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Homemade almond milk is easier than you think. Here are 3 techniques to learn how to make almond milk that’s clean, flavorful and creamy.
Making almond milk at home is incredibly satisfying and delicious. It gives you that feeling of accomplishment similar to making homemade jam or bread, and it also tastes infinitely better than anything you can buy at the store.
Homemade plant milk is creamy, wholesome and 100% natural – no artificial flavors or stabilizers. Today I’m teaching you how to make a creamy + delicious plant-based milk 3 different ways, plus an infinite number of ways to use your new fav beverage.
Table of Contents
I love how accessible and convenient it’s become to make your own almond milk. Whether you blend it, use an Almond Cow, or the help of Joi, it’s so easy to make quality nut milk with clean, simple ingredients. I make plant-based milk weekly at my house and can’t wait for you to start this tradition too.
Let’s break down the three ways I make this milk. Then, you decide which version is best for you.
How to Make Homemade Almond Milk in Blenderโ #1
Nothing tastes better than this version… in my opinion. It’s incredibly easy, but a little more time consuming than the other methods. Yet once you taste it, you’ll see what I mean. To make nut milk in a blender, you’ll need the follow supplies:
- blender
- fine mesh sieve
- cheese cloth or nut milk bag
- mason jars or glass containers with lids
- raw almonds
- filtered water
- lemon
- sea salt
- vanilla extract
- pure maple syrup or preferred sweetener
While your recipe can be as simple as raw almonds and water, I like to use lemon juice, filtered water, sea salt, maple syrup, and vanilla extract as well (and I think you’ll agree).
Soak the Almonds
Step 1: Measure 1 cup of raw almonds into a bowl or mason jar with space.
Step 2: Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top.
Step 3: Fill up with filtered water.
Step 4: Cover and allow to soak for at least 8 hours or overnight. The almonds will really absorb a lot of water, so be sure to use enough water! Add more if needed. The water will become a little cloudy – totally normal. You’ll notice that the almonds have swelled and absorbed a lot of water.
Drain and Rinse Almonds
Step 1: Pour the soaked almonds into a sieve.
Step 2: Drain and rinse almonds well. I like to use a sieve to make it easy and not lose any almonds down the drain.
Step 3: Place almonds in a blender.
Step 4: Add 3 cups filtered water
Blend and Strain the Almonds
Step 1: Blend almonds to a creamy consistency (the fewer chunks, the better).
Step 2: Set a sieve on top of a container. Put cheesecloth on top of that. Pour the nut milk through the cheesecloth bag (or a nut sack) with a container underneath to catch the liquid.
Step 3: Squeeze the cheesecloth to allow the liquid to seep through into the container.
If you’re not familiar with straining options, here’s a photo to help you identify them. You can buy nut milk sacks online through Amazon or at most cooking stores like Sur La Table and William Sonoma. I strongly suggest a fine mesh sleeve as wellโ I use this at least once a week to rinse and drain beans or when making almond milk.
Straining the blender contents isn’t 100% necessary, yet it does remove the pulp which can make the milk taste gritty. Some people prefer to use the milk unstrained, so it’s totally up to you! I def prefer straining itโ it’s incredible and will make you never want to buy store-bought nut milk again.
Flavors and Sweeteners
You can enjoy your homemade milk just as it is: pure almonds and water. Or you can add a little love to take it to a whole new level. I like to do a lil’ sea salt and vanilla extract as well as maple syrup. My kids are much happier drinking it when I add these flavors and natural sweeteners.
Step 1: Add a pinch of sea salt to the milk (you can do this while blending or afterwards)
Step 2: One teaspoon of vanilla extract is a great flavor additive.
Step 3: One-two teaspoons of pure maple syrup adds a smooth sweet taste. You can also use honey, agave or a simple syrup if you prefer. I love maple syrup for the rich taste and and nutrients it provides.
Step 4: Pouring through a funnel is sometimes the easiest way to not spill.
