Homemade Almond Milk

I switched from regular milk to almond milk about 6 months ago and never looked back. I use almond milk just about anywhere I would use regular milk; in my baking, soups, and even my morning cappuccino. When I was back in the US,my favorite brand was the unsweetened version of Almond Breeze by Blue Diamond. I liked the flavor a lot, and do not care for the added sugar so it was perfect. Unfortunately, when we arrived here in Italy, I could not find an unsweetened brand of almond milk, and I really wasn’t crazy about the taste of any of the varieties that I could find. My only solution seemed to be to make my own.

I started to do some research online about making almond milk and could not believe it was as easy as it actually is. Basically you simply soak raw almonds overnight, then the next day mix them with water in the food processor, puree, then strain. Since I like my milk unsweetened, I do not add anything else, but you could add raw honey, vanilla extract, or even ground cinnamon if you like. The milk is thick and delicious, and I found it doesn’t even separate when stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. After that point it does begin to separate, and though you can shake the bottle to blend the layers again, the flavor is best if you consume the milk in 5 to 7 days maximum. I found that the flavor just started to break down after that point. Since I made so much at once, I simply stored one bottle in the refrigerator that I knew I could use up within 5 days and froze the rest.

You have to start the process the night before because the almonds require soaking overnight which is a very important step. Soaking the almonds softens them and they release the natural oils much easier. It helps to have a high powered blender, like a Blentec or Vitamix as it will cut down the time required to puree the nuts. Cheesecloth is also very helpful, although since I had none in the house I simply used a kitchen towel and it worked just fine. You will have 2 to 3 cups of almond meal leftover that you can use in baked goods. I used mine in Paleo friendly Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies!

 

• Almond milk is high in calcium, low in fat and calories.
• Making your own almond milk ensures that you know exactly what is inside it, with no preservatives or other additives.