How to make homemade almond milk
Here’s a little secret about making almond milk… you don’t actually need a Vitamix. Some of you commented that making almond milk was a great reason to buy one. It IS. It does make it much easier and fancier. But I’ve been making it for years with a regular old Oster blender and it works fine.
So, that being said, I thought I’d share my recipe. The one thing you do need is a nut milk bag. Some people claim you can use cheesecloth, but don’t bother. You’ll have grainy almond milk and it will be so frustrating to make that you’ll never do it again. So first, order one up online. The one I have right now is my second, and I actually bought it from Vitamix before I had one. I figured they would probably have the best one since you know, they’re Vitamix. The first one I bought years ago from a random raw foods website and it was just okay, and then eventually split open in the middle of the main operation. My new one is big and fabulous and strong and makes the whole process super easy.
Raw Almond Milk
1 cup raw almonds
4 cups filtered water + more for soaking almonds
sweetener of choice – maple syrup, agave, cinnamon, etc
Soak 1 cup of almonds overnight (or all day) in a bowl of filtered water.
Strain and rinse soaked almonds (they are delicious at this point, try one!). Dump them into your blender with the 4 cups of filtered water.
Blend on high for 5 minutes.
Place the nutmilk bag in a bowl (preferably in the sink), and empty the blender into the bag.
Squeeze the milk through the bag into the bowl (kind of like, I assume, milking a cow?). The almond meal will stay in the bag and you’ll be left with just the yummy milk.
Now rinse the blender and the lid. Pour the milk back into the blender and add the sweetener of your choice. I usually add a few tablespoons of maple syrup, maybe a squeeze of agave, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and a pinch of sea salt. Blend again for a minute.
And that’s it. Yummy milk that’s actually better the next day once the foam has settled and the flavors have mixed together. I’ve been adding it to coffee and tea, eating it in cereal, and drinking it by the glassful through the day.
If you DO have a Vitamix of another high capacity blender, you can up the portions of almonds and water so you end up with more milk. I usually use 1 1/2 cups of almonds and 6 cups of water. This fills the Vitamix to capacity, which honestly is a huge plus with this type of blender. So much more space! I used to have to blend the milk in batches, which just made the whole process longer and less streamlined.
You can also use the same formula to make milk from different nuts. I’ve make brazil nut milk before and it was delicious too. Make some this weekend!
Thanks for this! I’ve made almond milk before but I honestly had no clue there were nut milk bags! That will make it so much easier. I love your blog, such beauty and great ideas. Thank you.
I love making almond milk. Hazelnut is good too. I only have a Magic Bullet blender right now and it still works.
Thanks for that nut milk bag link. I have been holding off buying one because I only saw the nylon versions out there, which bust super easy.
do you reuse the filtered water from the bowl holding the soaking almonds for the blender? or is it new filtered water?
I’ve always wanted to try this- great photos too.
This might be a silly question, but could you use a juicer after you soak the almonds?
I am totally getting a “nutmilk” bag. Thank you for posting this!
And, super congrats on baby #2. I was hoping to see a baby bump today! ;)
how long does it last? or, do you move through it quickly enough that it’s not an issue?
@Holly – oops! Should have mentioned that. Use new filtered water for the actual milk (the 4 cups). You don’t need to measure the water you use for soaking.
@Christin – hmm. I have no idea! I mean most of the liquid isn’t coming from the soaked almonds. It’s coming from the water you blend them with, so I think that might not work that well. But you could try?
@Heather – I do seem to be moving through it quickly enough that it’s not an issue. But I would guess that it would last a week.
Just a quick tip; Cutting the feet off a pair of cheap pantyhose also work really well as a stand in for a nut milk bag!
Thanks for this post, I love your blog! (and congrats on the new bebe!)
YUM. Thank you for this clear how-to! Can’t wait to give it a try :)
What about the leftover nut meal? Can you do anything with that?
oooh! i just went on the Paleo Diet and almond milk is essential as a replacement for dairy.. but i hate the proscessed versions. thanks for this awesome recipe sans vitamix!
this is awesome – absolutely cant wait to try it!! thanks!
Thanks! I was just going to make almond milk for the first time, and this was just what I was looking for. I love it in smoothies. I think homemade almond milk lasts for 3-4 days from what I’ve read.
Wow! Who knew this could be so simple? I’m definately going to make some this weekend. Thanks for sharing Kristina!
Hello :) This sounds amazing. i love almond milk and it’s pretty hard to come by from where I’m from. Can’t wait to try it. I was wondering, is there a use for the pulp that’s left after straining?
my husband loves almond milk. never thought it was this easy to make. cool.
Iael – I would love to know what you mean by “cut the feet off of pantyhose”? What do you do with a pair of panty hose that have openings at both ends?? what do you tie off? Where do you pour in the milk??
@Carla and Christin – if you’re super into raw food, I know you can make different raw breads and things with the almond meal. But it requires a dehydrator and some patience.
how long does this last in the refrigerator?
guess what i’m sipping right now?
a cold, frothy glass of homemade almond milk. thanks for the nudge! it’s one of those things i keep meaning to try and just haven’t gotten around to it…
and it’s hitting the spot in such a major way!! yum!!
i used my trusty kitchen aid and one of my organic muslin reusable produce bags for my first go around and voila!
i’m going to step-up my supplies, though. a vitamix has been on the list for tooooo long now!
xx
For those of you wondering about uses for nut pulp, check out this hummus recipe. It’s pretty delicious. She also gives resources for other ways to use it.
http://mynewroots.blogspot.com/2011/08/waste-not-want-not-raw-nut-pulp-hummus.html
Can’t wait to try this and flavor how I want. Maybe I could try with pecans too… Thanks for posting!
Another idea for using up the nut pulp is adding it to oatmeal. I’ve never done it, but I always add some natural chunky peanut butter and I imagine it would have a similar effect.
Thanks, Kristina, I just split my nut milk bag today while making almond milk. I was not aware that Vitamix sold them even though I have a Vitamix. I know where I’m getting my next one.
I think the pantyhose reference means cut a foot off a pair and use that to strain, at least that is what I was thinking of doing after I read that!