How to Make Almond Milk with Almond Cowโ #2
When the Almond Cow first came out, I was like: can it really be worth the cost?! The answer is yes… and no. Almond Cow is a milking machine that can blend plant milk in minutes. This machine costs $245, yet can make 5 cups of milk using 1 cup of raw almonds (yet the less water you use the creamier it gets).
Even though it has almond in its name, the Almond Cow can also make oat, coconut, cashew, hemp, walnut… pretty much any other plant-based beverage I could ever want. It’s pretty genius.
Since I’m an Almond Cow affiliate, you can save $25 off your purchase with code SimpleGreenSmoothies at checkout.
Yet for the quick and easy method the Almond Cow provides, the final product isn’t as good as the blender method above. Using a cheesecloth allows you to squeeze out all the healthy fats to create a creamy almond milk. The Almond Cow “rushes” the process and makes a less flavorful, frothy version of nut milk. Yet clean up is SO much easier and the entire process is quickโwhich is why I have an Almond Cow. Days when I just don’t have the time to squeeze a cheesecloth and wash more dishesโ this is how I make milk.
The whole process from start to clean up took less than 5 minutes, and the recipe I followed was simple and straight forward. The milk was foamy + easy for me to customize how I wanted it with adding dates, maple syrup, etc.
Pro Tip: When using the Almond Cow, I strongly suggest soaking the nuts overnight to get them creamier.
Get $25 off your order with Almond Cow w/ code “simplegreensmoothies”
Joi Nutbase for DIY Almond Milkโ #3
Joi Nutbase has taken almonds and blended them into a paste. This paste is 100% almondโ nothing else. Plus, they are using the entire nut (so also zero-waste), and it has a shelf life of 18 months… with no additives what-so-ever. To make 1 cup of almond milk, just add 1 tablespoon of Almond Joi paste to 1 cup of filtered water, and blend for 30 seconds. That’s literally it!
Tip: To up the creaminess, add 2 tablespoons of Joi to 1 cup of filtered water.
Even after settling, this milk kept its frothy top. It tasted super creamy, and was a little less dry than the Almond Cow’s version. Fun fact: 27 cups of almond milk can be made from 1 container of Joi, retailing for $19.99. That’s less than $1 per cup! 1 cup of this milk is 4 grams of protein as wellโ woot, woot!
Try Joi Nutbase 10% off w/ code “simplegreensmoothies”
How to Store Homemade Milk
No matter which of the three methods above you choose, you’ll be way happier than most store bought milk. Homemade almond milk doesn’t have any shelf stabilizers, which means it won’t stay “fresh” as long. I suggest:
- Store in a clean, glass container with a lid. Mason jars as well as carafes work great.
- Refrigerate for up to 4 days. The almonds and water will separate in the fridge, so give it a good shake before using.
Waste-Free Homemade Almond Milk
When using the Almond Cow or a blender, you’ll have leftover almond pulp. You don’t have to throw it away! This can be dried and used in granola, added to a smoothie for extra fiber, put in oatmeal, or as a yogurt topping. This creates a zero waste product!
DIY Almond Milk vs Store Bought
You might wonder why I like making my own nut milk when there are SO many store bought varieties available today… and that’s a great question! I make my own for 2 reasons: cost and ingredients.
Cost: I broke down the cost of making my own milk, even with the investment of the Almond Cow, and found it was cheaper to make my own than to buy the cleanest store brand (my fav brand is Elmhurst). Yet that doesn’t mean I only make my own milk. When in a pinch, I will buy Elmhurst (it’s great, just a lil’ pricey). I did a Best Almond Milk Brands blog post where I blind taste tested a variety of brands so you can see what I consider to be the best ones (and why).
Ingredients: Making your own almond milk guarantees the cleanest, freshest result, which is why I love doing it. You know exactly what is in it! I think using a blender is the best way to go, yet an Almond Cow is a great runner up. And I love having Joi on hand when in a pinch to make my own quickly. And when none of those options are gonna happen, I’ll head to the store and buy it.
