Were you going to cook your favorite pancakes and found out you ran out of almond milk? No need to worry – there are plenty of almond milk replacements you can use to make your favorite dishes without needing to go to the shop. Almond milk has a creamy texture, balanced, deep taste, and low amounts of sugar and calories. Very often, almond milk is unsweetened and has no sugar at all.
If you are allergic to almond milk or simply ran out of it, check out our article on the 10 best almond milk substitutes.
What can I use instead of almond milk? The 10 best almond milk substitutes are:
- Coconut milk
- Cashew milk
- Flaxseed milk
- Soy milk
- Oat milk
- Hemp milk
- Rice milk
- Hazelnut milk
- Quinoa milk
- Almond extract
Let’s dive right into each substitute and see what recipes you can use them for.
Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is an extremely healthy and tasty drink and is often used instead of almond milk. Coconut milk can be added to traditional Thai soups, curries, fish and meat sauces, seafood dishes, pasta, and when baking pies, cookies, and making pancakes.
Coconut milk has a very subtle aroma and mild, delicate taste, so it is a great almond milk alternative in cereals, coffee, smoothies, chia puddings, ice cream, crepes, cakes, and more. This drink is fattier than almond milk, so your dishes will acquire a unique tender taste and nutty aroma.
Coconut milk is the best almond milk alternative as it has a subtly sweet, nutty flavor, a distinct smell, and pleasant thickness (coconut milk contains 15-25% fat) that will make your dishes mouth-watering. We recommend you add coconut milk to your coffee or tea – the drink will become aromatic, rich, and sweet even without sugar and acquire a thick and rich creamy texture.
Coconut milk contains lauric acid, which has powerful antiviral, anti-fungal, and antibacterial properties. It contains vitamins C, E, group B, as well as trace elements – iron, selenium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. It also contains fiber and protein. Coconut milk strengthens the immune system, has a beneficial effect on the skin, slows down the aging process, regulates digestion, reduces fever, and relieves asthma, osteoporosis, and kidney stones.
See also: What Does Peanut Butter Taste Like? In-Depth Peanut Butter Taste Guide
Cashew Milk
Cashew milk is a type of plant-based milk made from cashew nuts and water. Cashew milk is an awesome almond milk substitute as it has a creamy and rich texture, delicate sweet flavor, pleasant nutty aroma and can be added to soups, cereals, meat, and fish sauces, ice cream, smoothies, biscuits, crepes, pancakes, coffee, and tea. Cashew milk has an almost white color, sometimes with a hint of butter, delicate taste, bright aroma, and creamy consistency. Cashew milk is sold in cans or food cartons, usually with a convenient lid or valve. You can always make homemade cashew milk to ensure it is 100% organic and does not contain added sugar or preservatives.
The drink does not contain GMOs, lactose and gluten, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. Cashew milk is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, and contains vitamins A, B1, B2, as well as minerals necessary for the body, including calcium, zinc, iron, phosphorus. Cashew milk strengthens the immune system and, reduces blood cholesterol levels, stimulates the cardiovascular system. Cashew milk is useful for maintaining brain activity and strengthening bones and teeth.
Flaxseed Milk
Flax seeds are a real superfood, so flaxseed milk is a tasty and healthy drink that will provide your body with energy and useful elements. Flaxseed milk is a great coconut milk alternative as it has a similar sweet, caramel-like taste and tender texture. Flaxseed milk is added when baking pies, cookies, making pancakes, to cereals, smoothies, sauces, and even soups. Flax seeds are rich in potassium, fiber, and Omega-3 essential fatty acids. The drink will help improve digestion and will be an excellent snack if you suddenly do not have time to make lunch because such milk is really very nutritious.
See also: What Does Goat milk Taste Like? Is It Better Than Cow Milk?
Flaxseed is almost always included in vegetarian diets since flax is a source of fatty acids, amino acids, proteins, minerals, vitamins, and fiber that are not produced by the body. Since it has been proven that regular consumption of flax seeds and oil reduces cholesterol and normalizes blood sugar levels, it is included in a therapeutic diet for diabetics and those suffering from coronary heart disease.
See also: What Does Taro Milk Tea Taste Like? See Why This Taiwanese Drink Is So Trendy!
Soy Milk
Soy milk is another almond milk alternative used in soups, curry, sauces, baking (pies, cookies, cakes, puddings, etc.), ice cream, pancakes, crepes, smoothies, cereal, porridge, pasta sauce, yogurt, tofu, milkshakes, and drinks (tea, coffee). Soy milk is often used as a cow milk substitute, but it is also a great almond milk substitute thanks to its mildly sweet flavor, unique nutty aroma, and pleasant texture that makes dishes tender and delicious.
Asian cuisine is especially rich in soy milk recipes, where it is used not only for desserts and pastries but also for making soups and second courses. Soy milk is fairly low in fat just like almond milk, so you can easily use these drinks interchangeably to make the dish lighter and more delicate.
Soy milk is a source of lecithin and vitamin E, and it contains much less saturated fat than cow’s milk. Soy milk contains potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, copper, phosphorus, manganese, iron, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium, vitamins A, D, E, B1, K, B5, B2, B9, B6, PP, B4, and phytoestrogen.
Oat Milk
Oat milk with its creamy texture and sweet, delicate flavor is often used as an almond milk substitute in soups, cereals, sauces, pies, cookies, cakes, smoothies, milkshakes, ice cream. Since oat milk has a thick froth, it is often used in coffee shops for making lattes and other similar drinks.
