Homemade Almond Milk - Easy, Creamy & Delicious

Anyone who knows me will tell you I am a dairy lover through and through. But that doesn’t stop me from exploring alternative options occasionally. Although I’m all for the efficiency that store-bought alternative milks provide, homemade almond milk is worth the hassle. I absolutely love the taste and creaminess of my homemade version. It tastes COMPLETELY different from the store-bought kind, mainly because it's fresh and the ratio of almonds to water is much higher. Try it yourself, you don’t need any fancy equipment!

I like using this almond milk in coffees, iced lattes, overnight oats and smoothies. You can also use this almond milk in hot drinks but please note that it won't froth up like the store-bought "barista" versions as there are no additives/emulsifiers in it.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almonds
• 2 cups water, plus more for soaking
• 1 pitted medjool date (or 2-3 pitted Deglet Noor dates)
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• Pinch of sea salt

 Optional Add-ins:

• 1 tbsp of cacao or cocoa powder for chocolate milk

Preparation:

1. Place almonds in a large plastic container. Pour water over the almonds until covered. Soak overnight, or for at least 12 hours.*
2. Rinse almonds and add to blender along with the 2 cups of water, date(s), vanilla and salt.
3. Blend until finely pureed. This will take a few minutes so try not to rush the process or you will be left with large chunks of almonds.**
4. Once pureed, strain through a nut-milk bag or, if you don’t have one, a fine mesh strainer lined with a cheesecloth or dishcloth.***
5. Transfer to a jar and refrigerate for up to 5 days. Shake before drinking as the almond milk will separate.

Notes:

*If you are short on time, use boiling water instead and the almonds will be ready once the water/nut mixture comes to room temperature.

**You don’t need a high-powered blender for this. I have used a Magic Bullet and Ninja in the past and it’s worked fine. Just be sure to blend it thoroughly for a few minutes so that all the almonds get pulverized.

***You can freeze the strained pulp to use elsewhere for an extra dose of nutrients in oatmeal/overnight oats, smoothies, or homemade energy bars.