If you are looking for the best vegan milk that can be made at home, you will be surprised by the options. In this blog, I share with you my favourite picks for plant-based milks that are easy to make with simple equipment and ingredients.
I have been making alt milks at home for the last few years. The results of the homemade alt milk has been so good that I have completely substituted them for the store bought ones.
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As a nutritionist, I favour homemade drinks and foods. Why buy the ridiculously, preservative-loaded plant milks from the store when you can make your own. right? Let’s check out the the list along with a quick plant-based milk recipes –
1. Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is one of the simplest, easiest and most pocket friendly vegan milk that can be made at home. It has a rich, creamy and sweet flavour that goes well with desserts and also in savoury preparations.
Making coconut milk is fairly simple. You can make it with fresh coconut or copra (dried version). Follow these steps and you will have a refreshing cup –
- Soak 1 cup of chopped coconut for 10-12 hours or use fresh coconut
- Drain and rinse the soaked coconut
- Blend the fresh coconut/ soaked coconut with 2 cups of water
- Strain using a cheesecloth or strainer.
2. Almond Milk
Almond milk is popular for a reason. It tastes great as such and goes well with your cereal, teas, coffees, smoothies and what not.
If you consume almond milk on a regular basis, making it at home would be a better and more economical choice. You will need to follow a simple process to make it at home –
- Soak a cup of raw, unsalted almonds for 10-12 hours
- Rinse & drain after the soak
- Remove the almond peels (optional)
- Blend the almonds with 4 cups of water
- Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth or nut milk bag.
3. Soy Milk
Soy milk is one of the most readily available types of milk. It is available in a number of flavours and variations. Soy milk is great for cooking but you can also drink it as such.
Making soy milk at home is quite easy but its preparation may require one or two more steps more than other alt milks. Try this simple recipe at home –
- Soak 1 cup of soybeans for 6-12 hours
- Rinse and drain after the soak
- Using your fingers rub the beans to remove the peel
- Blend the soybeans with 2 cups of water
- Strain through cheesecloth or nut milk bag
- Cook the soymilk on high heat for 3-4 minutes
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes
4. Oat Milk
Oat milk is becoming an extremely popular option among vegans who are avoiding soy and nut milks. Oat milk is creamy and neutral in taste making it one of the best vegan milks for cooking in my opinion.
Although you will find many oat milk variations in the market, most are either laden with additives or too expensive. Preparing your own oat milk is fairly easy with these simple steps.
- Soak 1 cup of rolled oats for atleast 2 hours.
- Rinse and drain to remove excess starch
- Blend with 1-2 cups of water
- Strain with cheesecloth or thin mesh strainer.
5. Hemp Milk
Hemp milk is an excellent option for people who wish to avoid any kind of nuts and soy. It is also nutritionally rich with a decent quantity of good fats, protein, minerals and vitamins.
Hemp milk is a good replacement for dairy in recipes and can be easily made at home within minutes. Follow this simple recipe to make your own –
- In a blender put 1/2 cup hulled hemp seeds
- Blitz with 3-4 cups of water
- Strain to remove the pulp using a strainer, cheesecloth or nut milk bag
6. Peanut Milk
If you are not allergic to peanuts and haven’t tried peanut milk till now, this is your sign. It has a mild taste and thick texture and you can use it for a variety of things ranging from cooking to baking.
Since peanut milk may be hard to find in stores, making your own following these steps would be a great way to enjoy its nutrition –
- Soak 1 cup of raw/ roasted, unsalted peanuts for at least 6 hours
- Drain and rinse thoroughly
- Blend with 1-2 cups of water
- Strain using a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer
7. Macadamia Milk
Macadamia milk is one of my favourite nut milks. It is smooth, nutty, rich and blends in perfectly with dessert and savoury recipes.
If you are looking for a delicious alternative to almond milk, macadamia milk is a must try. Macadamia milk is one one of the top vegan milk that can be made at home. Make it in a breeze using this simple process –
- Soak macadamia nuts for 2-4 hours.
- Rinse and drain
- Blend the soaked nuts and with 3-4 cups of water.
- Sieve through a thin mesh strainer or use a nut milk bag or cheesecloth
8. Cashew Milk
One reason I love preparing cashew milk at home is because there is minimal wastage. The cashews blend in so well with the water that you don’t even need to strain.
The creamy consistency and richness of cashew milk is well suited for both sweet and salty preparations. Here’s how you can make your own batch at home –
- Soak 1 cup of raw cashews for a minimum of 4 hours
- Drain and rinse after the soak
- Blend the cashews with 3-4 cups of water
9. Banana Milk
The creamy and sweet banana milk is one of the easiest and quickest plant milk to make at home. It comes together in minutes and requires no soaking or straining.
The delicious banana milk is also amongst the cheapest plant milk that you can make at home. Here are the steps you need to follow –
- Peel and break 1-2 bananas in a blender
- Blend with 1-2 cups of water
10. Quinoa Milk
Quinoa milk is a great alternative to dairy and is also delicious. The mild and somewhat neutral tasting quinoa milk can be the perfect add on to your recipes or can be enjoyed as a beverage.
Although many people make quinoa milk with raw quinoa, I like to cook them because it tastes better like that. Here’s how I do it –
- Pre soak and cook quinoa.
- To a blender add 1 cup of cooked quinoa with 3 cups of water
- Strain using cheesecloth or blender
11. Hazelnut Milk
If you like nut milks, you’ll fall in love with hazelnut milk. The creamy and rich hazelnut milk will excite your taste buds. Plus it goes well with a variety of flavourings especially cocoa.
While hazelnuts may not be very easily available, if you get your hands on some, its definitely worth a try. Here’s how to go about making your own batch of hazelnut milk at home –
- Soak 1 cup hazelnuts for 8-12 hours
- Drain and rinse well
- Blend the soaked hazelnuts with 2-3 cups of water
- Strain to remove the pulp using cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer
12. Flax Milk
If you are looking for a vegan, keto, gluten-free alt milk, flax milk is my top recommendation for a vegan milk that can be made at home. The smooth and creamy flax milk can be used for cooking, drinking, baking and more plus its super easy to make.
Making flax seed milk at home will not only help you save money but also give you a better tasting drink. Here’s how to go about it –
- Soak 1 cup of flax seeds overnight
- Remove the gel like substance and rinse the seeds well.
- Blend soaked flax seeds with 4 cups of water.
- Blend in intervals, giving it a pause in between
- Strain using a cheesecloth or a nut milk bag
I would love to know the kind of plant milks you have been experimenting with and which one’s your favourite. Hoping to get your responses in the comment section below.
Frequently Asked Questions About Homemade Vegan Milks
- Which plant milk is the easiest to make at home?
Ans. Coconut milk, hemp milk and banana milk are some of the easiest to make plant based mils
- Is it cheaper to make your own vegan milk?
Ans. Yes, it is much more cheaper to make plant milks at home
- Are homemade plant milks better?
Ans. Yes, homemade plant mils are much better than the store bought ones. They do not contain any unnecessary oils and stabilisers. However, commerical ones do contain added calcium which is lacking in homemade versions.