Making your own almond milk at home is one of the easiest, yet highly rewarding things, you can do in your kitchen!

Homemade almond milk is much more flavorful, creamier, and healthier than anything you can find in the store.

If you've never made almond milk at home it can be quite intimidating but rest assured you can do this!

Below I have broken down the steps to making your own milk, what ingredients you need, what equipment you need, and how to store your milk for optimal freshness!

WHAT INGREDIENTS YOU NEED TO MAKE ALMOND MILK AT HOME:

Making almond milk at home is simple. You just need a few basic ingredients that you may already have at home.

Almonds - Make sure you are using raw unroasted almonds for best results. I like to buy mine from the bulk section at Whole Foods or from Trader Joes.

Dates - To keep this refined sugar free, I like to use dates to sweeten the milk. All you need are one or two dates and it really goes a long way to make the milk sweet (because almonds are naturally sweet themselves too). However, if you do not have dates or want it extra sweeter you can also use agave, maple syrup, or honey. I would say around one to two tablespoons would suffice.

Cinnamon powder - This is totally optional and it won't heavily alter the milk if you choose not to include it but I just love the extra flavor that a pinch of cinnamon gives to the milk.  << CLICK HERE TO SEE CINNAMON POWDER OPTIONS ON AMAZON

Vanilla extract or flavoring - Again, this is another ingredient that is totally optional but if you have it on hand, a little bit of vanilla will make the milk taste even better! This is the vanilla flavoring that I like to use. It is free of alcohol and you can purchase it at Whole Foods.

<< CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL VANILLA EXTRACT / FLAVOR OPTIONS ON AMAZON

Also, just a little fyi - if it's called an 'extract' you can assume it has alcohol in it, as all extracts are usually made with alcohol. Not a big deal, but if you are looking for an alcohol free version - stay away from extracts and look for 'flavorings' instead.

WHAT KITCHEN EQUIPMENT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE ALMOND MILK AT HOME:

A quick google search will show you a variety of best ways to make homemade almond milk. Some are simple straightforward methods. Others call for juicers and food processors and nut milk makers that cost upwards of hundreds of dollars. I'm here to tell you to save.your.money! All you need is a blender and a nut milk bag (click here to see the actual nut milk bag I use and highly recommend.)

Blender - I use a Vitamix which is a high powered blender and I highly highly recommend. It is a pricey gadget but you get so much use out of it, it's so worth it. We literally use ours every.single.day. Here's a tip: Buy refurbished! It's cheaper (almost half the price of a new one) and comes with a five year warranty, so if anything does go wrong Vitamix will fix it! It is honestly one of the best kitchen purchases I have ever made. But, if you do not have a vitamix do not fret. You can still make almond milk at home. Just make sure to soak your almonds overnight so that they can be soft and blend easier. You may also want to soak your dates to make it easier for the blender.

Nut milk bag - You definitely don't want to skip out on this. Almond milk is gritty and you want to make sure to strain it after blending. If you do not strain your milk, you will not have smooth silky milk because of the almond pulp that is mixed in. The best way to strain almond milk is using a nut milk bag. <<CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL NUT MILK BAG OPTIONS ON AMAZON

Some people use cheesecloth, and I did as well in the beginning, but it's not my favorite method. It gets messy and cheesecloth is not reusable. A better method is using a nut milk bag that you can wash after use and reuse it multiple times. There are many different types of milk bags. There are those made out of cotton and some made out of nylon.

At first I wanted to stick to using cotton nut milk bags because it's more natural, but after several uses the cotton always seems to grow mold especially down here in florida where humidity is so high. I finally found this nut milk bag made with fine Italian nylon and I'm really happy with the results. I can wash it easily after use and it dries up within several minutes preventing mold growth. You definitely do not want to be straining your milk through a moldy nut milk bag so always keep an eye on your bags, and replace as needed.

How to make almond milk at home using a blender:

If you are anything like me, you have probably been wanting to make almond milk at home for a long time now but have been somewhat intimidated with the process. But, seriously, do not fear. It is soooo easy. It is probably one of the easiest recipes ever. Once you make your first batch of almond milk you will probably never want to drink store bought almond milk again.

The process to making your own almond milk at home is as follows:

1. Soak almonds overnight (or for at least 4 hours)
2. Add all ingredients to your blender and blend until smooth
3. Strain the milk using a nut milk bag (or cheesecloth)
4. Refrigerate and serve cold!

That's it!! It's really not complicated at all.

why make your own almond milk at home:

My mantra when it comes to food is "homemade is best", and when it comes to almond milk this is so true. Have you ever tasted store bought almond milk? For one, it is usually not very creamy and sometimes lacks flavor. This is because store bought milks are watered down - (using less almonds is less expensive to manufacturers). Making your own milk ensures that you are getting that delicious creamy dreamy milk!

Other benefits of making your own almond milk at home are that you can control how much sugar you put into it. Most store milks are loaded with sugar, sometimes refined sugar, to make it taste better (and make up for the watered down flavor). You also guarantee that no strange preservatives or weird ingredients make it into your milk when you make it yourself. You control exactly what goes in, and I love that!

Not to mention, you actually save money by making your own milk because buying bulk almonds is cheaper than buying a carton of almond milk. Plus, you get to use the left over pulp to make other baked goods - so it's a two for one!!

why it is important to soak your almonds for homemade milk:

You may be tempted to skip this simple step of soaking your almonds, but I encourage you not to! Soaking your almonds will ensure a silky smooth milk. If you do not soak your almonds, your blender will have a harder time processing the almonds. If you are short on time, you can probably get away with soaking your almonds for at least 4 hours, but it is really ideal to soak them overnight (8 to 10 hours). I always make sure to put some almonds to soak at night so that I can make my milk the next morning.

how to store your homemade almond milk and how long will it last in the fridge:

The best way to store homemade almond milk based on my experience is in an airtight container in the fridge. I like to use these 32oz mason jars with lids or these cute glass milk jugs too. I have found that the milk will last a day or two longer when it is closed in an airtight container vs left open without a lid.

Remember this milk does not have preservatives like those milks found in stores, so naturally it will not last very long. I find the milk to be the freshest on day one and two, but by day three or four sometimes it begins to spoil. I recommend you to enjoy your milk as soon as possible within a day or two, and if by day 3 or 4 your milk smells funky or tastes sour, it is probably best to get rid of it.

What to do with left over almond pulp:

Once you strain your almond milk, you will be left with what is called 'almond pulp'. If you think this is useless and want to throw it away, THINK AGAIN! Almond pulp can be used to make breakfast granola and cookies. You can also turn the almond pulp into almond flour. It's way easier than you think. All you have to do is dry the almond pulp (you can use a dehydrator or your oven) and then pulverize the dried pulp into flour using your blender! Now you can use this almond flour to make cookies and other baked goods.

I'll eventually be adding some almond pulp recipes on here so make sure to check back here for updates, or better yet, subscribe to receive email notifications so that you can be notified when these recipes are available.

different ways to use your homemade almond milk:

You can use your almond milk in baking or in drinks like smoothies. I like to drink it straight from the glass (don't judge), it is so delicious! You can also use it as a creamer for your coffee or tea... I like this milk just as it is but if you want a thicker cream, just decrease the amount of water.

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