How to Make Almond Milk : Know These 5 Simple Steps

Almonds have remained a superfood and a dear garnishing nut for decades. Today, almonds are gaining popularity in the nut milk category.

Though in the category of nut milk, cashew and coconut are equally popular apart from almonds, almond milk is more palatable than any other plant-based milk.

Now, how to make almond milk at home is as easy as drinking the commercial brands on shelves with added nutrients.

This article will take you from a beginner on how to make unsweetened almond milk to the expert recipe developer making almond milk in varied flavors.

1. Why Almond Milk?

Generally, milk from cows, goats, sheep, or buffaloes is acidic as it contains lactic acid. Many people are lactogen sensitive and find it hard to digest milk and its products.

Then there are groups of people who believe it is insensitive to milk the mammals for personal consumption and are switching to a vegan (all plant) diet.

So, considering the need for an alternative to a dairy-free and opaque white substance in our diet, nut milk quickly made through the doors and reached our kitchen shelves. Almond milk has reserved its place in many households.

So here are some points why almond milk is gaining popularity:

1. Almond milk, store-bought or a homemade version, has a consistency similar to regular milk.
2. It is gluten-free.
3. It is lactose-free.
4. It does not have saturated fat.
5. It is naturally unsweetened.
6. It is low in calories and restores carbohydrate balance in the body.

2. How to get Almond Milk?

Almond milk is available easily at your nearest grocery store and online with different flavors and added nutrients.

Nothing beats fresh homemade almond milk. It is healthier than the store-bought almond milk and with little effort to make it.

For now, you will be curious to know how to make almond milk. But before that, make sure you have things handy mentioned below.

3. Things Required for How to Make Almond Milk at Home

With just minimum ingredients, you can make the healthiest, creamier, and most nourishing almond milk at home for yourself and your dear ones.

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw almonds
• 5 cups water
• A pinch of salt

Equipment

• Bowls- A small bowl to soak and a large bowl to strain.
• Nut milk bag/strainer/fine mesh/cheesecloth.
• High-powered blender/food processor.

(Note-These are the primary and easy almond milk recipe ingredients.)

4. How to make Almond Milk?

Here go the steps to make a homemade almond milk recipe.

4.1. Soak the Almonds

The first step of making almond milk is soaking almonds overnight or for up to two days. Place the raw almonds in the bowl and cover with about an inch of water. The almonds soak in water and turn plumpy.

Soaked almonds can be left overnight at the kitchen counter but need refrigeration if you are soaking them for up to two days. The longer almonds are soaked, the creamier the almond milk turns.

4.2. Drain and Rinse the Plumped Almonds

The next step is to drain water that soaked almonds (Never use this water as it contains phytic acid, which hampers the body’s ability to absorb nutrients).

After draining, rinse the almonds under fresh water. At this point, almonds turn squishy, and some may leave their skin on your pressing the soaked almonds.

4.3. Peeling the Almonds

Don’t peel off the almond skin if you don’t mind its grounded texture. But for the creamiest almond milk, peel off the skin.

4.4. Blending

Add the rinsed or peeled almonds to the high-speed blender and add 2 cups of water. Start the blender at medium speed, so the almonds break into fine pieces.

Then set the blender at high speed for at least 2 minutes such that almonds turn into fine and clayey pulp.

At this point, the clear water will turn white, opaque, like a cow’s milk. Add a pinch of salt. Salt can be added if desired, but it is advised to add it to increase the shelf stability.

4.5. Straining

Nearing the last step of how to make almond milk, make sure you know what purpose you made the almond milk for and extract accordingly.

4.5.1. Tips for Extracting the Almond Milk from the Blended Almond and Water Mixture

1. Don’t strain the almond milk if you don’t mind pulp or wish to make porridge or oatmeal. Add this raw almond milk to the curries.
2. For a smooth texture of almond milk, strain the blended almond milk through the medium or fine mesh strainer placed on a large bowl. Here press the blended mixture with the help of a spoon or ladle and extract the milk properly.
3. To get the extra fine and silkiest texture, use the nut milk bag or the cheesecloth well-lined with a fine mesh strainer placed at the top of a large bowl to strain the blended almond milk. Gather the cheesecloth or nut milk bag around its edges and press it tightly and squeeze the milk out from the almond pulp.

