15 Homemade Plant Milk Recipes That Taste Better Than Store Bought

A carton of plant milk can cost four or five dollars at the store, and many of them come with a long list of gums and added sugar. Making your own is cheaper, fresher and much easier than you think. Most recipes need just a blender, water, a pinch of salt and one main ingredient like oats, almonds or cashews. Whether you are dairy free, lactose intolerant or just curious, these recipes will change how you see your morning coffee and cereal. Love healthy drinks? Try these green smoothie recipes too. Which plant milk will you blend first..

Creamy Homemade Oat Milk, the Easiest Plant Milk to Start With

Oat milk is the cheapest and easiest place to start, because a big bag of rolled oats costs very little. The secret to creamy, not slimy, oat milk is simple: use ice cold water, blend for only 30 seconds and do not squeeze the bag when you strain it. A single date or a little maple syrup adds gentle sweetness. It is great in coffee, cereal and baking. Do you already buy oat milk, or would this be your first time?

You will need: 1 cup rolled oats, 4 cups ice cold water, 1 pitted date or 1 tbsp maple syrup, 1/4 tsp vanilla, a pinch of salt.

How to make it: 1. Add everything to a blender. 2. Blend for 30 seconds only. 3. Pour through a fine mesh strainer or nut milk bag without squeezing. 4. Strain a second time for an extra smooth texture. 5. Store in a sealed bottle in the fridge for up to 4 days and shake before using.

Mixed Nut Milk With a Pinch of Sea Salt

Can not decide between almonds and cashews? Use a handful of each, plus a few walnuts or hazelnuts if you have them. Mixed nut milk tastes rich and toasty, and a tiny pinch of sea salt makes the natural sweetness pop. Keep it in glass bottles in the fridge and it looks just like an old fashioned milk delivery. It is a great way to use up the half empty nut bags in your pantry. Which nut would you add to the mix?

You will need: 1 cup mixed raw nuts (almonds, cashews, hazelnuts or walnuts), 4 cups water plus water for soaking, 1 to 2 dates, 1/4 tsp vanilla, a pinch of sea salt.

How to make it: 1. Soak the nuts in water for 8 hours or overnight. 2. Drain and rinse them. 3. Blend with 4 cups fresh water, dates, vanilla and salt for 1 to 2 minutes. 4. Strain through a nut milk bag. 5. Chill and shake well before serving.

Classic Almond Milk, the Plant Milk That Started It All

Almond milk is the one most people try first, and homemade almond milk tastes nothing like the thin, watery cartons. It is creamy, lightly sweet and full of real almond flavor. Soaking the almonds overnight makes them softer, so they blend smoother. Keep the leftover almond pulp to add to oatmeal, muffins or energy bites so nothing goes to waste. Be honest: did you know almond milk was this easy to make?

You will need: 1 cup raw almonds, 4 cups filtered water plus water for soaking, 1 to 2 dates or 1 tbsp maple syrup (optional), 1/2 tsp vanilla, a pinch of salt.

How to make it: 1. Soak the almonds in water overnight, then drain and rinse. 2. Blend with 4 cups of fresh water on high for 2 minutes. 3. Pour through a nut milk bag and squeeze out all the liquid. 4. Blend the milk again with dates, vanilla and salt. 5. Chill and use within 4 days.

No Strain Cashew Milk

If straining sounds like a chore, cashew milk is your new best friend. Soft cashews blend so smoothly that you can skip the nut milk bag completely. In about two minutes you get a thick, creamy milk that is perfect for coffee, creamy soups and sauces. Use less water for a rich coffee creamer or more water for a lighter drink. Quick poll: what will you use it for first? A) Coffee B) Cereal C) Smoothies D) Baking.

You will need: 1 cup raw cashews, 3 to 4 cups water, 1 tbsp maple syrup (optional), 1/2 tsp vanilla, a pinch of salt.

How to make it: 1. Soak the cashews in hot water for 30 minutes, or in cold water for 4 hours. 2. Drain and rinse. 3. Blend with fresh water, maple syrup, vanilla and salt for 1 to 2 minutes until silky. 4. No straining needed. 5. Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Homemade Soy Milk From Dry Beans

Soy milk is one of the highest protein plant milks, and making it at home costs only a few cents per glass. Dry soybeans are soaked, blended, strained and then simmered. That cooking step is important, because it makes the milk safe and easy to digest and also gets rid of the beany taste. A little sugar and vanilla make it taste like the soy milk you remember. Have you ever tried fresh soy milk at an Asian market?

