How to Make Almond Milk (Dairy-Free, Vegan)

Make your own homemade almond milk in just 5 minutes! This is way cheaper than the store-bought version, has zero preservatives, and tastes much better too! Plus is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan.

Why Make Homemade Almond Milk?

Ever since Juan became lactose-intolerant and we started going dairy-free early this year, we’ve stopped drinking cow’s milk and have completely switched to nut milks.

At first we would buy nut milks from the supermarket, but after reading the ingredients list and seeing how much sugar and preservatives are added to the milks to make them shelf-stable and last longer (scary!!), we decided that we would be best off making our own.

Not only does homemade almond milk taste much better in our opinion, it’s also much cheaper in the long run, particularly if you drink quick a bit of it, and especially if you’re able to buy raw almonds in bulk in the natural food aisle of your supermarket (buying in bulk is usually less expensive).

If you are also lactose-intolerant and find that going without dairy has helped your health improve, I strongly recommend that you make your nut milks as this will be more nutritious and better than buying store-bought. Plus, once you get the hang of making your own milk, it literally is faster to make your own than buying a carton!

Making Almond Milk at Home is Easier than You’d Think

We’ve already been making our 5-minute homemade cashew milk, and almond milk is basically the same.

Here’s THE recipe that we’ve perfected and have been making week after week – you can tweak the flavors to your preference, but this basic recipe is as simple as it is delicious.

The 4:1 Magic Nut Milk Ratio

I’ve found that the perfect formula for nut milks is 4 parts water to 1 part nuts. More water makes a thinner milk, and less water makes a thicker “creamer-like” consistency.

So once you remember this magic 4:1 ratio, you can literally make as little or as much almond milk as you like. Less milk if you know you won’t be able to finish the milk before it goes bad, or more milk if you know your family drinks it like water from the tap!

Soaking Raw Almonds Overnight

Hands-on time for making your own almond milk is literally just 5 minutes, but you’ll need to plan ahead the night before and soak the almonds in filtered water (at least 12 hours or overnight). All you need to do is remember to place the almonds in water and that’s it!

All nuts require being soaked for their enzymes to be activated, which allows for easier digestion (especially for those with gut issues). Soaking also saturates the almonds from the inside out, which results in a creamier and more nutritious milk, which is a double win!

Blend the Almonds and Water

Once the almonds are done soaking, give them a good rinse and strain them.

Combine the soaked almonds with filtered water in the bowl of your high-speed blender and blend well for at least 1 minute, until you get a creamy, frothy white milk.

For a sweet milk, add maple syrup and vanilla extract and blend for another 10 seconds until everything is mixed well.

For a unsweetened milk, in case you’re planning on using it in savory recipes, just leave out the maple syrup and vanilla extract.

Strain the Milk

In my opinion, straining the milk is one of the most essential parts of the process.

During the blending of the almonds and milk, a large amount of almond pulp gets left behind, and getting rid of them is what will give you a creamy, silky-smooth almond milk.

If you plan on making almond milk (or other nut milks such as my homemade cashew milk) on a regular basis, I highly recommend investing in a nut milk bag which is relatively inexpensive. This helps to catch even the finest of pulp and makes straining the milk super easy.

In case you don’t own a nut milk bag, don’t worry, you can use a fine-mesh strainer to strain out the pulp.

Why Does My Homemade Almond Milk Separate?

It’s natural that to see the almond milk separate into two layers (a white, opaque layer on top and clear liquid below) after a few days of sitting in the refrigerator. That’s because the fat from the almonds and water do not mix, and homemade nut milks, unlike store-bought versions, not do contain emulsifiers.

If your almond milk does separates, all you need to do is to shake the bottle well to get the ingredients to combine again. That’s it! No emulsifier needed!

How Long Does Homemade Almond Milk Last?

Since homemade almond milk is free of all the nasty additives and preservatives that store-bought versions tends to have, it naturally doesn’t keep as long.

It will typically keep for a max of 4 to 5 days in a an airtight jar in the refrigerator, but that’s about it! So make sure to drink it up soon after making the milk, or make less if you aren’t going to use it all up.

If you loved this recipe, you’ll also enjoy these:

• 5-Minute Homemade Almond Meal
• 5-Minute Homemade Cashew Flour
• 5-Minute Homemade Cashew Milk
• Almond Butter Coconut Flour Cookies (Gluten-Free, Paleo)
• Gluten-Free Almond Butter Brownie Tart
• Grain-Free Coconut Almond Bread
• Grain-Free Rosemary Almond Bread

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