Vanilla Almond Milk Recipes

Steps:

• Place the almonds in a medium bowl and cover with 2 cups cold water. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until softened and plump, at least 8 hours but preferably overnight.
• Drain the almonds through a fine-mesh sieve, then rinse well. Reserve the sieve for later. Transfer the almonds to a blender and add 2 cups fresh cold water. Blend on high until very smooth, about 2 minutes. It's okay if the mixture looks slightly grainy.
• Line the reserved sieve with a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth and place over a medium bowl. Working in batches, pour the blended almond mixture through the cloth in the sieve, separating the almond milk from any grainy bits. Gather the edges of the towel together and use your hands to squeeze out any remaining milk.
• Whisk in 1 teaspoon vanilla and/or 1 to 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup if using to flavor and sweeten the almond milk. Serve immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, whisk together cornstarch, sugar, and salt.
• Whisk in almond milk until no lumps remain (do NOT add vanilla yet!).
• Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
• Whisk the boiling mixture constantly for 2 (count 'em -- 2) minutes.
• Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla.
• Pour into 4 custard cups and refrigerate until set.

Steps:

• For base frosting:.
• Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy.
• Gradually beat in sugar, then cream and vanilla.
• If making both frostings: Divide between 2 bowls.
• For vanilla frosting:.
• Mix 1 teaspoon vanilla into 1 bowl of base frosting.
• For almond frosting:.
• Mix almond extract into second bowl of base frosting. Mix in yellow food coloring, 1 drop at a time, until desired shade is reached.

Steps:

• Place almonds and vanilla bean in a bowl; add enough water to cover completely. Place dates in a separate bowl and add enough water to cover completely. Soak almonds and dates at room temperature, 8 hours to overnight.
• Drain and discard soaking water from almonds and rinse almonds thoroughly. Drain water from dates and keep water to add to the almond milk, if desired.
• Combine soaked almonds, vanilla bean, dates, and sea salt in a blender; pour in 3 cups water. Blend on high for 1 minute. Let sit to allow foam to subside, about 1 minute. Add remaining 1 cup water and some of the date water for extra sweetness; blend until almond milk is smooth, about 1 minute.
• Place a nut milk bag in a quart-size measuring cup or large bowl. Pour almond milk into the bag and lift to drain. Gently squeeze the bag to extract as much milk as possible. Store almond milk in the refrigerator.