11 Incredible And Creamy Substitutes For Almond Milk

What can we say about almond milk? You either hate it or can’t live without it. It seems that almond milk is all the hype right now, and for a very good reason.

It is a great substitute for regular milk for people that are on a vegan diet, and people who are lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy. Plus, you barely can see the difference between regular milk and almond milk.

Since this creamy milk is one of the most famous types of milk on the market, you can find it in any of the bigger, more equipped grocery stores or health food stores.

But, what do you do when you just can’t run to the store and pick it up? Are there any substitutes for almond milk? We have some amazing choices that work just as well as almond milk.

Substitutes For Almond Milk Are

Hemp Milk
Rice Milk
Cashew Milk
Flax Milk
Coconut Milk/Canned Coconut Milk
Oat Milk
Cow Milk
Soy Milk
Walnut Milk
Pistachio Milk
Hazelnut Milk

To learn more about these alternatives to almond milk, please keep on reading the whole article.

First Things First, What Is Almond Milk?

Almond milk seems to have become a staple in every modern household, especially in North America. It is tasty, nutty, and sweet enough to sweeten up your favorite breakfast cereal or coffee.

This nut milk is made as simple as a cup of tea. All you’re going to need is two ingredients; some freshwater, and unsalted almonds. Soak 1 cup of almonds in water overnight, and blend them the morning after with 4 cups of water.

Of course, you’re also going to need a blender or a food processor to blend it all out. The next step is to strain the mixture from the leftover lumps/solids. And there you have it, fresh, unsweetened almond milk with a potent almond flavor.

There are lots of recipes that can be made with almond milk, not just coffee, and cereal. You can use it as a substitute for regular milk in your favorite baking recipe, curries, to make non-dairy ice cream, pancake batter, etc.

Almond milk isn’t just a fancy dairy milk alternative that vegans use. Almonds have high nutritional content and are an excellent source of protein and antioxidant vitamins.

With all the nutrients and vitamins that this milk has, you better believe that there are huge benefits and health advantages. Let’s talk about some of them.

Almond Milk Health Benefits

In general, almonds are an amazing superfood with lots of health benefits and nutritional value. So, it’s only natural that this milk would be as healthy as the ingredients in it.

One of the greatest things about it is that it’s very low in calories(only 15 calories in 100 grams of almond milk), and it is full of a balanced nutritional profile that promotes health. Here are some of them.

Vitamin E- A nutrient that is essential for good vision, reproduction, blood, skin, and brain health.
Vitamin B12- Keeps blood and nerves healthy, and protects your body from any sort of blood condition.
Vitamin B6- Is a water-soluble vitamin that protects your body from infection and promotes a healthy immune system.
Vitamin D- Reduces inflammation and helps control infections.
Vitamin A- Retinol helps the body deal with inflammation, night blindness, and reduce the risks of cancer.
Protein- A very important part of a healthy and balanced diet.
Calcium- Keeps bones and teeth healthy and protects them from any damage. Calcium also regulates blooth rhythm.
Potassium – Essential mineral that is needed by the tissues in the body.
Fat- Along with protein, fat content is also a huge part of a healthy and balanced diet for a normal body function.
Phosphorus- Plays a major role in how your body wastes energy.

Almond Milk Is Dairy-Free

This alternate milk is completely dairy-free, making it the perfect option for all those who are on a vegan diet or have a milk allergy. Unsweetened varieties of almond milk are also amazing for people who are on a no-sugar diet.

Even if you do not have any allergies or intolerance for dairy, you may not be able to digest it, causing you to have stomach issues and bloating. This is one of the best alternative kinds of milk to have around in your house.

Substitutes For Almond Milk

Hemp Milk

Hemp milk is non-dairy milk made from blending hemp seeds with water. This is an excellent substitute for cow milk or nut milk for people who have nut allergies.

You can use this plant-based milk instead of a regular one in coffee, smoothies, tea, cereal, and any other recipes that use milk.

To answer your question beforehand, no, hemp isn’t the same as marijuana even though they both come from the Cannabis Sativa plant. So don’t worry, luckily hemp milk will not get you high and feeling woozy throughout the day.

Rice Milk

Rice milk doesn’t have that creamy, milky consistency that almond milk has but it is considered to be milk. The consistency is a bit thinner and watery but the taste is amazing, especially when added to coffee.

This alternate milk is made out of boiled brown rice/white rice and it is dairy-free and nut-free, making it a good substitute for people that have a milk allergy or a nut allergy.

The only disappointing thing about rice milk is that the nutritional content is lower than both cow milk and almond milk.

