Homemade hazelnut milk recipe (optional vanilla cardamom flavor)

Easy homemade hazelnut milk recipe! Learn how to make dairy free hazelnut milk at home in just a few simple steps. Optional vanilla cardamom flavor too!

This hazelnut milk recipe was originally posted in March 2015 and was updated in August 2019.

Hi, Rhubarbarians! We are hopping on the homemade nut milk train today! 

Dairy free milks are seriously EVERYWHERE right now. It seems like every month there's a new one that I just have to try. Ahem... have you tried oat milk yet? But my favorite still seems to fly under the radar: hazelnut milk.

Naturally sweet milked hazelnuts

If you've ever eaten a raw hazelnut, you know how sweet and milky they already taste. It's like hazelnuts are the perfect nut for making nut milk. The flavor is very similar to almond milk, but is a bit less sweet and has a more intense nut flavor. Oh, and it makes the absolute BEST chocolate milk around. 

What is hazelnut milk?

Hazelnut milk is a "milky" liquid made from hazelnuts. It's made by blending nuts together with water and then straining out the pulp. Hazelnut milk is wonderful dairy-free alternative to dairy milk.

How to make hazelnut milk

• First, start with raw hazelnuts. Skinned if you can find them, but it's not necessary. The skins are just a bit bitter, but nothing to stress over.
• Give yourself time to soak the nuts. Pour water over your hazelnuts and let them soak for about 12 hours. This is a great task to take on the night before making your milk.
• Strain and rinse the soaked hazelnuts.
• Blend in a high speed blender with water.
• Strain well, catching the liquid, using a nut milk bag of a colander lined with cheese cloth. Squeeze (and catch) the excess liquid by squeezing the bag. 
• Store in an air tight container in the fridge.

Tasty ways to use hazelnut milk:

• Drink it! It's delicious. Or mix it with some peanut butter chocolate syrup for the best chocolate milk ever.
• Blend it into smoothies. Give this avocado hazelnut milk coffee smoothie a try.
• Add it to savory sauces as a dairy free alternative.
• Eat it with cereal.
• Use it as a coffee creamer.

What to do with nut milk pulp

Don't throw this out! Nut milk pulp is simply ground up nuts and can be used in a variety of ways.

• Make your own hazelnut flour
• Use as a topping for yogurt, smoothies, or other breakfasts
• Use it as a bread crumb of sorts
• Add it to granola!

Optional vanilla cardamom flavor

I added an option to add vanilla and a bit of cardamom to the hazelnut milk for some extra pizzaz. I'm gonna warn you about the cardamom flavor in this one. Cardamom is pretty strong you guys, and this recipe packs a CARDAMOM PUNCH! BLAM! I like it this way, but you may want to start with just plain hazelnut milk first. Or, skip the cardamom and just add the vanilla.

Homemade hazelnut milk recipe

5 from 3 votes

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Homemade hazelnut milk recipe

Prep Time

10 mins

Soaking time

12 hrs

Total Time

12 hrs 10 mins

 

Easy homemade hazelnut milk recipe! Learn how to make dairy free hazelnut milk at home in just a few simple steps. Optional vanilla cardamom flavor too!

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: dairy free, vegan

Servings: 3 cups

Calories: 251 kcal

Author: Trish Bozeman

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw hazelnuts
• 3 cups filtered water + more for soaking
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (optional)
• 1 tsp ground cardamom (optional)

Instructions

1. Place raw hazelnuts in a container with a tight fitting lid and cover with water. Let sit for 12 hours.

2. Rinse hazelnuts well and place in a blender.* Add 1 cup of the water and blend until smooth. Add remaining water and blend well.

3. Line a colander with cheesecloth and place over a large bowl, or use a nut milk bag. Pour milk mixture over colander, straining out pulp. Wrap pulp in the cheesecloth and squeeze out the remaining liquid. Reserve pulp for another use.
4. Transfer milk to a sealable container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Recipe Notes

*If adding the vanilla and/or cardamom, add it to the blender at this point.

Nutrition Facts

Homemade hazelnut milk recipe

Amount Per Serving (1 cup)

Calories 251 Calories from Fat 216

% Daily Value*

Fat 24g37%

Saturated Fat 2g10%

Potassium 272mg8%

Carbohydrates 7g2%

Fiber 4g16%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 6g12%

Vitamin C 2.6mg3%

Calcium 46mg5%

Iron 1.9mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

If you make this recipe, please let me know on social media or in the comments below! Leave a star rating in your comment or tag me on Instagram with #Rhubarbarians.

Thank you so much for reading and supporting Rhubarbarians and the National Peanut Board. If you’re looking for a group of people cooking vegetarian recipes through the seasons, join us on Facebook in our vegetarian and vegan recipes group!

Hope you enjoy,

Trish

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