Vegan Horchata Recipe with Almond Milk | Aline Made (2024)

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Authentic vegan horchata recipe with almond milk! This refreshing almond milk horchata version is healthier than its original, dairy-free, and lactose-free.

Vegan Horchata Recipe with Almond Milk | Aline Made (1)

Mexican Horchata, also known as Agua de Horchata, is one of the most popular Mexican drinks ever!

A delicious creamy, rich, and very sweet drink with delicate cinnamon flavors made with white rice, cinnamon, and milk. It is served on every corner in Mexico, but only the one freshly made and with high-quality ingredients tastes the best. There is nothing better than a homemade horchata served with spicy Mexican food!

The traditional horchata recipe is made with evaporated milk, making it super creamy and rich in its taste through the high amount of fat and sugar in the evaporated milk. Granted, this drink in its original state is also high in sugar.

Anyhow, if you happened to be in Mexico once, you MUST try it!

Vegan Horchata Recipe with Almond Milk | Aline Made (2)

Agua Frescas – Authentic Mexican Drinks

Everybody who has ever visited Mexico knows that Agua Frescas are one of the most authentic Mexican recipes. You can find them at every corner, and they are always made and served the same way with a lot of sugar over ice.

The most popular ones are:

  • Agua de Jamaica – Hibiscus Water → made with dried hibiscus flowers
  • Agua de Horchata – Rice Water → made with rice and cinnamon
  • Agua de Sandia – Watermelon Water →made with fresh watermelon
  • Agua de Tamarindo – Tamarind Water → made with fresh or dried tamarind pods
  • Vegan Horchata Recipe with Almond Milk | Aline Made (3)
  • Vegan Horchata Recipe with Almond Milk | Aline Made (4)

Healthier Vegan Version

My horchata recipe is a slightly healthier and vegan version of the original. It’s made with almond milk instead of sweetened condensed milk. Therefore, it’s 100% vegan, dairy-free, and so, also suitable if you are lactose intolerant.

Furthermore, I have generously reduced the amount of sugar. Authentic horchata contains a lot of sugar and is way too sweet. In my opinion, it doesn’t need that much sugar. It tastes just as delicious with less of it.

I love to sweeten it with maple syrup. Feel free to use white sugar, and please do adjust the sweetness according to your taste. For a more authentic feeling, add more sugar.

Vegan Horchata Recipe with Almond Milk | Aline Made (5)

How To Make This Vegan Horchata Recipe

Read through this visual step-by-step guide with lots of extra tips!The exact quantities and everything else you need to know for the recipe can be found in the recipe card below.

  • Add rice, water, and cinnamon stick in a large bowl and let it soak overnight at room temperature. → It’s much easier to blend soaked rice!
Vegan Horchata Recipe with Almond Milk | Aline Made (6)
  • Pour the whole mixture along with maple syrup, vanilla extract, salt, and clove powder into a blender. Blend 2-3 times at high speed until completely smooth.
Vegan Horchata Recipe with Almond Milk | Aline Made (7)
  • Strain into a pitcher (or large bowl).
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  • Vegan Horchata Recipe with Almond Milk | Aline Made (9)
  • Vegan Horchata Recipe with Almond Milk | Aline Made (10)
  • Stir in almond milk. → Please only add the almond milk once blended. Almond milk is extremely foamy milk, and it would leave you with excessive foam if you blend it along with the other ingredients.
  • Chill and serve over ice. I love to sprinkle it with ground cinnamon before serving!
Vegan Horchata Recipe with Almond Milk | Aline Made (11)

Tips

Strain:I recommend straining the horchata through a nut milk bag or cheesecloth if you have one at home. Alternatively, and the quicker method is to strain it through a fine-mesh sieve. The “pulp” will settle at the bottom of the bottle when stored in the fridge. Feel free to stir it before serving or gently pour it into glasses so that the pulp stays where it is.

Sweetness:As already mentioned, this version is less sweet than the authentic recipe. Feel free to add more sugar! Replace maple syrup with sugar of choice.

More Mexican Recipes You’ll Love:

  • Vegan Tacos
  • Guacamole
  • Cafe de Olla

Did you try this recipe?

