Recipes: Three homemade nut milk recipes your kids will love
We’re always looking for delish post-school or kindy treats. These naturally flavoured nut milks are a creamy treat that will nourish little bodies with plant-based goodness, they’re also free from dairy, gluten, and refined sugar. Pre-soaking the nuts ‘activates’ them and removes the natural enzyme inhibitors – making them easier to digest, it also softens them so they can be blended easily. To get maximum health benefits from your nut milks use organic ingredients where possible. Here are some of our favourite combinations:
Chocolate milk
1 ½ cups hazelnut milk*
3 tablespoons maple syrup
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons cocao powder
Pinch of sea salt
Handful of ice
* To make the hazelnut milk: soak ½ cup raw hazelnuts for 4-6hrs, rinse well then blend with 1 ½ cups filtered water until well combined. Place a nut milk bag or muslin cloth over a jug or bowl and pour the blended mixture in, squeeze through all the milk you can until only the pulp is left (this can saved and used in baking or smoothies).
Strawberry milk
½ cup soaked raw cashew nuts (soak for 2-4hrs then rinse well)
1 ½ cups filtered water
3 tablespoons maple syrup
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
Handful of ice (if using fresh strawberries)
Caramel milk
½ cup raw macadamia nuts (these don’t require soaking)
1 ½ cups filtered water
4 medjool dates (pitted)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of sea salt
Handful of ice
To prepare all milks: put all ingredients into a high speed blender and blend until smooth. Be careful not to over-blend or it will warm up – if this happens add a little more ice.
Each recipe makes enough for 2 people.
A few reasons to love these nuts:
Hazelnuts are rich in copper, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, vitamin E, selenium, and fibre. They also help to produce healthy red and white blood cells.
Cashew nuts contain magnesium, copper, iron, protein, and phosphorous. They have been proven to boost energy levels and help to build strong bones and teeth, they also improve the health of skin, hair and nails.
Macadamia nuts are loaded with magnesium, manganese, potassium, and thiamin. The good fats in macadamias help to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease, these guys also help to boost energy levels.
