Almond milk is a plant-based milk made from almonds. Because it is dairy-free, almond milk is a favorite in the vegetarian/vegan community. It’s also a favorite beverage for raw vegan enthusiasts. You can easily whip up a batch of almond milk, so long as you have a blender, water, raw almonds, and your optional sweetener of choice. For people who follow the raw vegan diet, grade A maple syrup, dates, and raw agave nectar are acceptable sweeteners.

For this recipe, we’re taking plain almond milk up a notch by making chocolate almond milk. The beauty of making your own almond milk is that you can customize it. Some people prefer chocolate while others enjoy vanilla or strawberry varieties. Not only are almond milk variations great for enjoying on their own, but they also make great additions to smoothies. The entire flavor profile of your smoothie can change when you have chocolate almond milk, for example. It blends beautifully with bananas, dates, and raw almond butter to make a protein-rich smoothie. In fact, it may even make your smoothie taste like a milkshake!

The most important ingredient, besides the almonds, is the nut milk bag. A cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer will do just fine, but a nut milk bag makes the process a whole lot easier. You can find them online or in certain health food stores. If you were unable to find or don’t have a nut milk bag, fine mesh strainer, or cheesecloth, you can use a clean T-shirt or linen towel in a pinch. You may not be able to wear that T-shirt after squeezing almond milk through it, though. Keep in mind that homemade almond milk does not contain preservatives, so that means you have to consume it in a hurry. Stored in a glass container in the fridge, homemade almond milk will stay fresh for 3-5 days.