Oat milk contains about the same number of calories as regular milk, about one-third of protein, much less saturated fat and more carbohydrates, fewer simple sugars, and more soluble fiber. You can buy oat milk at the store or make your own at home and substitute it for almond milk.
Oat milk stabilizes blood cholesterol levels, strengthens bones and teeth, improves the condition of nails and hair, normalizes the digestive tract. Oat milk contains fiber, so its regular consumption is an effective prevention against disorders in the functioning of the intestines, stomach, gall bladder. The drink also soothes irritated skin.
See also: What Does Almond Milk Taste Like? A Guide to Almond Milk Flavors
Hemp Milk
Hemp milk is a natural protein product made from selected hemp seeds with a light nutty taste and a slightly vegetable aroma. If you want to cut on carbohydrates and increase the consumption of protein and fatty acids, hemp milk is an awesome affordable almond milk alternative that can be found in any food shop.
It has a more pronounced sweet flavor than oat milk, so it is the perfect almond milk alternative for baking pies, cakes, cookies, making pancakes, and crepes. Hemp milk can also be added to coffee, tea, cereal, smoothies, milkshakes, ice cream – pretty much anything!
Hemp seed milk is sugar-free, cholesterol-free, and great for people with lactose intolerance. Due to its high protein content, hemp milk is an excellent meat replacement. Due to the high content of magnesium and globulin, hemp milk relieves muscle spasms and enhances overall immunity.
Rice Milk
Rice milk is hypoallergenic compared to almond and soy milk. But it contains a lot of natural sugar (since it is made from a carbohydrate – rice), has a pronounced sweet, sometimes even sugary taste, while it is low in fat and protein. Rice milk has little protein and a lot of carbs, has a naturally sweet flavor similar to that of regular milk, and a delicate watery texture.
Rice milk is actively used as an almond milk substitute when making desserts – muffins, cakes, cookies, pies, pancakes, crepes, as well as added to sauces and drinks. Since rice milk has lower fat content than almond, we advise you to add some extra butter to the dishes to make them more delicate. The main benefit of rice milk is that this drink is rich in fiber, which is able to lower cholesterol levels while maintaining a constant blood sugar level.
Hazelnut Milk
Hazelnut milk is a plant-based drink made primarily of water and hazelnuts and is often used as an alternative to almond and regular cow’s milk. It has a deep sweet and nutty flavor and a perfectly thick texture that will make your soups, pasta sauces, cereal, bakery pastries, and desserts mouth-watering. Hazelnut milk can also be added to coffee, smoothies, and milkshakes making the drinks more hazelnut-like and sweet.
Hazelnut milk is absorbed easily, and it saturates the body with micro and macroelements, affects hematopoiesis (formation of blood cellular components), and improves liver activity. Hazelnut milk is an excellent energy provider, so if you suffer from chronic fatigue, opt for this almond milk alternative. You have to be careful with hazelnut milk if you are trying to lose weight – among all plant-based types of milk hazelnut milk has almost the most calories – around 80-105 calories per cup.
Quinoa Milk
If you want to enjoy all the benefits of a superfood, try substituting quinoa milk for almond milk – it has a mild flavor reminiscent of oat milk and a very delicate texture. Quinoa milk is not sold at every food shop, so it can be hard to find, but if you come across a bottle of quinoa milk, we advise you to try adding it to cereal, muffins, cookies, cakes, pies, milkshakes, and coffee. If you cannot find quinoa milk in the shop, you can make it at home. Here is a video guide on how to make quinoa milk at home:
When substituting almond milk with quinoa milk, make sure you add more butter as it contains less fat than almond milk. Quinoa milk’s taste is not as strong as hemp, oat, or soy milk, so you might need to add some sugar or sugar alternatives. Quinoa has an ideally balanced complex of minerals and vitamins.
Quinoa is rich in fiber, calcium, zinc, potassium, manganese, phosphorus, iron, A, E, C, B vitamins, including riboflavin necessary for the renewal of blood. In addition, quinoa milk is high in lecithin and selenium that are essential for our well-being.
Almond Extract
Even though it is not another plant-based milk, just a few almond extract drops will perfectly complement many confectionery products and desserts and give them an amazing sweet, nutty taste and aroma. Almond extract can also be added to smoothies, milkshakes, ice cream, matcha, and coffee.
Almond extract has anti-inflammatory and immune-strengthening properties, it rejuvenates the skin and reduces redness. Due to the composition of the active ingredients and the fortifying effect of almond extract, it is used in the preparation of medicines that help treat colds, replenish the lack of vitamins, and quickly restore tissues.
Conclusion
Now that you know the top 10 almond milk substitutes, it is time to choose your favorite and start cooking amazing dishes!
Almond Milk Substitutes FAQ
Can I use regular cow milk instead of almond milk in a recipe? Regular cow milk can be used instead of almond milk when making pancakes, cakes, crepes, biscuits, etc. However, regular cow milk will give more sweetness (almond milk has no sugar) to the dish and will make it cook taste since it has less water than almond milk.
Can I use water instead of almond milk? If the recipe needs just a tiny bit of almond milk (less than 4 tbsp.), water can be used instead of almond milk. If you need more than that, we do not recommend using just water as it will make the dish less flavourful and creamy. If you use water, add some butter to add some fat to the dish.
What can I use if I don’t have almond milk? Some of the best almond milk alternatives are coconut, soy, cashew, oat and hazelnut milk, but in many recipes where you need less than 4 tbsp. of almond milk, you can also use water with a little bit of butter to give the dish some extra fat.