Cashew Milk

Cashew milk is popular non-dairy milk that’s made from cashews and water. This is one of the richest, creamiest kinds of milk on the market. Not just that, cashew milk is very rich in vitamins, fats, and minerals.

Cashew milk replaces almond milk and cow milk very easily. It is a great substitute for heavy cream or coffee creamer.

Cashew milk and almond milk are very similar to each other taste-wise, but also they have a very similar nutritional content.

Homemade Cashew Milk

Ingredient List

1 cup raw cashews(unsalted)
4 cups water
2 tablespoons maple syrup/honey(optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract(optional)

Instructions

Soak the cashews in cold water and leave them covered overnight in the refrigerator.
The next day, drain the cashews and pour them into a blender.
First, add two cups of water and start blending on a low setting.
When the consistency starts to get thicker and creamier, add the remaining two cups of water.
Add your optional sweetener and extract, and continue blending until you get a milk-like consistency.
Strain the milk to get rid of any solids, and place your milk in an air-tight container.
Store it in the fridge for 4 days max.

Flax Milk

Flaxseed milk is plant-based milk that can easily boost your heart health and immune system. Flaxseeds are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids(alpha-linolenic acids).

Flaxseed milk is completely cholesterol-free, lactose-free, and dairy-free. Out of all the non-dairy milk options, this is by far the healthiest one of them all(sorry almond milk).

Flax milk has a mild, bitter taste with nutty flavor undertones. Admittedly, it doesn’t have a creamy consistency and a very distinct taste, but you can add additional sweeteners and flavors to it.

Coconut Milk/Canned Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is made from the flesh of mature coconuts. It was mostly used in South America but now it has become one of the most popular milk beverages on the market.

The consistency of the coconut milk beverage is very thick and creamy, and it has a powerful coconut flavor that just flavors everything that’s added to it.

Plus, it is one of the closest types of non-dairy kinds of milk to regular milk. In fact, they have a very similar nutritional composition.

This is a great alternative for milk and almond milk as well with great health benefits like lowering cholesterol levels. Coconut milk is also a great source of proteins and fats.

Just a side note, if you do not like the coconutty flavor then this is definitely not the type you’d want to use and I suggest going with some other alternatives.

There are other coconut milk products you can use like canned milk(which is much thicker) and coconut water.

Oat Milk

Oat milk is made out of water and oats and it is a very decent substitute for almond milk. Oat milk has a thick and creamy consistency and a subtle nutty flavor.

You can barely even notice the taste when you add it to your coffee or cereal. This alternate milk has no fat content and it is very suitable for people who are on strict diets, have a milk allergy, or can’t handle dairy.

Oat milk also has a high nutritional content and many health benefits and makes a perfect ingredient for your breakfast cereal.

Cow Milk

You know I just had to mention regular milk(pasteurized milk) even though there isn’t much I can say about it. Milk is a must-have ingredient in any kitchen.

No matter if you’re making your morning coffee, pancakes, or baking with it. Cow milk is so versatile, it goes with anything and everything.

So, if you have regular milk at home and have no problem consuming it(food allergy, or lactose intolerance), go ahead and use it as a substitute for almond milk.

Out of the dairy options, you can also use heavy cream, sour cream, chocolate milk, and plain raw milk(unpasteurized milk).

Soy Milk

Soy milk is one of my favorite types of alternate milk options. It is a protein-rich variety of plant milk and it has all the healthy fats in it(omega-3 fatty acids) which are great for brain development and fighting against dementia. The soy milk has a nutty and beany flavor that can mimic almond milk easily.

Other Lesser-Known Substitutes For Almond Milk

Walnut Milk

Walnut milk is very rare to find in stores. If you can not find almond milk in the stores, then you can’t find this type of milk for sure.

Walnut milk has a similar taste to almond milk and it offers plenty of health benefits. Walnuts are great for strengthening the immune system, regulating cholesterol intake, and maintaining healthy skin(due to the Vitamin E content)

Pistachio Milk

I know, It is a long shot finding this type of milk in the stores and that’s why I am naming it in the ”lesser-known substitutes”.

Pistachio milk has a creamy consistency and a mild flavor but the best thing about it is the amazing light green color that comes from, of course, the green color of the pistachios themselves.

Sadly, the nutrient density isn’t nearly the same as the almond milk but, if you’re here to simply just replicate the almond flavor, then this milk can do the job easily.

Hazelnut Milk

Hazelnut milk is another non-dairy option made from soaked hazelnuts and water. The recipe for this type of milk is actually the same as the almond milk recipe but you will find that the flavor is a little bit more bitter and kind of smokier.

Hazelnut milk is one of the closes flavors that match almond milk with similar nutrient content and beneficial health effects.