Your homemade and own almond milk is ready for consumption. For future use, store it in an air-tight container. Else, it may turn rancid.

This unsweetened almond milk can be used with a delicious flavor or follow the healthy recipes given below in this article.

5. What to do with Leftover Almond Pulp

The leftover almond pulp on the nut bag, cheesecloth, or strainer might worry you. The super-graded food item like almonds is of immense health benefit. Here are some tips as to how to use the almond meal.

5.1. Make Almond Flour and Other Uses

1. Cover a baking tray with a baking sheet, and evenly spread the leftover almond pulp. Bake it for 5-10 minutes, and the almond flour is ready. You can store this almond flour in an air-tight container and use it as a thickening agent in your curries, gravies, and soups.
2. Saute the almond pulp in a pan on a gas stove, stirring continuously for about 10 minutes on medium to low flame, and your almond flour is ready.
3. If you are regular at baking, use the leftover almond pulp in baking recipes for garnishing or adding crunch to the baked goods.
4. Beauty tip– Almonds are a great source of vitamin E; the nut pulp can be used as a scrubber for glowing skin.

6. Quick Almond Milk Recipe

It is very much possible that you feel the urge to drink almond milk or wish it to be a part of your curry while reading this article. So here is the recipe for how to make almond milk in a fraction of time.

6.1. Blanched Almond Milk recipe

Ingredients and Equipment Needed

• Raw almonds, 1 cup
• Very Hot Water/ Boiling water, 1 cup
• Water, 3 cup
• High-speed blender
• Bowls
• Strainer/ nut milk bag or cheesecloth/ dish towel

(Note- Use a dish or kitchen towel if you don’t have a nut milk bag or cheesecloth.)

Method

1. Since you don’t have almonds soaked overnight, take a cup of very hot water and add almonds to it.
2. Let it soak for two or a few hours.
3. Now you can peel the skin off as it is easier to do it from the blanched almonds, and then follow the basic almond milk recipe steps.

Make sure you blend it tight in the high-powered blender, as the almonds are not soft enough to turn into pulp quickly.

6.2. Almond Milk Recipe from Almond Butter

This one is the easiest how-to-make almond milk recipe.

Ingredients

• Almond butter one tablespoon
• Water 1 cup
• Salt/Sugar/Honey- as per taste or requirement

Equipment

High-speed blender/ Hand blender

Method

1. Place the almond butter in the jar or blender.
2. Add water to it. Blend it for a minute.
3. Pour it into the glass or cup and enjoy every sip of it.

Tip: You can use any nut like walnut butter, cashew butter, or peanut butter to make yourself a healthy cup of nuts milk.

So relish this instant nuts milk without soaking, blanching, or blending. Isn’t it a healthy hack to beat that voracious hunger pang?

7. Flavored Almond Milk Recipes

After how to make almond milk, let me take you to the list of flavors that make almond milk more delicious.

7.1. Spiced Almond Milk

Ingredients

A glass of almond milk

Warm spices

• 1 (2/3 inch) cinnamon stick
• A pinch of nutmeg
• One tablespoon of maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

1. Pour the homemade almond milk into a pan and add a cinnamon stick to it.
2. Bring it to simmer on low flame for about 10 minutes until the cinnamon flavor gets infused in the milk.
3. Remove the infused almond milk from heat and let it rest for about 5 minutes.
4. Add in the maple syrup and vanilla extract by whisking it lightly for about 1 minute.
5. Now remove the cinnamon stick.

The spiced almond milk is ready. Pour it into the mug and top it with a pinch of nutmeg powder.

7.2. Vanilla Almond Milk

Vanilla almond milk is the diffusion of vanilla extract in the almond and water mixture. Adding vanilla makes unsweetened almond milk naturally sweet and tasty.

Ingredients

• Almond milk, 1 cup
• Vanilla extract
• Maple syrup, if desired

Equipment

Hand Blender/High-Speed blender

Method

1. Add all the above ingredients to a jar or blender and blend them for a minute.
2. Pour in the milk mug and sip the low-calorie delight.

