Almond milk is one of our favorite plant milks, it’s cheap and so easy to prepare. In addition, it’s a healthy cow’s milk alternative, and you can drink it if you have lactose intolerance.
Almond milk is also lighter and has less cholesterol, so it’s a good option if you are dieting. If you are worried about calcium, I have good news for you, almonds have even more calcium than cow’s milk!
You can make almond milk only with two ingredients: almonds and water, but you can add dates (we are addicted to dates!), especially if you’re going to use it for sweet recipes, but it’s also delicious in savory recipes, actually we used this milk in our Vegan Pasta Alfredo recipe.
If you don’t like or you can’t eat dates, you can use any sweetener you like, such as agave or maple syrup, sugar, or whatever.
We soak almonds overnight because this way they are easier to peel and blend, but the number one reason is to activate almond enzymes and improve digestion. If you wanna know more about the benefits of soaking almonds you can read this post, it’s so interesting!
Fresh almond milk is so creamy, milky and delicious, but you can also drink it with coffee, carob, cocoa, cinnamon, you choose!
Almond milk
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 2 1x
- Category: Drink
- Cuisine: Vegan
Almond milk is cheap and so easy to prepare. In addition, it’s a healthy cow’s milk alternative. It’s also lighter, has less cholesterol and more calcium.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup raw unsalted almonds (100 g)
- 2–4 cups water (500 ml – 1 l), I usually add 3 to 4 cups (750 ml – 1 l)
- 2 Medjool or 4 Deglet Nour dates (optional), pitted
Instructions
- Soak the almonds for at least 4-6 hours, preferably overnight.
- Drain and rinse the almonds. You can peel them, but it’s not necessary.
- Add the almonds, water, and dates to a blender and blend until smooth. Add more or less water, depending on how thick you want your almond milk. I usually add 3 to 4 cups of water.
- Strain the mixture using a nut milk bag, a cheesecloth, a napkin or a strainer.
- Serve immediately or keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Can you make almond flour with the leftovers from this like you could make coconut flour after coconut milk? Thanks
Hi Trish! Yes, you can 🙂
I always wonder about throwing away the soaking water from things. Isn’t that throwing away nutrients?
And how about the strained almond pulp. Is it completely valueless now?
Hi Elaine! I prefer to discard the water, but it’s up to you. You can use the pulp to make smoothies and soups and add extra fiber, to make burger patties, energy balls, almond flour, and so on!
Hi Iosune, why do you need to peel the almonds? I love you blog!
Hi Violeta! You don’t need to peel them, I don’t peel them anymore 🙂 Thanks a lot!
This was my first attempt ever making Almond Milk. Great recipe it’s really simple, I must say I’m pleasantly surprised about the final product and I didn’t add any sweetener. I’ll never go back to store bought, too many additives and not enough almonds. My only suggestion would be to use the strainer and cheese cloth, I did it twice, unless you prefer a more gritty like texture. Thanks Iodune!
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Hi Laura! You’re so welcome 🙂 So glad you liked it!
Can this recipe be substituted with any nut to make milk, like cashew, etc?
Hi Kristen! I think any nut will do. Just try the milk and add more water if needed 🙂
Will this (or soy milk) freeze and thaw? I’d love to eliminate store bought containers since they’re no longer recyclable in our city, but I can’t make scratch recipes every three days!!!
Hi Summer! I’ve never frozen soy or almond milk myself, so I don’t know, sorry!
Hi .. can we heat homemade almond milk to prepare a hot chocolate?
Hi Vinitha! Yes, you can 🙂 Hope you like it!
Yesterday I made my first batches of homemade almond milk and loved it. I froze a few bottles as well. I have been using commercial unsweetened brands for years and recently found out that they contain very little almonds. I’m also concerned about the additives mostly carrageenan. I have IBS and was never bothered by the commercial brands. After drinking about 1/2 cup of my first homemade almond milk, pulp and all, I now have an IBS flare up with diarrhea. Are you aware of any negative side effects to homemade almond milk? The almonds that I used were organic, very expensive. Thank you.
Hi Colette! I’m not, I’m so sorry! Homemade almond milk is so healthy, but maybe it’s not for you… You could try other non dairy mik. Have a nice day!
Luv your blog…. Do have any recipes for mixed nut milks, Is mixing nuts like almonds, cashews, soy and rice…. Is it ok to mix, or does it give any complications to health………
Hi Faiz! Thanks a lot 😉 We have more plant milk recipes, but we prefer not to mix nuts because we you mix them the milk is harder to diggest. Here are the recipes: http://simpleveganblog.com/9-easy-plant-milk-recipes/ Have a nice day!
Almond milk is so expensive in my country, and it still has a lot of chemicals. This is recipe is a life (and money) savior since only one cups of almonds can yield so much milk. I’m definitely switching to making my own from now on.??
