How to Make Almond Milk ~ this one’s a total game changer. Fresh, creamy, and so easy you’ll never go back to store-bought.
I finally tried almond milk ~ and wow. I had no idea it would be this creamy or have such a mellow, nutty flavor. Honestly, I think I might like it more than dairy milk (and I’ve been a milk drinker forever).
This isn’t sponsored or anything ~ I’m just fully on board now. It’s light, refreshing, and surprisingly satisfying.
Turns out almond milk has been around since the Middle Ages, and it’s easy to see why. It’s low in calories and fat, naturally dairy-free, and packed with nutrients. It’s also gentler on the planet and skips the whole hormone-and-saturated-fat thing.
Bottom line? I’m sold.
And guess what? It’s one of the easiest DIY projects out there, and I’m telling you, once you try it with your morning muesli or granola, you’ll never eat it any other way.
If you buy raw almonds in bulk you can whip this up on a weekly basis. It takes just minutes and the result is eye opening. If you’re on the fence, you have to try it.
how to make almond milk
The method is simple —
- it starts with almonds that have been soaked in water overnight. This apparently makes all their nutrients more easily digestible, but you can skip this step if you are in a hurry.
- You grind the almonds in a blender until they are completely pulverized. It doesn’t take long.
- Then blend in a quart of water.
- The resulting milky liquid is strained through cheesecloth, a fine mesh strainer, or a clean dishcloth. If you get really into this, buy yourself a Nut Milk Bag, especially made for draining the nut mixture. Give it a good strong squeeze to get out all the milky liquid, and you’re in business.
- Refrigerate until icy cold and then use just like dairy milk. It truly is quick and easy, and it’s truly delicious, I would not lie to you.
Some people like to add a little sweetener like honey, and/or a touch of vanilla. I prefer mine plain.
Homemade Almond Milk
Equipment
- blender
- nut milk bag for straining
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw almonds, heaped
- 4 cups water
Instructions
- Cover the almonds with water and soak overnight. This helps in digestion and absorption of their nutrients.
- Drain the almonds and add them to your blender or food processor. Blend until the almonds are finely pulverized, stopping to scrape down the sides of the blender if necessary.
- Once the almonds are finely processed, add 4 cups of cold water and process until well combined.
- Drain the milk through a nut milk bag, jelly bag, or several layers of cheesecloth lining a fine mesh strainer. Be sure to squeeze every last drop of the wonderful nut milk out.
- Pour the almond milk into a clean container and store, covered, in the fridge. It will keep for a week. And be sure to give it a shake or a stir before drinking.
Nutrition
 Commercial almond milk taste test
I tested my homemade version against 3 of the top almond milk brands: Silk, Almond Breeze, And Califia Farms. You can buy almond milk with flavoring and sweeteners added, but I bought the plain versions of each. I’m glad to report that all four were pleasant, and worth trying. I’ll lay out the subtle differences for you here and hopefully it will help you make a choice depending on your preferences.
Overall Best: My Homemade won, no surprise. It was light and fresh, with a very subtle but true raw almond flavor.
Best for kids: The Silk won here…it was definitely a little thicker and a little sweeter than the others. If you’re afraid of almond milk, start here. This one would be great in sweet recipes like cocoa, puddings, etc, and also perfect on kid’s cereal.
Most Neutral: Almond Breeze was the most neutral, and therefore I would say the most like regular milk. It had the least pronounced flavor or aroma of the four.
Color: All four were more or less the same slightly off white color. The Homemade was the whitest, Califia Farms was the darkest.
Viscosity: The Homemade was the lightest. Silk was the thickest, and was too artificially thick for my taste, at least for straight drinking purposes. Again it would be good for dessert applications like milkshakes, rice pudding, or something like that.
Separation: Upon sitting, the Homemade separated fairly quickly. The other three remained homogenized over the course of an hour. In any case you should shake or stir all almond milks before drinking.
Aroma: The Homemade has a distinct raw almond scent. Silk has a pleasant, slightly toasted aroma. Califia Farms has an off aroma that I can’t place and don’t care for. Almond Breeze had the least scent of all of them, again, making it closer to regular milk.
Almond Flavor: The Homemade had the freshest, most pleasant raw almond flavor. Almond Breeze was a close second. The Califia Farms had a slight aftertaste that I didn’t love. Almond Breeze was neutral.
This is just my own personal ranking, but they are close, so if you’re interested, I recommend giving them all a taste and judging for yourself.
#1 Homemade almond milk
#2 Almond Breeze
#3 Califia Farms
#4Â Silk (only because of the sweetness, if you like things sweet, you’ll like this one)
I used to like Almond Breeze by Blue Diamond but it contains carageenan which I no longer wish to drink. I switched to Silk because it does not contain it and is also Verified GMO free. I only use the original because the vanilla flavored is just too sweet and the unsweetened is horrible in my tea or coffee which is my main use of it. I am sure homemade is better all around, but I just can’t be bothered making it.
I agree about the unsweetened versions, they are much better, and I hope you give this a try sometime, I think you’ll be amazed at how easy it is.
I will have to try this, I have raw almonds in the cupboard. I usually buy silk brand. Almond breeze uses carrageen (spelling?) as a sweetener which I’ve read isn’t really good for you so I shy away from it. Where do you buy a nut bag?
I think I linked to one in the post, Marty, here is bunch of them on Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=aps&keywords=nut%20bag&linkCode=as2&tag=thvifrthgris-20
You can also just use muslin or cheesecloth.
I think you’ll love the homemade stuff, It tastes so much fresher!
I preferred Almond Breeze until I discovered Hiland’s almond milk. Sorry, I know it is not available everywhere. If you haven’t tried making potato soup with almond milk, I urge you to do so. It’s fabulous! In fact, almond milk seems to pair well with any potato dish that would normally call for milk. I have noticed that if I am using almond milk in a dish that requires thickening, such as a white sauce, I need to add a bit of fat in order for it to reach desired consistency. I can use butter as long as I don’t overdo it.
What do people do with the pulp afterwards? It seems a waste to just throw it out. I’ve never had any of the nut milks but my daughter loves it so I’m going to give this a shot.