We went from loving cow's milk to being all about that homemade almond milk life. Ditching the cartons for a more eco vibe, we figured out how to whip it up at home. Ready to get in on this yummy, planet-friendly hack?
At first, we couldn't make the almond milk as creamy as we liked the store-bought one, but as soon as we perfected it, it arrived to stay.
It is cheaper than store-bought and super easy to make. It requires 2 ingredients, 5 minutes, and a blender.
We like that this recipe is super adjustable. You can make it creamier, sweeter, or flavor-infused. You can also make it plain if you need it to make a vegan bechamel sauce, vegan mashed sweet potatoes, or vegan cheese.
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🤔 Why make almond milk yourself?
Health Check: Ever peeked at the ingredients on store-bought almond milk? Stuff like guar gum and lecithin. Sure, they help it last longer and mimic cow's milk texture, but do we really need all that just because shaking a bottle is too much work? Nah. Plus, homemade means it's perfect for those smoothies.
Quick & Easy: Seriously, making your own almond milk is a breeze. Five minutes, and you're done. Make exactly what you need, tweak the flavor, thickness, and sweetness however you like, and voilà!
Saves Money: So, living in Northern Italy, I did some math and found out homemade almond milk is 15% cheaper than store-bought. Considering the cost of living here, that's pretty awesome. And while we're not talking about cow's milk (which is a whole different story with subsidies and all), every little saving counts.
Eco-Friendly Bonus: By going DIY, I've saved 150 tetra packs a year—that's about 3 a week. Might not sound like a lot, but it adds up. Plus, I use the leftover pulp for smoothies and my homemade granola bars, cutting down on waste and cost.
🧾 Ingredients
The ingredient list is as short as one ingredient: almonds, plus water, and optional sweeteners and flavor enhancers.
- Raw almonds
- Water
- Optional: natural sweetener (like dates or maple syrup) and a pinch of salt.
Note: Keep your almond milk unsweetened if you plan to make vegan buttermilk with it. Our post explains the details and the best combinations to make the best vegan buttermilk, easily made with homemade soy milk or oat milk.
🍽️ Equipment
You need a bowl, a blender, and something to strain the milk such as a nut milk bag or cheesecloth.
🔪 Instructions
So, how do you get milk from almonds?
Step 1: Soak your almonds overnight in water.
Step 2: When ready to make milk, drain the almonds and add them to the blender with water for 1 to 2 minutes.
Step 3: Optionally add your preferred sweetener. We use a pitted date to keep our milk as wholesome and nutritious as possible.
Step 4: You can also, optionally add a pinch of salt and your preferred sweetener or flavoring flavor enhancers.
Step 5: Strain the liquid using a nut milk bag or fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth, squeezing out as much liquid as possible.
Step 6: Pour and enjoy. You might want to store it in an airtight container and refrigerate it for an hour after blending since it can become warm, which is not bad if you want to use it for your morning coffee or oatmeal.
Suggested sweeteners: dates, date paste, raisins, agave syrup, or maple syrup.
Hint: You will be left with a handful of almond pulp, which you can then use to make gluten-free crackers, add to your smoothies, or compost.
Read on: almond pulp recipes
💡 Expert Tips
Soak the almonds either at room temperature or in the fridge. If you've left them soaking at room temperature for a day and haven't made the milk, switch out the water and store the almonds in the fridge.
For times when you need to make almond milk the same day but haven't soaked the almonds, you can speed up the process by pouring boiling water over the almonds and letting them soak for just one hour.
If you've soaked the almonds for too long and are not ready to make the milk, change the water and place the soaked almonds back in the fridge to prevent spoiling.
📖 Variations
Add cocoa powder to create a rich and creamy vegan chocolate milk. This is perfect for a sweet treat or to enhance your morning coffee.
Incorporate vanilla extract for a subtly sweet and fragrant version. This variation works wonderfully in baked goods and smoothies.
Blend in strawberries for fresh and fruity almond milk. This is ideal for a refreshing summer drink or to add a burst of flavor to your cereals and oats.