I bet this homemade milk tastes creamier than the store-bought vanilla almond milk.

(Note-You can blend it for 3 minutes more and freeze it for vanilla almond ice cream.)

7.3. Chocolate Almond Milk

The chocolate version of almond juice adds to the drink’s cuisine for our occasional chocolate cravings. With minimal ingredients, enjoy every sip of healthy chocolate almond milk.

Ingredients

• Cocoa powder, half teaspoon
• Unsweetened Almond milk, 1 cup
• Honey/ Maple syrup as desired

Method

Mix all the ingredients in the blender, and the silky smooth chocolate drink is ready.

7.4. Almond Milk with Sea Salt Instructions

Ingredients

• Almond milk, 1 cup
• Quarter spoon of sea salt
• Pitted dates, two – optional (tastes good if used)
• Vanilla extract – optional
• Cinnamon powder – optional

Method

1. Add all the ingredients to the blender except cinnamon powder.
2. Blend it for a minute.
3. Transfer it to the glass and sprinkle cinnamon powder.

7.5. Traditional Indian Kesar Badam Milk (Indian Kesar Almond Milk)

Ingredients

• Almond Milk, one and a half cup
• Saffron, 3 to 4 strands
• Cardamom, 1 small pod
• Rosewater, half teaspoon
• Honey, half teaspoon (optional)

Method

1. Take the cardamon and grind it finely without its cover.
2. In a small bowl, take two spoons of almond milk and dip the strands of saffron for at least half an hour.
3. Now, in a jar, pour the leftover almond milk, the two spoons of Kesar milk (don’t put the strands), and add rose water and honey (optional).
4. Garnish it with grounded cardamom and saffron strands.

Taste best when served chilled.

Store-bought almond milk is no doubt available in multiple flavors too, but mixing matching flavors in your almond milk is the real DIY fun, and you can tickle your taste buds with new and innovative varieties.

I hope and wish these healthy recipes boost your mood and health equally.

8. Nutritional Contents of Almond Milk

To enjoy a healthy drink to the fullest, one must know its nutrient count. One cup (nearly 240ml) of unsweetened almond milk contains the following nutrient value.

Carbohydrates – 3.4g equals 12 calories, as carbs give four calories per gram.

Sugars – 2g

Fats – 2.5g equals approximately 20 calories per cup of almond milk.

Fiber – 0.5g

Sodium – 189mg

Protein – 1g

Calcium – 482mg

Vitamin E – 16.6mg

This nutritional information is USDA provided.

9. Benefits of Almond Milk

The health-promoting nutrients, and a great energy source, almond milk is becoming a decent food to be consumed as a drink or as part of our cuisine.

1. Vitamin E: High vitamin E supports healthy bones, skin, hair, and nails. Almond milk is rich in this vitamin and lowers the risk of brain diseases like Alzheimer’s.
2. Omega fatty acid: Omega fatty acid present in almonds promotes heart health. It reduces inflammation in the body also.
3. Magnesium: Almond milk is rich in magnesium. Magnesium is essential to maintain the blood sugar levels of the body.
4. Drinking or adding almond milk to your daily diet is unlikely to increase sugar levels in the body.
5. Calcium: Commercial packs are fortified with calcium. This mineral gives a complex structure to bones. However, this article on how to make almond milk gives you the recipe for almond milk, and homemade almond milk lacks calcium and potassium. So, this almond milk is good for kidney patients. (Note- Kidney patients are advised to lower the consumption of calcium and potassium as they harm the kidneys.)
6. Rich in Antioxidants: Almond milk help manage free radicals that can damage cells. It thereby helps in curbing cancer and aging symptoms.
7. It also helps in controlling blood pressure.
8. It contributes to the repair and development of the tissues.
9. The monounsaturated fatty acid present in almonds cuts down LDL cholesterol.
10. Almonds are rich in fiber.
11. Rich in vitamin A, almond milk improves eyesight and enhances vision in dim light.
12. Furthermore, it strengthens your body’s immune system.

