The Ultimate Guide to Nut Milk
Our Definitive Guide to Nut Milks
Over the last few years, as nut milk has grown in popularity, so has the variety of plant-based milks and creamers available. But when you make your own plant milk, your options extend far beyond what you’ll find on grocery store shelves. From everyday favorites like almond and oat milk to more unique varieties like pili nut milk and coconut-cashew blends, the possibilities are limited only by the ingredients you can get your hands on. With so many combinations to explore, there’s a whole world of homemade plant milk waiting to be discovered!
One of the biggest appeals of nut milk is that it offers a healthier and more environmentally-friendly alternative to dairy milk, and that has never been more true than with the Almond Cow. Create unique blends to satisfy whatever flavor you’re craving, like our PeCashew Milk, leave out ingredients you don’t want, such as artificial preservatives, gums, and other additives, and reduce your reliance on single-use plastic cartons. With homemade plant milk, you get to decide what goes in and what stays out!
Read below to find out more, and see which nut milk is best for you.
Almond Milk
Almond milk, like most nut milks, is made by blending almonds and water and then straining out any residual nut pulp. It has a mildly sweet, nutty flavor and smooth texture, which makes it an incredibly popular choice for those who are looking for an alternative to dairy milk. Almond milk is one of the most popular nut milks, and for good reason: it’s low in calories, nutrient-dense, and super easy to make with readily available ingredients. Check out our almond milk recipe and make your own almond milk at the touch of a button.
Cashew Milk
If you’re looking for superior creaminess, cashew milk is where it’s at! Cashew milk has a thicker consistency and more mild taste than almond milk, making it a great base to let other flavors shine. We love mixing cashews with coconut to make our famous CocoCash™ Milk. We personally love using cashews to make Cashew Golden Milk, a modernized twist on traditional Indian haldi doodh, a tumeric-rich drink known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Macadamia Milk
Macadamia nuts are tree nuts that have an almost butter-like flavor. Native to Australia, they're rich in heart-healthy fats, antioxidants, and fiber, making macadamia nut milk a delicious powerhouse to add to your nut milk rotation. This nut milk is becoming an extremely popular dairy alternative in coffee houses because of its decadent texture and high-fat content, which makes it ideal for frothing. We recommend trying macadamia milk in your next matcha latte, or if you're looking for a delicious creamer to add to your coffee, try our White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Creamer.
Hazelnut Milk
Hazelnuts are probably best known for their role in the famous sweetened cocoa spread, Nutella. But Nutella isn’t all hazelnuts are good for. With a rich, velvety, and slightly toasted flavor, hazelnut milk is the perfect addition to your morning cup of coffee or a great base for a decadent mug of hot cocoa. Delicious taste aside, hazelnut milk contains a myriad of vitamins and minerals including manganese, iron, calcium, and zinc. Give hazelnut milk a try, or if you just can’t shake that Nutella craving (we don’t blame you), try this Nutella milk.
Walnut Milk
Walnuts are yet another nut with a long list of health benefits: protecting the body against inflammation, serving as a prebiotic for gut flora, decreasing the risk of heart disease, and perhaps most notoriously promoting brain health. This makes walnuts ideal for those who want to get the most bang for their buck when it comes to nut milk nutrition. Walnut milk has a thicker consistency than other nut milks and has a brown color similar to chocolate milk. We love our homemade walnut milk sweetened with dates and flavored with vanilla.
Pecan Milk
Pecans are a popular nut choice for baking, especially around the holidays, but they also make for a toothsome nut milk! With a more naturally sweet, nutty taste, this creamy pecan nut milk is great in a morning bowl of oatmeal on a chilly day. If you want to be a bit more adventurous and lean into those classic holiday flavors, we recommend adding cinnamon, sea salt, and maple syrup for a scrumptious glass of pecan pie milk.
Pistachio Milk
Don’t let the green color deter you! Pistachio milk is a delicious nut milk loaded with protein, antioxidants, fiber, and nutrients. It has a smooth texture and mild, but rich flavor that will definitely leave you wanting more. We love frothing pistachio milk and serving it in a hot cup of chai tea, but if you prefer coffee, you have to try this decadent Pistachio, Cardamom & Rose Latte.
Peanut Milk
While an extremely popular snacking nut, peanuts are a lesser-known entity in the nut milk category. That said, peanut milk is incredibly flavorful and rich in vital minerals such as magnesium and potassium. It also has higher protein content per cup than most other nut milks, though subsequently, it is also higher in calories. We recommend using roasted salted peanuts with dates and a little vanilla extract in our peanut milk recipe for a sweet and salty treat. Try pairing your peanut milk alongside a PB&J or dessert—we promise it won’t disappoint!
Pili Nut Milk
Pili nuts are definitely newer to the nut milk scene, but don’t count them out just yet! Pili nuts pack a nutritional punch: they support strong bones, fight inflammation, and can help lower LDL cholesterol (among other benefits). While a more expensive alternative (due to their labor-intensive harvesting process) pili nuts are a great nut to add to your nut milk rotation. Simply add water and press the cow button. Reference our Pili Nut Milk recipe as a guide!
Summary
Having a nut milk maker like the Almond Cow allows you to make delicious plant-based milk from your own home while controlling ingredients and taste. Get creative with your ingredients and try out new types of nuts for different textures and flavor profiles. Plus, with homemade nut milk, you get the added benefit of keeping the nut pulp to use in other delicious recipes. What’s your favorite type of nut milk? Let us know in the comments below!
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/nut-milks-mylks-health-guide#healthiest-nut-milk
https://www.thekitchn.com/what-is-cashew-milk-taste-nutrients-expense-257067
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/macadamia-nuts
https://www.livestrong.com/article/13730587-macadamia-milk-benefits/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazelnut
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-walnuts
https://americanpecan.com/recipes/drinks/pecan-milk/
https://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/healthy-drinks/pistachio-milk
https://www.nationalpeanutboard.org/news/diy-peanut-milk.htm
https://www.wellandgood.com/pili-nut-milk/
https://eatpilinuts.com/blogs/blog/6-health-benefits-of-pili-nuts