Homemade Almond Milk
It has been almost a year since I took the plunge and began making my own Almond Milk. And man, were they right about how amazing it is and how one would never want to go back. Some have asked if it's worth the time and effort, and yes, I believe it is! It takes about 10-15 minutes and is a time that I have come to enjoy. Call it the period-loving drama part of me that loves working with my hands and anything homemade. It lasts up to four days. We use it in our tea, for chia seed pudding, smoothies and it serves as dessert some nights.
I remember watching an Instagram story of a health influencer showing how easy it was to make almond milk. I had made milk a few years prior, but I did not see the benefit of making it myself. I later read on her blog how important it was to read the label of most brands. Most store-bought brands are filled with gums and fillers, which adds to the shelf life and improves the overall texture of the milk. Below I will attach a few links revealing how some famous almond milk brands that we all know and love only contains 2 percent almonds, and the rest of the ingredients include additives. I will also include a video that shows us brands that use 2-3 ingredients, water, almonds, and salt.
So, I'm going to WARN you now; once you go homemade, you won't want to go back.
Equipment
A nut milk bag (you can also use cheesecloth or clean thin towel )
High-Speed Blender (I use a Vitamix)
Ingredients
1 cup of raw soaked almonds (soaked overnight in cool water or 1-2 soaked in hot water
3 cups of filtered water (I use Springwater)
For Sweetened Milk (this is how I make it)
2 Pitted Dates
A splash of Maple Syrup
A pinch of salt (I use pink Himalayan or Celtic sea salt)
Optional:
1 tsp of Vanilla
2 tbs of Cacao of Cocoa for Chocolate Milk
Instructions
Add soaked almonds, filtered water, and any additional add-ins (optional) to a high-speed blender Blend until creamy and smooth for at least 1-2 minutes.
Strain with a nut milk bag (or a thin clean dish towel). Then squeeze until all of the liquid is extracted. You can discard the pulp or save and add to recipes (I've included some below),
Transfer milk to a jar or covered bottle and refrigerate. It will keep for up to 4 days.
Shake before drinking
Almond Pulp Recipes
I have recently tried these bars, and y'all, it's a winner! I have been searching for a recipe that doesn’t require me to dry it out in the oven first. I have done that a few times and my husband is very quick to remind me how much energy I’m using. So I was very excited when a friend on Instagram shared this recipe with me. I highly recommend trying it out! I brought these bars on a trip to visit family and they loved them. I was very happy to know that I wasn’t the only person who thought these bars were delicious!
Almond Pulp Chocolate Chip Bars
Here is another great resource if you’re interested in making the most of your leftover almond pulp.
References
There’s no Almonds in Your Almond Milk- Video
How many Almonds are Actually in your Almond Milk- Shape Magazine
Just how much Almond is in your Almond Milk- Food and Wine Magazine