Hi Virginia! I’m so glad to read that, hope you like it!
Why list honey in a ‘vegan’ recipe on a supposedly vegan blog?
That was not required.
Hi Shane! This was one of our first recipes and we were transitioning to veganism at that moment. I’ve just edited the recipe. Thanks for your help!
Hello,
With the ingredients described what is the actual amount of milk we will have finally?
Thanks
Hi Kaloyan! About 2 cups or 500 ml 🙂
I am a new vegan and tried this and I don’t like store bought almond milk but this was really nice. I only put one date in as I wanted it less sweet. Now I have found the perfect substitute for dairy in my cup of tea. Gonna try the Spanish omelette next. Thanks guys.
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Hi Julie! I’m so happy to read that! Homemade plant milks are soooo good 😉 Hope you like the omelette!
Hi Iosune,
Very nice post, I have made almond milk and it was delicious! with some honey!!
I have a webpage with benefits of almonds, and I would like to add your recipe almond milk at the section with almond recipes!!
Do you agree? Of there will be a baclinkbaclink to your page.
Hi Philips! We’re vegans, so we don’t eat honey 🙂 Sorry, but we’re not interested, we prefer our recipes to be only in our blog. Have a nice day!
Hello Iosune,
I am wondering, how long does the straining process take?
Thank you very much for sharing your recipes. It is very generous and thoughtful of you.
My deepest gratitude to you.
Hi Dana! It takes just a few minutes, it’s really easy 🙂 Thanks a lot for your kind words 😀
Thank you very much for your fast reply, Iosune. I deeply value your time and efforts. 🙂
Have a nice day Dana! 🙂
Great info. I have made almond milk and was delicious. I have added some honey too.Thank you for sharing this. Just a handful of almonds daily and you become healthier.
There are many benefits of eating almonds!! Or drinking aalmond milk!!
Thanks a lot for sharing the link Ben, it’s so interesting!
Quick question – where it says “Store the almond milk in a sealed container in the fridge for three or four days”, do you mean wait for 3-4 days before drinking, or drink within 3-4 days?
Hi!! I mean drink it within 3-4 days 🙂
1. Is adding sweeteners (dates, syrup, etc) a must or only optional?
2. I’ve read previous recipes that it needs to be simmered on stove after blended. But your recipe doesn’t! Which makes it sooo much easier, but out of curiosity, how come?
3. When you said refrigerate for 3-4 days, did you mean a) refrigerate it for 3-4 days AND THEN it’ll be safe to drink, or b) consume within 3-4 days?
Thanks so much!
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Hi Inessa!
1. It’s optional
2. You should try this recipe, it’s super easy and it tastes amazing! You don’t need to simmer it at all.
3. You should consume it within 3 or 4 days.
Thanks for your comment!
Hi! I just had the same question, I have simmered them on stove (all of them!); the texture is creamier and to me the flavor seems enhanced. but I’m concerned about the nutritional part, will they lost their nutrients if simmered?
wow this is so easy and delish 🙂 we didnt peel them just blended them and used the pulp in our fruity bars so no waste absolutely love it, going to try prunes instead of dates next time as less calories and carbs 😉 lol
thank you x
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Hi cadoline! I have to try the recipe without peeling the almonds too! 🙂
It’s difficult to find educated people about this topic, but you seem like you know
what you’re talking about! Thanks
Thanks a lot for your answer Iosune :). I actually made more yesterday with the skin one and indeed it was still delicious and white ;). By the way, the site is not slow to me.
Great!!! Enjoy the almond milk 😉
Dear Iosune,
I totally love your blog. It’s so healthy!!!
I made this almond milk this weekend with dates and it’s totally worth it.
I have a question regarding the outside brown skin of the almonds. Can we leave this outside skin without peeling the almonds before straining the blended almond mixture? I made 500 ml of milk but since I like it, I would like to make more and it can take quite long to peel them all… I guess it would just be a darker milk. Thanks a lot in advance.
Thanks a lot Magali! You don’t need to peel the almonds, your milk will be delicious and white too 😉
Why soooooo many calories in a cup? Commercial almond milk has 40-60 calories per cup.
Hi Darlene! Sorry, but the nutritional information in this recipe is wrong 🙁 I have to recalculate it again. Thanks for your comment!
Also, there are virtually NO almonds in commercial almond milk!
Thanks for your comment Nina 🙂
Do/can you use the pulp for anything?
You should read this post: https://themamasgirls.com/8-ideas-for-the-leftover-almond-pulp-from-making-almond-milk/ It’s so useful! 😉
If milk could look gorgeous, this is it! I love how creamy it looks, I love Almond Milk but have never tried making it at home, I can’t wait to try out this recipe!
You need to try this recipe!!! It’s sooooo creamy and it tastes awesome! 🙂