Almonds are a superfood that is awesome for us and, we can prepare them in so many ways. One in particular is Almond Milk. Read 10 Reasons to Eat Almonds here.
I used to use store-bought almond milk. It tastes great, but I wasn’t pleased with all the chemical ingredients, so I started making my own almond milk. We actually go through at least a Pint (34 oz) of almond milk every couple of days, so its super convenient to just make it. It is actually easier and quicker to make a batch of almond milk, than drive to the grocery store, stay in line, drive back, etc… What is also great, you can get so creative with it. There are so many superfoods that we would normally just forget to eat, or even get annoyed by chewing. So here is my take on How to Make Almond Milk.
Make it in the evening so its ready for your next morning breakfast!
Easy DIY Almond Milk
Raw Almond Milk is super easy to make. You just need 3 ingredients. Almonds, A Blender, and a Nut Milk Bag (they are pretty cheap on amazon – only $5 for 2, shipping included). That’s it! However, if you wanted to get a little creative, you will need some additional ingredients. I will tell you all about it, Read on!
Ingredients
1 Cup – Raw Almonds (Unsalted)
3 Cups – Water
3 to 5 – Pitted Dates (optional for mild sweetness)
2 or 3 – Figs (optional for extra health benefits and mild sweetness)
Instructions
- Place 1 cup of almonds in a glass bowl and 2 cups of water. refrigerate overnight.
- Drain and rinse the almonds well, discarding any soaking liquid.
- Place almonds in a high-speed blender with the 3 cups fresh water. For natural sweetness, add two to five large pitted dates. Don’t forget to cover with lid, blend on high speed for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Place your nut bag in a large pyrex measuring cup (8 cups preferred) Then Pour your blended mixture into the nut bag, tie the bag, and gently squeeze out the milk into your measuring cup to extract more liquid.
- Pour your milk into a Milk bottle.
Notes
In this recipe I used only dates for flavor. Dates are superfoods loaded with natural nutrients, so I don’t mind adding a little extra. You may also add a 3 drops of alcohol free Vanilla Extract.
How to make Almond Milk with Goji Berries?
I’m sure you heard of Goji Berries, if not, you can read here 10 Benefits of Eating Goji Berries. Goji berries are packed with nutrients and antioxidants that are very beneficial.
STEPS When making a batch of Almond Milk, simply throw in a handful of Goji Berries into your blender, the red color adds a darker tint to the color of milk, gives it an additional essence of sweetness and provides a multitude of benefits!.
How to make Chocolate Almond Milk?
My 3 year old is addicted to chocolate milk. I used to give him the store bought chocolate milk (dairy or almond milk), but now he adjusted to the taste of almond milk and is very pleased with his new drink.
STEPS Add ¼ tablespoon of cocoa into 1 cup almond milk and stir. To make a whole bottle, add 1 tsp cocoa powder.
How to Make Almond Milk Thicker and Creamier?
Here is a chemical and additive free way of thickening your almond milk. I discovered this by accident when making oatmeal, here is a Peaches and Cream Oatmeal Recipe if you are interested.
STEPS Simply pour half of your almond milk batch into a pot, simmer at low heat 3 to 5 minutes (without bringing to a boil). Let it chill, pour back into your milk jug, and that is it!
How to Soak and Plump Almonds Faster?
If you need almond milk faster and you cant wait for several hours or till next day, here is what you do. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, add 1 cup of almonds and simmer for 5 minutes. Let it chill, rinse with cold water. At this point your almonds should be more plump and softer. You may proceed with normal instructions.