You will need: 1 cup dry soybeans, 8 cups water plus water for soaking, 2 tbsp sugar or maple syrup, 1/2 tsp vanilla, a pinch of salt.

How to make it: 1. Soak the soybeans overnight, then drain and rinse. 2. Blend with 8 cups of water until smooth. 3. Strain through a cloth or nut milk bag. 4. Bring the milk to a boil, then simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often. 5. Stir in sugar, vanilla and salt and cool before chilling.

Coconut Rice Milk, a Nut Free Plant Milk

If someone in your house has a nut allergy, rice milk is a great choice. Cooked rice blended with a little shredded coconut makes a mild, slightly sweet drink that is nice and light. It tastes a bit like horchata, especially with a pinch of cinnamon. It is thinner than oat or cashew milk, so it works best for drinking cold or pouring over cereal. Do you have anyone with food allergies in your family?

You will need: 1/2 cup cooked white or brown rice, 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, 4 cups water, 1 to 2 dates, 1/2 tsp vanilla, a pinch of cinnamon, a pinch of salt.

How to make it: 1. Add the rice, coconut and water to a blender. 2. Blend on high for 1 minute. 3. Strain through a fine strainer. 4. Blend again with dates, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. 5. Chill and shake well before serving.

Fresh Coconut Milk From Scratch

Canned coconut milk is great for cooking, but homemade coconut milk for drinking is lighter and very refreshing. All you need is unsweetened shredded coconut and hot water. The hot water helps release the natural coconut fat, so the milk turns rich and creamy. Pour it over granola, blend it into smoothies or use it in curries and rice. It may separate in the fridge, so just shake it. Coconut milk: love it or not your thing?

You will need: 2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut, 4 cups hot (not boiling) water, a pinch of salt, 1 tsp maple syrup (optional).

How to make it: 1. Put the coconut in a blender and pour in the hot water. 2. Let it sit for 5 minutes. 3. Blend for 2 minutes. 4. Strain through a nut milk bag and squeeze well. 5. Chill and shake before using.

Pistachio Milk, the Prettiest Green Plant Milk

Pistachio milk is having a big moment in coffee shops, and it is easy to see why. It has a pale green color, a rich, buttery flavor and a hint of natural sweetness. It costs more than oat milk, so save it for a special latte or a weekend treat. A little honey and a drop of almond extract make it taste like pistachio ice cream. Would you pay extra for a pistachio latte?

You will need: 1 cup shelled raw pistachios, 4 cups water plus water for soaking, 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup, 1/4 tsp vanilla, a tiny drop of almond extract, a pinch of salt.

How to make it: 1. Soak the pistachios for 4 to 8 hours, then drain. 2. Blend with fresh water for 2 minutes. 3. Strain through a nut milk bag. 4. Blend in the honey, vanilla, almond extract and salt. 5. Chill and use within 3 days.

Chocolate Oat Milk Kids Love

Turn your homemade oat milk into a chocolate drink that tastes like a treat but has a lot less sugar than most store bought chocolate milk. Cocoa powder and a couple of dates do all the work. Serve it cold over ice or warm it gently on the stove for a cozy cup on a chilly evening. Top it with a little foam and some shaved chocolate when you want it to feel special. Cold chocolate milk or hot cocoa?

You will need: 2 cups homemade oat milk, 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 to 3 pitted dates or 2 tbsp maple syrup, 1/4 tsp vanilla, a pinch of salt, a pinch of cinnamon (optional).

How to make it: 1. Add everything to a blender. 2. Blend for 30 seconds until smooth. 3. Taste and add more dates if you want it sweeter. 4. Pour over ice or warm gently in a pan without boiling. 5. Top with shaved chocolate.

Vanilla Date Oat Milk

This is the one to keep in your fridge all week. Soft Medjool dates add caramel like sweetness and a real vanilla bean or good vanilla extract makes every glass smell like a bakery. It is perfect for dunking cookies, pouring over cereal or drinking straight from the glass. It tastes like a dessert, but it is only oats, water, dates and vanilla. Quick poll: what is the best thing to dunk? A) Cookies B) Biscotti C) Donuts D) Graham crackers.

You will need: 1 cup rolled oats, 4 cups ice cold water, 3 Medjool dates (pitted), 1 tsp vanilla extract or seeds from 1/2 vanilla bean, a pinch of salt.