The above benefits and the presence of other vital nutrients make it the best alternative for animal milk and will surely persuade you to try how to make almond milk recipes.

10. How to use Almond Milk

You can easily put homemade almond milk to multiple uses as it does not contain additives or added nutrients that may spoil the taste of other recipes.

So here is the list of multiple uses of almond milk:

1. Drink it directly as a part of your breakfast.
2. Add some jaggery, sugar, or honey to get sweetened almond milk.
3. Enjoy the almond milk in porridge, breakfast cereals, or evening soups.
4. Almond milk tastes fantastic when it becomes part of the smoothies.
5. Almond milk is a substitute for dairy milk in teas and coffees.
6. You can bake and enjoy dairy-free loaves of bread and cakes by adding almond milk.
7. A batch of almond milk can be frozen in ice cube trays and toppled over at smoothies, shakes, or any recipe which needs a small amount of almond milk.
8. Almond milk can be mixed with nut milk like cashew milk or oatmeal with multiple flavors like orange, which you might not try with dairy milk.

11. Food Blogs and Free Recipes

After how to make almond milk, you might wish to use and make almond milk with other dishes that you already devour. The food blogs below also give you multiple free recipes to use homemade nut milk.

Simple Vegan Blog – Follow this for a vegan milkshake with any unsweetened plant milk.

Eating Bird Food- Follow this for the gluten-free apple cake recipe using almond flour.

(For almond flour, refer to point 5 in this article, “how to make almond milk.“)

Food & Wine- Follow for fresh how-to-make almond milk with fresh strawberries. 

Tarla Dalal-Follow for how to make almond milk with an oatmeal-orange healthy breakfast recipe.

Positivepranic.com- Follow for more about how to make almond milk recipes and suggested alternatives. 

It is not just essential to know how to make almond milk but also how this super drink is delectably savored in various parts of the world.

So, follow the above for the best almond milk usage and the sumptuous recipe that use almond milk and makes your diet dairy-free.

12. Conclusion

How to make almond milk? A basic or quick recipe requires minimum ingredients and effort and gives maximum taste, quality, and health benefits. The added flavors do not just make almond milk savorless but toothsome for our little ones.

I agree Almond milk benefits are to be reckoned with and might push you to adopt a vegan diet. Do follow how to start a vegan diet with the ten best tips.

So, if you or any of your loved ones are regular-milk haters, one will surely get hooked to the nut milk. Moreover, if you find munching almonds hard or wish to include the newer version of its intake, I am sure now you know how to make almond milk without any worries.

Enjoy and reap the benefits of almond milk.

13. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can homemade almond milk be stored for future use?

Homemade almond milk can be refrigerated and last for up to 3 days, though it tastes awesome when consumed fresh.

It can be frozen for as long as a month too.

Q2. Is Almond milk’s nutrient content similar to cow or soy milk?

Almond milk has 50% fewer calories than cow’s milk and thereby helps people lose weight. However, the protein percentage is less than that of dairy milk.

Q3. Can one make Indian paneer or cheese from almond milk?

No, since gluten helps to curd the regular milk, almond is not a good idea to make Indian paneer or cheese as almond is gluten-free.

Q4. Is there any other cow, soy, almond, or nut milk alternative?

Yes, try the oatmeal milk. Cashew milk tastes equally rich as almond milk.

Q5. Can one boil or heat the almond milk?

To add coffee or flavor, gentle heating in the double boiler is suggested, but boiling curdles the almond milk.

Q6. Can roasted almonds be used to make almond milk recipes?

Yes, roasted almonds can also be used for homemade almond milk. The color and flavors of roasted almond milk differ from those of raw almonds.

Q7. Does the quality of almonds RELATE to the quality of the milk?

Almond milk from organic almonds is far superior in quality to commercial ones. Also, ensure the almonds are not old or stale, as those may have turned rancid.

Q8. Any side effects of packaged almond milk?

Packaged almond milk contains carrageenan, which can cause inflammatory bowel disease.

Q9. Does Almond milk have any side effects?

People with nut allergies and infants (almond milk lacks calcium) should not consume it.