FAQs
Soak almonds in filtered water with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for at least 8 hours. Drain, then add soaked almonds to blender with 3 cups of water. Blend for several minutes, until smooth. Using a nut milk bag (or cheese cloth/tea towel) strain the ‘milk’ into a pitcher. Once the blender is emptied into the milk bag, squeeze as much liquid out of the almond pulp as you can. If you want your milk sweetened, add a bit of maple syrup to the finished product (or add in a date or 2 during the blending step).
I recommend soaking almonds for at least 8 hours, or overnight for almond milk. If you’re soaking them overnight, place them in the fridge to ensure they stay fresh while soaking. If you need to make a quick batch of almond milk, you can soak in steaming water for 30 minutes to speed up the process. The almonds won’t be quite as soft, yet will still work fine for the milk.
No need to use a nut milk bag to enjoy homemade almond milk. You can use a clean tea towel or cheese cloth just as easily.
How to Use Almond Milk in Recipes
Now that you know how to make it, how will you use this deliciously fresh beverage? I’ve got a few ideas to get you started:
In beverages:
- Almond Milk Smoothie
- Pineapple Banana Smoothie
- Homemade Hot Chocolate
- Chocolate Protein Shake
- Cinnamon Date Smoothie
- Almond Butter n’ Jelly Smoothie
- Almond Smoothie
- Warm Almond Milk
In tasty dishes:
You can pretty much swap in plant-based milk anywhere you use regular milk, baked goods or otherwise. It makes a deliciously creamy smoothie as well.
More Homemade Milk Recipes
I’ve learned how to make all kinds of dairy-free milks since I have preferences on which kind to use depending on the recipe. Here’s my list of homemade milks:
Rate + review this recipe once you’ve tried it; I can’t wait to hear how yours turns out!
How to Make Almond Milk
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw almonds organic if possible
- 3 cups water
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- pinch sea salt
- 1-2 tsp maple syrup optional
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place 1 cup of almonds in a medium bowl. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top and completely cover almonds with filtered water. Soak for at least 8 hours or overnight. The almonds will really absorb a lot of water, so be sure to use enough water! Add more if needed.
- Pour the soaked almonds into a sieve. Drain and rinse well. Place almonds in blender with 3 cups water.
- Blend on high speed for several minutes until thick and smooth. There will be quite a bit of almond pulp mixed in with the milk.
- Set a sieve on top of a bowl with a cheese cloth over the sieve. Pour the almond milk through the cheesecloth + sieve into the bowl, catching as much liquid as possible. Squeeze the cheesecloth tightly to allow the liquid to completely seep through into the container.
- Mix in sea salt, maple syrup, and vanilla extract (if adding) to the separated milk.
- Transfer the milk to a quart size jar or glass bottle with a lid. For a thinner milk, add a little more filtered water to make it an even quart. Refrigerate immediately. The milk is best consumed within the first 2-3 days and must be kept refrigerated. It will separate as it sits. It is fine to drink and use, simply shake the bottle and the milk will be creamy again.
Equipment
Video
Notes
- Be sure to sanitize all of your bowls, utensils, blender, jar and lids before making the milk to prevent any contamination.
- If you want to keep some of the pulp in your milk, simply strain through a sieve alone. Alternately you can use a nut milk bag instead of cheese cloth.
- If the milk smells โoffโ best not to drink it in case it has spoiled. Drink or use within 3-4 days, but sometimes it will keep for a week.
- Add other flavors or spices, as desired. Example โ cinnamon and a little almond extract.
- Honey or date syrup can be used in place of the maple syrup. You can also place a date in the blender with the soaked almonds and blend together.
- Do not freeze the almond milk, the texture will be affected.
- This method can be used on a variety of nuts and seeds!
Hi I just made mine. I have. $600 something blender Vitamix. Haven’t tasted it yet but it looks beautiful Nd I’m really excited about it. I’ll let ya”all know tomorrow how it tastes ๐ I posted the whole process for my friends linked to your page. Off topic I tried another one of your recipes today!! And it was soooooooo GREAT!!! The one on your site: coconut water, mango, watermelon and spinach! Thanks
Hi Jenn,
We hope you love making your own homemade almond milk as much as we do! Definitely keep us updated once you’ve tried it!
