What you put into your body goes to feed your cells, and the health of your cells means the health of your entire body. To be holistically healthy, it’s important to be conscious of what you put in your body, and how it nourishes your cells. Milk is one of these things that’s been hotly debated for years, and now Almond Milk is making its way into the conversation.
As a kid, you heard that dairy was an important part of a balanced diet. You may have heard that it was important to have at least three servings of dairy a day and that if you didn’t, you would never have strong bones or grow up to be tall. For kids, there could be some science behind this. For adults, it seems to be the opposite.
According to the Genetics Home Reference Journal, over 65% of adults have some sort of a lactose intolerance. This makes sense because our early human ancestors only evolved to drink milk from cows in times of famine when sources of fat and calcium couldn’t be found in meat and vegetables.
Cutting dairy out of your diet can be a freeing experience. Many people don’t realize the adverse effects that lactose has on them until they go cold turkey and find themselves with less joint pain and a more regular digestive system. Thanks to the new popularity of alternative milks like soy milk and cashew milk, going dairy free is easier than ever.
“Let food be thy medicine, thy medicine shall be thy food.” – Hippocrates
Benefits of Almond Milk
Recent studies on almond milk have shown that it has almost twice the amount of calcium than traditional milk. This healthy milk also has been proven to lower cholesterol. What is more, it contains huge amounts of vitamin E and vitamin D, which could help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Using these almond milk recipes rather than traditional dairy products can help you lose weight, as well. Be sure to buy or make unsweetened milk to maximize its fat reducing potential.
Because this kind of milk contains fewer calories and more calcium than other varieties of milk, you can indulge your creamy cravings without worrying about feeling it later on your waist.
Almond Milk Recipes
Many things that you would typically make with dairy can be slightly reworked to include a nut milk, instead. While this can change the taste of a certain dish, switching out your cream and lactose can create an interesting flavor profile that makes people ask what your secret is.
1. Overnight Almond Milk
This tasty recipe you can do easily at home yields two cups of finished milk. Use this awesome, low maintenance drink to really impress your health conscious friends. You can easily adjust quantities for a larger or smaller batch, depending on what you’re looking for.
Ingredients
1 cup raw almonds
2 cups water
(Optional) Sweetener like honey, vanilla, or sugar to taste
Instructions
- Soak the almonds in about an inch of cold water at least overnight, and up to two days. Cover with a cloth and leave on the counter or refrigerate. The nuts should begin to plump up. If you a prefer a creamier blend, let the almonds soak longer, up to two days.
- Drain the almonds and rinse them in cold water.
- Add the almonds and the two cups of water to a blender or food processor, and pulse for about two minutes, or until mostly smooth.
- Strain the almond mixture in a cheesecloth over a bowl. This should yield about two cups of delicious, nutty milk.
2. Three Ingredient Chocolate Almond Milk Ice Cream
A great way to use your newfound alternate milk skills is to try out this creamy treat. Be sure to use a nonstick pan, or line the pan you’re freezing the ice cream in with parchment paper. Otherwise, it can be a nightmare to get all the ice cream out without making a huge mess.
Ingredients
2 Cups vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup xylitol
1/4 cup cocoa powder
Instructions
- Blend ingredients until the xylitol has dissolved fully.
- Pour into a nonstick pan and freeze for about four hours.
- Break up the ice cream using a fork and pulse in the blender until smooth and creamy.
- Transfer to a bowl and freeze until solid, for about an hour, and enjoy!
3. Almond Milk No Bake Cookies
No bakes are great for events because you can make them ahead of time and they don’t take up space in the oven. They’re also a great option if you have little ones helping you out in the kitchen, or if you’re short on time. Enjoy these decadent cookies with a glass of cold, healthy nut milk.
Ingredients
½ cup or 1 stick unsalted butter
2 cups sugar
½ cup milk
4 tbsp cocoa powder
½ cup peanut butter
3¼ cup quick oats
2 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Combine sugar, butter, cocoa, and milk in a saucepan on high heat.
- Bring to a boil, and let boil for about one minute.
- Remove from heat and add the remaining ingredients.
- Using a spoon, drop about 1 tablespoon of the mixture onto foil or wax paper to form cookies.
- Let cool entirely, and then enjoy!
4. Overnight Almond Milk Oatmeal
Overnight oatmeal is deliciously creamy and easy to make. Use alternative milk for a healthy spin on this classic. If you prefer it warm, it’s also easy to warm it up on the stove or in the microwave for a perfect winter’s morning meal.
Ingredients
¼ cup oatmeal
Half cup milk
¼ cup Greek yogurt
1 ½ tsp chia seeds
¼ cup fruit (your choice)
2 tsp honey
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a jar with a lid.
- Stir thoroughly, and let sit overnight in the fridge.
- Enjoy the next morning!
5. Vegan Almond Milk Cheese Sauce
A sumptuous cheese sauce doesn’t have to be full of milk and butter, just as a healthy, dairy free diet doesn’t have to be boring. You can make a delectable version that contains no soy, no dairy, and no guilt.
Ingredients
1 cup cooked white beans
1/2 cup unsweetened milk
1/3 cup vegan cheese shreds
1/8 tsp garlic powder
(optional) 2 tsp olive oil
Instructions
- Drain beans, and using a blender, combine all ingredients except for vegan cheese.
- Put blended mixture in a pot and heat up to the desired temperature.
- Add in vegan cheese, and enjoy on rice or with veggies!
Additional Almond Milk Recipes Tips and Tricks
Don’t feel restrained by these five recipes. Instead, use them as a great jumping off point for your journey into better health and a dairy-free lifestyle.
- Use it to make a healthier cappuccino. It foams up just as nicely as milk, with fewer calories.
- Don’t be afraid to buy ahead. Almond milk and other nut milks last much longer in the fridge than animal-based milk. Some might even be shelf stable before opening, so read the back of the label and if you need to, stock up.
- Don’t let your French press be a single-use item. It’s perfect for much more than just a sublime cup of coffee. The French press is great for making homemade nut milk and other almond milk recipes by separating the almond pulp from the milk in a flash.
- You can save the pulp that remains after making homemade milk and use it for recipes. Don’t be afraid to get creative with it. Waste not, want not!
- This milk can play the same role as normal milk even in baking! Make a healthier cookie, cake, or muffin using nut milk rather than traditional dairy.
Final Thoughts on Almond Milk Recipes
The benefits of switching from dairy to another option are clear cut. Because most adults are somewhat irritated by lactose, the problem is much more widespread than you would think, and it could be affecting you.
There are a lot of signs that you have some sort of food sensitivity, and it’s important to listen to your body. Even if you don’t have an adverse reaction to traditional milk, you may think about switching to a milk substitute for health and lifestyle reasons.
Whatever your reason for using a healthier alternative to milk, there are a lot of things you can do to make recipes you’ve prepared for a long time be just as great or even better by substituting almond for cow’s milk. What’s really important is that you make choices that make sense for you and your health. Luckily, the choice seems to be a tasty one!
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