Almond Milk
Almond milk is super easy to make as is an excellent replacement for dairy milk. It’s just as smooth and silky, but better for you.
This almond milk recipe is so simple and produces creamy, fresh almond milk every time! After making it a couple of times, the process will get very fast. I use about 1/2 bottle of fresh almond milk every week for different things such as coffee, and yogurt, and I’ve seen it used on granola cereal many, many times. Almond milk is creamier than oat milk or soy milk and is a natural for any recipe that calls for a smoother, silkier milk. This almond milk recipe is a great replacement for cow’s milk and you can make it affordably and quickly.
I’ve never liked animal milk and I can tell you why. I grew up on a dairy farm in Maine. Our business was milking cows and selling the milk. Every morning and every afternoon the entire family milked roughly 100 head of cattle. If you don’t know (and you wouldn’t unless you know how a dairy farm works!), dairy farmers milk their herd and then store the raw milk in a huge, chilled holding tank in the “milk room” usually located in the barn. The milk companies generally come by every other day and empty the tank and take it to the factory to be pasteurized. Raw cow’s milk is very thick and yellowish and the cream rises naturally to the top. My family drank it straight from the cow. By the time I was 12 years old or so, I boycotted cow’s milk. It just didn’t feel right to drink cow’s milk. Later in my life, I found non-dairy kinds of milk and I started using it again in moderation.
Almond Milk Ingredients and Equipment
It’s the perfect one-two punch. It doesn’t be much easier than that.
- Almonds. I use raw almonds. Use plain, unsalted almonds that haven’t been roasted. If you want super white almond milk use blanched almonds
- Water. I used filtered water.
- Sweeteners like honey, sugar, agave syrup, or maple syrup (optional).
- Blender. Any blender will do, but a high speed blender, such as a Vitamin is faster and easier.
- Milk bag. A reusable milk bag make straining you almond milk easier, but cheesecloth works well too. Don’t use a cloth with link, for obvious reasons.
Reasons why You’ll LOVE Making Your Own Almond Milk
There are so many reason to use almond milk over cow’s milk! Here are just a few I can think off the top of my head.
- No plastic packaging! When you make your own almond milk you can transfer it directly to a glass bottle or any other glass container. This cuts down on plastic usage and makes trips to the recycling center that much less frequent.
- No preservatives! Your almond milk won’s have any preservatives added to increase the shelf life. In short, you will always know exactly what is in your milk!
- Fresh! Your almond milk will be fresh. Soak the almonds the night before and whip it up fresh in the morning. It really doesn’t get any better than that!
- It’s better for you. Milk and other dairy products are the top source of saturated fat in the American diet, contributing to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.
- No female farm animals involved! As someone who grew up on a dairy farm, I can say it’s heartbreaking to know female cows are being used unnaturally for their milk. It’s just gross to drink female animal milk. End of story.
WATCH ME MAKE THIS RECIPE
How To Make Almond Milk
Almond milk is SO easy to make. Don’t think YOU can’t make it! Just follow the directions below!
First, soak your almonds overnight. Cover them in water and put a towel or bowl cover over them. In the morning, the water will be cloudy.
Then, break out your high speed blender and add the strained almonds along with the water.
Blend on high speed for one minute.
From your blender, pour the milk into a milk bag or cheesecloth. Gently squeeze the bag until only pulp remains.
Finally, pour your fresh, clean almond milk into a glass container.
Almond Milk Variations
Almond milk is very flexible and allows for modifications. Here are some my my suggestions.
- Make it smoother! Use less water to make you milk thicker and a bit creamier.
- Pure white! Use blanched almonds for super white milk.
- Make it sweet! Use sweeteners such as agave syrup as a sweetener
- Spice it up! Sometimes I add cinnamon to my milk. I don’t do that in the blender, but when I’m actually using the milk. For example, when I use it a cup of coffee. It’s a flavorful addition.
Almond milk might separate a bit in the bottle, but you can simple shake it up. I like my almond milk fresh, so I don’t refrigerate beyond 4 or 5 days. Sometimes, I make a small batch and just whip it up quickly in the morning. With any kind of milk, fresh is better.
Uses for Almond Milk
Generally speaking, almond milk has more body than oat milk or soy milk and lends itself to certain recipes.
- Vegan Corn Chowder. I use almond milk in all of my chowders, because it has more body than some other non-dairy milks. It holds up to heat and blends supports all sorts of veggies.
- On cereal. I make my own granola (which my daughter LOVES!) She likes to pour over my homemade granola for a satisfying breakfast or snack.
- In coffee or tea. Almond milk is perfect for coffee or tea.
- In shakes. Almond milk is a natural for shakes. It’s got enough body to any shake smooth and creamy.
If you try this almond milk recipe let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!
Almond Milk
Equipment
- 1 blender (high-speed blender works best)
- 1 milk strainer bag (cheesecloth works tooº
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw almond soaked overnight
- 4 cups water filtered
- 1 tsp sweetener (such as agave syrup or maple syrup)
Instructions
- Soak 2 cups raw almonds overnight
- Strain and rinse again
- Add to high speed blender with water
- Blend on high for 1 minute (any longer can make you milk mushy)
- Pour into mesh milk bag or cheesecloth
- Pour into glass container
- Refrigerate for 4 to 5 days
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