll realize just how easy it is to make it on a regular basis. Just like eating at home, you have to carve a little time for it.

    Can I use it as a milk replacement? Absolutely, once you know how to make almond milk, there are countless ways to enjoy it. For instance, you can enjoy it on its own, in smoothies, matcha, tea, desserts, baking, snacks, and coffee.

    Is it kid-friendly? Assuming your child is okay with nuts and seeds, nut milk is a kid-friendly option.

    A jar of milk and two glasses of almond milk.

    Recipes that use almond milk

    • Matcha Latte (and Iced Matcha Latte)
    • Overnight Steel Cut Oats
    • Chia Seed Pudding (and Chocolate Chia Pudding)
    • Strawberry Banana Smoothie
    • Morning Green Smoothie

    More dairy-free milk recipes

    • Cashew Milk
    • Oat Milk

    I hope you love this recipe as much as I do. Sign up for my email updates to get delicious recipes delivered straight to your inbox. You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.

    Three jars of almond milk

    Almond Milk

    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep time: 10 minutes
    Total time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 43kcal
    Author: Sapana Chandra
    Almond milk is a creamy and delicious alternative to dairy milk. It's easy to make and requires only a couple of ingredients. It has a neutral taste so it's great for enjoying on a daily basis. You can customize it based on desired sweetness and consistency.

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup raw almonds, soaked overnight
    • 4 cups water
    • 1 date, optional
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
    • pinch of sea salt

    Instructions

    • Rinse and drain the soaked almonds. You have an option to peel the almonds (I recommend this if you aren't using organic almonds).
    • Combine with water and salt in a blender (preferably a high-speed blender). Blend until smooth and creamy. If using, add the dates and vanilla extract and blend for an additional 1-2 minutes.
    • Strain the milk using a nut milk bag, a fine-mesh sieve, or a cheesecloth. Compost or save the pulp.
    • Transfer milk into a glass jar or container and refrigerate. Enjoy immediately or store in the fridge for 3-4 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 43kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 3g, Sodium: 338mg, Potassium: 11mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Calcium: 308mg
    Course: Beverage
    Cuisine: American
    Tried this recipe?Mention @realandvibrant and hashtag #realandvibrant!
    « Sauteed Brussels Sprouts
    Morning Green Smoothie »
    240 shares
    • Yummly
    • Share
    • Tweet

    About Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC

    Sapana Chandra is a certified health coach, author of Plant Power Bowls, and founder of Real +Vibrant. Here you’ll find simply delicious vegetarian recipes with step-by-step photo instructions – recipes you’ll be excited to enjoy and share with your loved ones.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Stacey says

      June 01, 2019 at 11:12 am

      I had no idea how easy it was to make almond milk! Never going back to store-bought almond milk after this.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        December 08, 2019 at 6:46 pm

        So happy to hear, Stacey!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Sapana Chandra

    Hi, I'm Sapana! I’m a recipe developer and author of the cookbook Plant Power Bowls. Here you'll find simple, delicious, vegetarian recipes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Learn more about me

    As seen on

    Sites that Real + Vibrant has been featured on.

    Spring favorites

    • Mango Salsa
    • Grapefruit Margarita
    • Pesto Pasta Salad
    • Vegan Blueberry Scones

    Get your copy

    Cover for Plant Power Bowls Cookbook

    Popular recipes

    • Banana Chocolate Chip Bars
    • Coconut Chickpea Curry
    • Overnight Oats with Superfoods
    • Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

    Footer

    Featured In

    As Featured On

    Information

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Affiliate Disclaimer

    About

    • About Sapana
    • Press
    • Cookbook
    • Work with Me

    Follow

    • Contact
    • Newsletter
    • Instagram
    • Facebook

    ©2022 Real + Vibrant • All Rights Reserved

    240 shares