Ditch the cartons

Nut milk is rich, creamy, and endlessly versatile. When you make it yourself, it’s better for the planet and your wallet. Sure, store-bought versions are delicious, but let’s talk about the downsides: plastic-lined cartons, industrial processing, a long list of stabilizers and additives. Making it at home? No fillers, packaging or mystery ingredients, just pure, real food.

Let’s explore a few options. Almond milk is classic, light, slightly nutty, and perfect in coffee, smoothies and baking. Pecan milk is the cozy one, a little sweet with a deep, almost maple-like richness. It’s dreamy in lattes, oatmeal or anything where you want a touch of natural warmth. Walnut milk? This is for the deep thinkers. It’s rich, earthy and packed with omega-3s. It pairs beautifully with cocoa, chai or anything that leans into its robust, slightly bitter edge.

The best part? They all follow the same basic recipe, so once you get the process down you can mix and match.

Ingredients:
1 cup raw almonds, pecans, or walnuts (or a mix!)
4 cups filtered water (plus more for soaking)
Optional: pinch of salt; 1–2 dates (pitted) or 1 tbsp maple syrup; 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method: Soak chosen nuts in water overnight or at least for a few hours. This softens them up and makes them easier to blend while also reducing bitterness, especially for walnuts.

Drain and rinse soaked nuts, then blend them with 4 cups of filtered water. When thinking about flavor, explore! Try plain for a while to get a sense of your milk’s particular flavor profile. From there, add a pinch of salt, a touch of vanilla, or a natural sweetener like dates or maple syrup. The food industry tests and tests for the right kick of this or that. Why not do the same in your kitchen, gradually dialing up the complexity? Now blend for about a minute until smooth and creamy.

Strain the mixture using a nut milk bag, fine mesh sieve or even a clean kitchen towel. Pour the mixture through, squeezing out all that creamy goodness. Save the leftover nut pulp for baking, smoothies or adding to oatmeal.

Store your fresh nut milk in a sealed container in the fridge. It stays good for 3 to 4 days, just give it a shake before using since it naturally separates.