🥢 How to Use it
You can use it the same way you would use regular milk: in your coffee, in smoothies, in your morning granola, pumpkin maple granola, or breakfast fruit bowl, bechamel sauce, pumpkin overnight oats, blueberry overnight oats, baking, and even making vegan cheese.
You can also make vegan chocolate milk using this recipe as a base.
❓FAQ
If you want thicker almond milk, increase the almonds from 1 cup to 1 ¼ or 1 ½ or reduce the water from 5 cups to 4 cups.
The perfect thickness for our taste is 1 cup of almonds / 5 cups of water.
Suggested thick almond milk options:
If you don't mind sacrificing the final volume, 1 cup of almonds / 4 cups of water.
If you want the same volume, 1 ½ cups of almonds / 5 cups of water.
If you want thinner almond milk, reduce the number of almonds to ¾ cup or increase the water by one cup.
Yes, you can cook almond milk! Many people love to cook with it because it has a rich and creamy taste that enhances many recipes. While you can purchase almond milk at most grocery stores, many people prefer to make it at home.
We add the remaining almond pulp to our Post-work Out Protein Shake, replacing the nuts component with pulp.
Also, we like to replace half of the required number of nuts for pulp in our Granola Bars.
If you use non-organic almonds and prefer avoiding the residual pesticides almond skins might have, you may choose not to use the pulp.
Add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, or lemon juice to a cup of almond milk to make vegan buttermilk with almond milk.
Like any other food or beverage, almond milk can cause gas in some individuals. However, the extent to which almond milk may cause gas varies from person to person. Gas can result from several factors, such as individual digestive sensitivity, underlying gastrointestinal conditions, or dietary changes.
Almond milk is generally considered a low-FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) alternative to dairy milk. It contains fewer carbohydrates that can contribute to gas and bloating. However, due to their unique digestive systems, some individuals may still experience gas or digestive discomfort when consuming almond milk.
🫙 Storage
Store in the fridge using an airtight container.
How long homemade almond milk lasts depends on whether you sterilize your equipment and how fresh your ingredients are. In general, we have found it lasts about 3-4 days.
We often use almond milk for our morning smoothies and coffee, so one batch only makes it to the third day. If you are like us, you don't need to sterilize your ingredients as it reaches the 3rd day without any problem.
If you find that it goes off before expected, easily sterilize your bottles either:
Pouring boiling water inside, ensuring the jars are not cold so that they won't break.
Then, put them in the dishwasher.
Storing in the freezer
Got extra almond milk and don't want it to spoil? Freeze it in ice cube trays to toss into your smoothies later. Just fill the trays three-quarters full to account for expansion upon freezing, as shown in the picture below.
📚 More plant milk recipes
We enjoy making our own dairy-free milk alternatives, so have a look and explore all our recipes!
Explore all vegan milk options →
⭐ If you try this recipe, let us know! 💬 Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag us @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!
🎥 Video
📋 Recipe
Homemade Almond Milk
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup almonds raw
- 5 cups water
Directions
- Soak the almonds overnight in freshwater.
- Drain the almonds and discard the water.
- Add the soaked almonds to a blender and 5 cups of water and blend at high speed for 1 to 2 minutes (in this step, add the salt and dates if you choose to).
- Strain through a canvas fabric, nut milk bag or fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth, squeezing out as much liquid as possible.
- Store in a closed bottle for up to 3-4 days.
Video
Notes
In general, we have found it lasts about 3-4 days. This time may vary depending on whether you sterilize your equipment and how fresh the ingredients you used.
Nutrition Facts
Nutritional Disclaimer
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our full Nutritional Disclosure here.
Affiliate Disclaimer
Please note that some of the links here are affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I recommend all of the products listed because they are companies I have found helpful and trustworthy.
As the lead content writer and recipe developer at Our Plant-Based World, he combines his passion for health and sustainability with a Plant-Based Nutrition Certification to create accessible, delicious vegan recipes. His expertise in plant-based cooking supports the blog's mission of fostering a healthier, environmentally conscious lifestyle through simple and seasonal dishes. His commitment to making vegan cooking enjoyable and inclusive for everyone shines in each recipe and article.
Lucia
I’ll will definitely try this at home!
