Homemade Almond Milk and Coffee Creamer Recipe

My First Almond Milk Mess

I tried making nut milk years ago. I did not soak the almonds first. My blender sounded so sad. It was like grinding rocks.

Soaking them overnight is the secret. It makes them soft and friendly to your blender. I learned that the hard way. I still laugh at that crunchy mess.

Why This Simple Milk Matters

This matters because you know every single thing in your food. No strange words on a box. Just almonds and water. That feels good.

It also lets you make less waste. You control the batch. No big plastic jug to throw away. What’s one small change you’ve made to waste less in your kitchen?

Let’s Make the Basic Milk

Drain your soft, soaked almonds. Put them in the blender with cool water. Now blend for a whole minute. It will get white and frothy.

Pour it through a thin cloth over a bowl. Gather the cloth corners. Squeeze gently until all the milk is out. Doesn’t that smell amazing? Like fresh almonds.

The Magical Coffee Creamer

This is my favorite part. For the creamer, you add dates before blending. They add a sweet, caramel taste. A pinch of salt and vanilla go in after.

The salt is the magic. It makes the sweet and vanilla flavors pop. Fun fact: A tiny bit of salt in sweet things makes them taste sweeter, not saltier! Do you prefer your coffee creamy, sweet, or plain?

A Little Tip for the Pulp

You’ll have soft almond pulp left in the cloth. Don’t just toss it! This matters because it’s still good food. It feels good to use it all.

You can dry it in a low oven. Then you have almond flour. Or stir it into oatmeal or muffin batter. It adds a nice little chew. Have you ever used nut pulp before? What did you make?

Keeping It Fresh

Your milk and creamer are homemade. So they stay fresh for about five days. Keep them cold in a jar. Give the jar a shake before you use it.

If you made too much, just freeze some. I freeze mine in ice cube trays. Then I pop a few cubes into my iced coffee later. It’s a lovely little treat.

Ingredients:

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
raw almonds (or cashews, or any nut)	1 cup	Covered in water and soaked overnight in the refrigerator
cool water	4 cups
raw almonds (or cashews, or any nut)	1 cup	Covered in water and soaked overnight in the refrigerator
medjool dates	2	Pitted (or substitute 2 tbsp coconut sugar)
cool water	4 cups
vanilla extract	1 tsp
sea salt	1 pinch

My Favorite Homemade Almond Milk

Hello, dear! Come sit at the table. Let’s make something wonderful. I love making almond milk. It feels like a little kitchen magic. You start with simple nuts and water. Then you create this creamy, delicious drink. Doesn’t that sound fun? My grandson calls it “Grandma’s secret potion.” I still laugh at that.

It’s so much better than the store-bought kind. You can taste the love in it. And you know exactly what’s inside. Just two things! Soaking the nuts overnight is the secret. It makes them soft and ready to blend. It’s like tucking them in for a long nap.

Step 1: Soak & Blend

First, drain your soaked almonds. Toss that water out. Put the plump almonds in your blender. Add four cups of cool, fresh water. Now blend it all up! Let it go for a full minute. You want it to look like frothy, white cloud juice. The sound is so cheerful.

Step 2: Strain

This is the fun part. Drape a thin cloth over a bowl. A clean dish towel works perfectly. Slowly pour your almond cloud into the cloth. (A hard-learned tip: use a big bowl! It can splash.) Gather the cloth corners like a little sack. Gently squeeze and squeeze. The milk will drip through. You’ll be left with almond pulp inside.

Step 3: Store & Enjoy

Pour your fresh milk into a pretty jar. Seal it tight and pop it in the fridge. It will stay good for about five days. You can freeze some if you made too much. See? You made milk! What would you make with the leftover almond pulp? Share below!

Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes (plus soaking)
Yield: About 4 cups
Category: Drink, Basic

Three Sweet Twists for Your Creamer

Now, for coffee creamer! The basic recipe is just the start. Here are my favorite ways to play. Try adding flavors. It makes your morning cup feel special.

• Cinnamon Roll: Add a teaspoon of cinnamon with the dates. It smells like a bakery.
• Chocolate Dream: Blend in a tablespoon of cocoa powder. It’s like a dessert in your mug.
• Maple Kiss: Use maple syrup instead of dates. It gives a cozy, autumn taste.

Each one changes your coffee in a happy way. Which one would you try first? Comment below!

Sipping & Serving Ideas

Of course, you can pour it right into your coffee. But think bigger! Try it over oatmeal with berries. Doesn’t that sound amazing? Or use it in your pancake batter. It makes them taste so rich. You can even splash it into iced tea for a treat.

For pairings, a simple glass is lovely with cookies. For a fancy night, try it with an amaretto sour cocktail. The flavors are best friends. For kids, mix it with a little chocolate syrup. A homemade chocolate milk! Which would you choose tonight?

Keeping Your Almond Milk Fresh and Ready

Your homemade almond milk is a fresh, living food. It needs to stay cold. Always store it in a sealed jar in the fridge. It will stay good for about five days. Give it a good shake before you use it each time.

If you make a big batch, freezing is your friend. Pour some into an ice cube tray. Once frozen, pop the cubes into a bag. You can thaw a few for smoothies anytime. This saves you from wasting a single drop.

I once forgot a jar in the back of the fridge. It was there for over a week. Let’s just say I learned my lesson the smelly way! Batch cooking like this matters. It means a healthy treat is always ready for you. Have you ever tried storing it this way? Share below!

Simple Fixes for Common Almond Milk Hiccups

Is your milk too thin? You might not have blended it long enough. Blend for a full minute until it looks very creamy. This helps get all the good flavor from the nuts into the water.

Straining can be messy. I remember when I used a cheesecloth. It had big holes and pulp went everywhere! A thin, clean dish towel works much better. It catches all the tiny bits for super smooth milk.

Does your creamer not taste sweet enough? Your dates might be dry. Soak them in warm water for 10 minutes first. This softens them so they blend in perfectly. Fixing these small issues matters. It makes you a more confident cook. It also makes your food taste exactly how you want. Which of these problems have you run into before?

Your Quick Almond Milk Questions, Answered

Q: Is this recipe gluten-free?
A: Yes, it is naturally gluten-free. It uses only nuts, water, and simple flavors.

Q: Can I make it ahead?
A: Absolutely! Soak the nuts overnight. Then blend in the morning. It’s a perfect make-ahead breakfast helper.

Q: What can I use instead of dates?
A: Try a tablespoon of maple syrup or honey. You can even use two tablespoons of coconut sugar.

Q: Can I double the recipe?
A: You sure can. Just use a bigger blender jar. Or make two separate batches.

Q: Any optional tips?
A: For extra creamy milk, use only 3 cups of water. Fun fact: Almonds are not true nuts. They are actually seeds from a fruit! Which tip will you try first?

Wrapping Up From My Kitchen to Yours

I hope you love making this simple treat. There is magic in creating food from scratch. It feels good to know exactly what’s in your glass.

I would be so delighted to see your creations. If you give this recipe a try, please share a photo. Show me your beautiful jar of homemade goodness. Have you tried this recipe? Tag us on Pinterest!

Thank you for spending this time with me. Keep things simple and cook with joy.

Happy cooking!
—Chloe Hartwell.