Great recipe! We love blendin’ with melon, it’s so refreshing, especially as the weather is starting to warm up here! ๐
I don’t strain out the pulp. But I mostly make smoothies from it. I store in a jar with a lid. Shake it before pouring in the blender. Add the other ingredients and blend away. It shortens the time to make it and simplifies things.
Thanks for sharing, Eddie! Cheers ๐
Do you refrigerate the almonds while they soak or leave them out on the counter?
Hi Kerry,
I leave the almonds to soak on the counter overnight.
Cheers ๐
How do you sanitize the bowls?
Hi Paty,
Here are a few options:
I love using a vinegar + water solution to clean all of my kitchen materials before making almond milk! Or I run the dishwasher on it’s “sanitize” setting (If that’s an option for you).
Some people sanitize using one tablespoon of bleach to a gallon of water, soak all of the cooking materials and then rinse. There are arguments for using bleach, some argue the proven toxicity to both humans and the environment, while those in favor say there’s no harm when used in very small amounts.
Hope this helps!
I have been following your website for just over a year as I gained a lot of weight due to medication and was looking for a healthier lifestyle and stumbled across your amazing smoothies (and have lost over 4 stone in that time, I’m halfway back to my normal weight!). I live in China and I worry about the stories of steroids etc. in cows milk, so I have just made my first batch of almond milk. You have a happy household here in Beijing: it’s yummy and I can see us totally replacing cows milk. Thanks for everything!
Kathryn,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with Simple Green Smoothies!
Rawk on!
Cheers ๐
I tend to soak my nuts with a bit of salt as that is supposed to neutralize the enzymes, so does lemon do the same and can we do both soak with lemon and salt ?
Hi Shalini,
You’re right, the lemon juice helps neutralize the enzymes, and makes it easier for your body to absorb all of the nutritional benefits of the almond milk! How much salt do you add?
Why the lemon juice? I’ve never seen that in other almond milk recipes.
Hi Katherine,
The added lemon juice helps your body absorb all of the nutritional benefits of the almond milk!
how long does it stay fresh?
Hi Judy,
It should last between 2-3 days in the fridge!
what do you use the almond pulp for. Do you waste it or freeze to make almond flour
Hi Shelley,
There are so many options for the left-over almond pulp! A quick search of the internet, and you can find recipes for almond flour, face scrubs, baked goods, and dips! The options are endless! ๐
I forgot to ask. I have a Vitamax. Do your use the dry blade or wet blade to make your almond milk?
Hi Tea! Because you are soaking the almonds in water prior to blending we suggest using your wet blade! Enjoy!
Can you freeze almond milk as you can whole animal milk?
Hi Tea! We always believe fresh is best! Freezing almond milk might cause it to separate irregularly and this may reduce the visual quality and consistency upon thawing.
I’ve tried it and it’s success…!! ๐ I like it..and will try some others nuts which easy to find here (Indonesia) and not too expensive, cause almond quite expensive here…
Enjoy!
Have you ever tried blending with dates as the sweetener instead of the optional maple syrup?
Yes, we love dates. ๐
Hi!! I read on another site that the pulp would just settle and you wouldnยดt have to strain…. ever tried it? I have my almonds soaking now and wanna make it in the morning but donยดt have any cheesecloth…
Hey Amber. You don’t necessarily have to strain it, it will just be a thicker milk. ๐
Take the remaining pulp. Spread it on a baking pan and put it in your oven at the lowest possible temperature (mine is 170 degrees). Dry/roast for approximately 3 hours, stirring halfway through. When the pulp is dried out, let cool, then put it into your blender (make sure it is completely dry!) and blend/grind away. Pour almond meal/flour into a freezer ziploc bag and store in your freezer for gluten free/low-carb baking!
Hey Catherine! YOU TOTALLY RAWK! Thanks for the tips!
Thank You! That makes the buying a high end blender a good investment Thank You!!
Awesome ๐
Glad you are excited! I am about to blend mine. ๐