I was wondering if you have tried one of those machines to make nuts milk and if you notice any difference with this simple (and cheaper technique).
Thanks!
Our Plant-Based World
Yes, Lucia, we've experimented with both methods for making nut milk! When time is tight, we opt for our cold-press juicer because it bypasses the need to strain the milk manually, which is a real time-saver for anyone with a busy schedule. Plus, you might find the milk comes out creamier. To get a similar creamy texture using the blender method, simply adjust the water ratio—reducing the amount of water will do the trick. It's fantastic to hear you're excited to try making almond milk at home! Both techniques have their perks, so it's all about finding what works best for you. Happy milking!
Amy
Such a helpful post that makes almond milk so easy to make
Gus
Thank you, Amy! We are glad you found it helpful!
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats
My daughter is dairy-free, so I've always bought almond milk from Trader Joe's...Not crazy about it, because of the additives. I never knew how easy it was to make it at home! Thanks!
Gus
you are welcome! I am glad you found the article helpful!
Heidy
I loved how informative this post was! Great information and techniques! I am going to attempt this to see how it turns out. Thanks for sharing excellent information that I am excited to use! Have a great day!
Gus
You are very welcome Heidy! I am sure it will be a success! I am glad you found the information and techniques helpful!
Hayley Dhanecha
Absolutely delicious, thank you for showing us how to make almond milk at home!
Gus
You are welcome! Thanks for your review, Hayley!
Sharon
Who knew that making almond milk at home could be so simple? It's great to have on hand for morning coffee.
Gus
Crazy isn't it! Enjoy your coffee with freshly made almond milk! 🙂
Chenée
I never knew how easy it could be to make almond milk! Thank you so much for this recipe!
Gus
Super easy! I am glad you found the recipe helpful!
Kechi
I rarely make almond milk but this post has challenged me. I will surely report back to you when I make some soon! Thanks for all the tips.
Gus
sounds good" I am glad the post inspired you to make it!
Jenn
I love this! I love the idea of making my own almond milk and your steps made it easy! It is much better tasting that store bought, too!
Gus
It does! and you are in full control of what is in it! I am glad you found it helpful!
cyndy
I've been thinking about making my own Almond milk for ages. Tried this one both plain and with vanilla and it is perfect! So happy to have found this recipe - great instructions!
Gus
Nice! I think that is one of the great things about making your own almond milk! It is soo customizable! Vanilla is also my favorite one for coffee!
Andrea
Had no idea it was this easy to make your own almond milk. Will definitely be giving this a try.
Susana Bereciartua
Chicos, les paso un tip a ustedes que se preocupan por su salud; calienten las almendras con un poco de agua en una sarten unos 10 minutos y luego las pelan apretando un poco una punta . La razon es que a los frutos secos los rocian con un insecticida que a mi , por lo menos , me da intolerancia; ademas quedan mucho mas ricas. Espero que lo prueben y les guste, besos a los dos
Gus
Muy buen tip Susana, gracias. Si, esa es una de las razones por las que se dejan en agua durante la noche. Para que ese insecticida se diluya en el agua. El resto de la cáscara queda luego en la tela que se usa como colador. Otra cosa es que tratamos de usar siempre almendras orgánicas, no expuestas a insecticidas, de esta manera también se evita de raíz los pesticidas aplicados a las siembras, pero bueno, también encarece un poco la compra! Nos encantó tu tip, gracias por compartirlo!
Ann Wycoff
Very interesting. I have to confess that almond milk is one of those things I've always bought from the store and usually in low quantity for cooking and such rather than for its own sake because I usually go for higher protein alternatives for drinking straight, but having said all of that I enjoyed reading how it is made at home and the pictures of the process you posted to go along with it.
Gus
Hi Ann, thank you! We also used to buy Almond milk, Soy milk, and all kinds of vegetable kinds of milk until we started making our own and found out how easy it was. With a similar process, you can make soy milk too, which is higher in protein. We just haven't found whole soy grains here in Italy. Hopefully, you tried the almond milk once and let us know how it goes, and we love you enjoyed the post! We are going to be publishing oat milk soon.:)