Forget nut milk bags and cheesecloths! This quick and easy recipe turns walnuts into a silky smooth plant-based milk in just minutes. No soaking necessary!
I have to admit that I was a little skeptical about making homemade walnut milk at first. With other plant-based milks like almond milk and oat milk becoming so popular, I figured there must be a reason walnut milk isn't right up there with them.
But after making my own walnut milk at home, I discovered that I actually love it!
Blending walnuts and filtered water alone is the simplest way to make walnut milk, yielding a thick, creamy and very nutty result. But by adding a touch of pure maple syrup (and a little salt to bring out the flavor), it cuts down on the nuttiness and brings up the sweetness to create a delicious dairy-free milk!
I find this milk is perfect for enjoying over a bowl of granola, in matcha or coffee, or as a non-dairy milk option for your favorite smoothies. Plus, it is easily customizable in terms of texture and sweetness depending on how you like it. You can even turn it into chocolate milk!
Why You'll Love this Homemade Walnut Milk Recipe
- Quick and easy
- No soaking or straining
- Uses whole ingredients - no gums or emulsifiers
- Smooth and creamy texture
- Nutritious
- Kid-friendly - great way for them to enjoy raw nuts
- Delicious!
Ingredients
This homemade nut milk requires just a few simple ingredients and a high-speed blender. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for quantities.
- Raw walnuts
- Filtered water
- Maple syrup
- Salt
- Vanilla extract (optional)
How to Make Homemade Walnut Milk
1. Blend all ingredients. Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend until perfectly smooth (30-60 seconds). You should not see any bits of walnut pulp when done.
2. Blend again with ice (if serving immediately). Add 1 cup of ice and blend again to serve chilled.
3. Adjust to taste. Add more maple syrup or vanilla extract (optional) as desired.
4. Enjoy!
Store leftover walnut milk in a Mason jar for about 3-4 days. Make sure to give the jar a good shake before using.
Recipe Tips
A high speed blender is necessary! Not all blenders are the same. Some are more powerful than others, and we need a powerful one for this recipe to bypass the straining. If you have bits of walnuts that aren't blending, you'll need to pour it through a nut milk bag or fine mesh strainer to ensure a smooth result. I've personally tested blenders at every budget if you are in the market for a new blender!
Control the thickness with water. Nut milks are essentially just nuts and water. Using less water will make a thicker milk, whereas more water will thin it out. For walnut milk, I've found that the ratio of 1:3 (1 cup of walnuts for every 3 cups of water) yields the perfect texture. I encourage you to start with less and then continue adding more until it reaches your desired consistency.
Variations
Make chocolate walnut milk! To turn this into chocolate milk, add a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder and an extra tablespoon of maple syrup. The chocolate masks the bitter walnut flavor and makes for a delicious coffee creamer. My kids love it too!
Substitute Medjool dates for maple syrup. I recommend using maple syrup because it is already in liquid form and therefore blends more easily. If using dates, blend it longer as there may be some separation otherwise.
Add more flavors. This recipe is easy to customize in terms of sweetness or adding flavors to your liking. Feel free to add more vanilla extract for vanilla walnut milk or even a touch of cinnamon. Have fun with it!
Health Benefits of Walnuts
Like all nuts, walnuts are a good source of healthy unsaturated fats. Additionally, walnuts are rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is a type of omega-3 essential fatty acid. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, omega-3s can lower overall risk of heart disease, reduce joint pain and improve brain function and development.
Walnuts are also somewhat of a nutritional powerhouse, being rich in fiber, potassium, calcium, magnesium, folate and vitamin E (source). Additionally, walnuts have been associated with a range of anti-inflammatory properties which may help with prevention of chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer (source).
There are many claims that regular walnut consumption lowers blood pressure, but this has not been confirmed (source). Additionally, while walnuts have been shown to reduce cholesterol levels in the short term, larger and longer term trials are still needed to address the effects of walnut consumption on cardiovascular risk and body weight (source).
More Homemade Plant-Based Milk Recipes
I hope you enjoy this delicious walnut milk! Making your own nut milk couldn't be easier following these simple steps and I can't wait for you to try!
Print
5-Minute Homemade Walnut Milk (No Soaking or Straining)
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Forget nut milk bags and cheesecloths! This quick and easy recipe turns walnuts into a silky smooth plant-based milk in just minutes. No soaking necessary!
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw walnuts (no soaking necessary)
- 3 cups water (use ⅔ the amount for creamer)
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup ice
- optional: ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Version:
- 1 cup raw walnuts (no soaking necessary)
- 3 cups water
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients. Add all ingredients (except ice) to a high-speed blender and blend until perfectly smooth (30-60 seconds). You should not see any bits of walnut pulp when done.
- Blend again with ice (if serving immediately). Add 1 cup of ice and blend again to serve chilled.
- Adjust to taste. Add more maple syrup or vanilla extract (optional) as desired.
- Enjoy!
Equipment
Buy Now → - Prep Time: 5
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Blender
Gina says
Thanks very much for this idea and recipe. Walnuts are my fav, and, as you say, "Why not?" to making 'milk' from walnuts. This is the first time I've seen anyone do this, and I'm so glad you did. Made a batch this morning and Love it.
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Gina! So happy to hear that!