How to make it: 1. Blend the oats and water for 30 seconds. 2. Strain without squeezing. 3. Return the milk to the blender with the dates, vanilla and salt. 4. Blend again until smooth. 5. Strain once more and chill.

Strawberry Plant Milk Without Artificial Color

Remember pink strawberry milk from childhood? This version gets its pretty color from real strawberries, not dyes. Blend your favorite homemade plant milk with fresh or frozen berries and a little honey, then strain out the seeds if you like it extra smooth. It is a fun after school drink and a sneaky way to add some fruit to the day. Did you grow up drinking strawberry milk?

You will need: 2 cups almond or oat milk, 1 cup strawberries (fresh or frozen), 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup, 1/4 tsp vanilla.

How to make it: 1. Add everything to a blender. 2. Blend until smooth and pink. 3. Strain through a fine sieve if you want it seed free. 4. Taste and adjust the sweetness. 5. Serve cold over ice.

Korean Style Banana Milk

Banana milk is a famous treat in Korea, sold in little yellow bottles at every corner shop. The homemade version is creamy, naturally sweet and ready in one minute. Use a very ripe banana with brown spots for the best flavor. Blend it with plant milk and a tiny bit of honey, and you have a drink that tastes like banana pudding. Have you ever tried banana milk from a Korean store?

You will need: 1 very ripe banana, 1 1/2 cups oat or soy milk, 1 tsp honey or maple syrup, 1/4 tsp vanilla, a pinch of salt, ice.

How to make it: 1. Slice the banana into the blender. 2. Add the milk, honey, vanilla and salt. 3. Blend until completely smooth. 4. Strain if you want it extra silky. 5. Pour over ice and enjoy right away.

Banana Almond Breakfast Shake

Running late? This thick shake is breakfast in a jar. Almond milk, a frozen banana, a spoon of almond butter and a few oats blend into something creamy and filling that you can drink on the way out the door. A scoop of protein powder makes it great after a workout too. It tastes like a milkshake, but it will keep you going until lunch. Do you eat breakfast every day, or do you usually skip it?

You will need: 1 cup almond milk, 1 frozen banana, 1 tbsp almond butter, 2 tbsp rolled oats, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp honey (optional), protein powder (optional).

How to make it: 1. Add the milk to the blender first. 2. Add the banana, almond butter, oats and cinnamon. 3. Blend until thick and smooth. 4. Add a splash more milk if it is too thick. 5. Pour into a jar and top with a few sliced almonds.

Chia Almond Milk Drink

Chia seeds soak up liquid and turn into soft little pearls, which makes this drink fun to sip and very filling. Stir them into vanilla almond milk, wait 15 minutes, and you get something between a drink and a pudding. Chia seeds bring fiber and plant based omega-3 fats, so it makes a great mid afternoon snack. Kids often love the bubble tea feel. Would you drink it, or eat it with a spoon?

You will need: 1 1/2 cups almond milk, 2 tbsp chia seeds, 1 tsp maple syrup, 1/4 tsp vanilla, a pinch of cinnamon, a few almonds for topping.

How to make it: 1. Whisk the milk, maple syrup, vanilla and cinnamon in a jar. 2. Stir in the chia seeds. 3. Wait 5 minutes and stir again to break up clumps. 4. Chill for at least 15 minutes. 5. Stir and serve with a wide straw or a spoon.

Frothy Oat Milk Latte, the Cafe Favorite Plant Milk Drink

Oat milk froths better than almost any other plant milk, which is why so many coffee shops use it. To get a good foam at home, add a teaspoon of oil when you blend your oat milk, then warm it and froth it with a handheld frother or a jar with a tight lid. Pour it over a strong coffee or espresso and you have a cafe style latte for a fraction of the price. So, which plant milk will you make first? A) Oat B) Almond C) Cashew D) Soy.

You will need: 1 cup homemade oat milk (blended with 1 tsp neutral oil), 1 shot espresso or 1/2 cup strong coffee, 1 tsp maple syrup (optional), a pinch of cinnamon.

How to make it: 1. Brew the espresso or strong coffee. 2. Warm the oat milk gently in a small pan without boiling. 3. Froth with a handheld frother, or shake in a sealed jar for 30 seconds. 4. Pour the milk over the coffee and spoon the foam on top. 5. Sweeten and dust with cinnamon.