Today is World Plant Milk Day! To celebrate, we’ve compiled a list of 23+ vegan milk recipes you can easily make at home. There are, of course, so many amazing brands that make delicious plant milks (like Forager Project, Oatly, So Delicious, Califia and many more!), but sometimes it’s good to know how you can make your own at home with just a few ingredients!
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A few tips for anyone embarking on a dairy-free journey
If you’re new to the dairy-free life or are simply looking to reduce your overall dairy consumption, here are a few tips you might find useful:
- Keep an open mind and keep looking: You may not immediately love the first plant milk you ever try! That is very normal and it’s OK. Just make sure you don’t turn your back on all plant milks because of it. There are so many different kinds that all taste different, some of which you’ll like, others you won’t and the occasional one you’ll (hopefully) love.
- Give your tastebuds a chance to adapt: It can take up to a few weeks to adapt to new tastes, so don’t give up just yet. If you don’t like any plant milks you try, take the one you dislike the least and drink a little each day for at least 15-21 days.
- Know that you may need a different milk for each occasion: Some plant milks are creamier than others, some contain more protein and others are sweeter or tastier. It’s common for longterm vegans (or those with intolerances or allergies to dairy) to have a favorite milk for coffee, one of cereal, another for smoothies and yet another for baking. I personally love oat, soy and cashew milk in my coffee because they’re the creamiest, almond or rice milk in smoothies and soy or pea milk for extra protein and I don’t love pumpkin seed milk, but know plenty of people who do!
- Find what works for you: Making your own plant milk is easier than you might think, but not everyone will find it convenient or even want to. If that’s the case for you, don’t worry too much about it and explore all the many ready made plant milks you’ll find at most supermarkets and health food stores.
- Know your ‘why’: whether you’re vegan for ethical reasons or have decided to adopt a plant-based lifestyle for health or environmental reasons, reminding yourself why you’re trying to switch to non-dairy options can make it easier to motivate yourself and stick with plants.
- Choose your own pace and embrace imperfection: You don’t have to switch 100% over night if you find it too challenging. You can start with the milk that’s in your coffee and/or tea and then once you’re comfortable with that, add plant milk to your cereal and smoothies. Then experiment with baking and so on. You may also find it easier to mix a little plant milk in with your dairy milk and then increase the ratio of non-dairy milk little by little every day. Lastly, if going dairy free for life seems intimidating, take it one day at a time, this is about progress, not perfection. Every step counts, no matter how little.
Which is the best milk for kids?
Since children have different dietary needs than adults, it’s important to plan their diets well in order to ensure that they receive all the nutrients they need. Claire Power, nutritionist and author of Healthy Little Tummies, a plant-based family cookbook, wrote and article about which vegan milks are best for children. Click here to read it.
Which is the best milk for the environment?
Another concern that is frequently mentioned when talking about plant milks, is whether or not they are more sustainable and environmentally-friendly than cow’s milk. You can find an in-depth article about milk (both dairy and non-dairy) consumption and climate change by clicking here.
23+ Homemade Vegan Milks for World Plant Milk Day
Without further ado, let’s explore the different plant milk recipes you can make at home, starting with the most well-known classics and then exploring nut milks, grain milks and more!
Classic Plant Milk Recipes
We’ll start our list with the classics of vegan milks. Chances are that if you walked into a coffee shop 10-15 years ago asking for non-dairy milk, you would have been offered soy milk (if any at all!). Later on, almond milk joined the party, then coconut milk, and more recently, oat milk has taken over as the star of non-dairy lattes all across the globe. Rice milk has always been somewhat in the shadow of soy milk, but we believe that it still deserves its spot in the Classics top 5.
Oat Milk by Jessica in the Kitchen
(Click here for the full recipe.)
Oat Milk Video Tutorial by The Green Creator
(Click here for the full recipe.)
Almond Milk by Make it Dairy Free
(Click here for the full recipe.)
Instant Almond Milk (ready in 30 seconds!) by Hannah Sunderani | Two Spoons
(Click here for the full recipe.)
Popped Red Rice Milk by Full of Plants
(Click here for the full recipe.)
More Classic Plant Milk Recipes
Nut Milks
Nut milks – probably one of the easiest options when making your own milk.
Cashew Milk by Jessica in the Kitchen
(Click here for the full recipe.)
Chocolate Cashew Milk by The Colorful Kitchen
(Click here for the full recipe.)
Brazil Nut Milk by The Colorful Kitchen
(Click here for the full recipe.)
More Nut Milk Recipes
- Macadamia Nut Milk by Minimalist Baker
- Walnut Milk by Kind Earth
- Date-Sweetened Hazelnut Milk by Elephantastic Vegan
What to do with the pulp when making nut milk?
Don’t want to waste the leftover pulp after making nut milk? Luckily, it’s edible and there are tons of recipes to make with it! Here are two examples:
Almond Pulp Granola by Natalie Jo | Feasting on Fruit
(Click here for the full recipe.)
Raw Vegan Nut Milk Pulp Macaroons by The Colorful Kitchen
(Click here for the full recipe.)
Seed Milks
Seed milks are an excellent alternative for anyone with a tree nut allergy!
Hemp Milk by Elizabeth Emery | Vancouver with Love
(Click here for the full recipe.)
Creamy Tahini (Sesame) Milk by The Full Helping
(Click here for the full recipe.)
More Seed Milk Recipes
- Pumpkin Seed Milk by Unconventional Baker
- Sunflower Seed Milk by The Blender Girl (Recipe + Video)
- Flax Seed Milk by Herbalist Kareem
Milk Made from Legumes & Grains
Legumes are an excellent choice as a base for plant milks because they’re so high in plant protein.
Combination Milks
You of course don’t have to stick with just one kind of plant milk! Feel free to experiment with different ratios and combinations until you find your perfect fit. Here are a few ideas for you to try:
- Almond Coconut and Sesame Milk by Be Good Organics
- Hemp and Macadamia Milk by Ascension Kitchen
- Sunflower Coconut Milk by Be Good Organics
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