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📖 Recipe

Vegan Horchata Recipe with Almond Milk | Aline Made (12)

Vegan Horchata

Authentic vegan horchata recipe with almond milk! This refreshing almond milk horchata version is healthier than its original, dairy-free, and lactose-free.

Author : Aline Cueni

4.86 from 7 votes

Click on the stars to leave a vote!

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Prep Time :10 minutes mins

Soaking Time :8 hours hrs

Total Time :8 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Servings : 4

Calories : 111kcal

Ingredients

  • cup (65 g) basmati rice or white long-grain rice of choice
  • 4 cups (960 ml) water
  • 1 stick cinnamon
  • 3 tbsp maple syrup or sugar/sweetener of choice
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 pinch clove powder
  • 1 cup (240 ml) almond milk

Instructions

  • Add rice, water, and cinnamon stick in a large bowl and let it soak overnight at room temperature.

  • Pour the whole mixture along with maple syrup, vanilla extract, salt, and clove powder into a blender. Blend 2-3 times at high speed until completely smooth.

  • Strain into a pitcher (or large bowl) and stir in almond milk.

  • Chill and serve over ice.

Notes

  • This horchata will keep in the fridge for several days.
  • Optional: Sprinkle with cinnamon powder before serving.
  • Don’t add the almond milk to the blender, as this milk foams extremely well!
  • Adjust the sweetness to your taste. → Traditional Mexican horchata is much sweeter than this healthier recipe version.
  • Strain: I recommend straining the horchata through a nut milk bag or cheesecloth.

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Nutrition

Calories: 111kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 241mg | Potassium: 51mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Calcium: 112mg | Iron: 1mg

Vegan Horchata Recipe with Almond Milk | Aline Made (15)

Aline Cueni

I’m a girl who loves to cook and bake delicious homemade food. Let me help you to incorporate more plant-based foods into everyday life! Vegetarian & vegan recipes can be anything but boring.

Vegan Horchata Recipe with Almond Milk | Aline Made (2024)

FAQs

Is horchata made from almond milk? ›

The Mexican version of horchata is typically made creamy using dairy products such as condensed milk, evaporated milk, or whole milk, but it's not uncommon for traditional versions to be made plant-based with almond milk in place of cow's milk.

How many cups of water does it take to make almond milk? ›

Ingredients Needed to Make Almond Milk

Start with a ratio of 1 cup almonds to 2 cups water when making almond milk. This makes a milk that is roughly the consistency of 2% milk. If you'd like a thinner milk, use more water next time; for thicker milk, use less.

How do you make horchata less thick? ›

Cold water- more water will need to be added to the horchata at the end to thin it out a bit. Be careful not to add too much- remember that it will be served over ice which will water it down a bit more. Ice- like my dad says, ice is the most important ingredient in horchata!

Why is my horchata separating? ›

This means that the texture of a given horchata will vary depending on its base ingredient. Fat molecules, in their pure state, are loath to mix with water and will separate into distinct layers like a broken vinaigrette.

What is vegan horchata made of? ›

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 cup jasmine white rice.
  • 6 cups water.
  • 1 cup raw cashews (you can use roasted just make sure they're unsalted)
  • 2 cinnamon sticks.
  • 2/3 cup 100% pure maple syrup (add an extra 1/4 cup or more if you want it sweeter)

What is dirty horchata made of? ›

Stopping in for a quick Saturday co*cktail to share this (extra) Dirty Horchata. Homemade Horchata, a sweet cinnamon drink popular throughout Latin America, is topped off with coffee and a splash of dark rum (or Kahlúa). It's a touch of creaminess, hinted with cinnamon and coffee, and perfectly sweet.

Do I need to refrigerate almond milk? ›

Almond milk should be stored in the refrigerator. “Once the container seal has been opened and the almond milk has been exposed to air, you should use it within about 10 days,” White says. “Some brands of almond milk come from the refrigerated section of the grocery store, and those should remain in cold storage.

Is almond milk healthier than regular milk? ›

Compared to animal milk, unsweetened almond milk – but not the sweetened kind – is low in sugars and carbohydrates. It has 50% to 80% fewer calories than dairy milk. It's considered a low glycemic index food. This means it's less likely to cause blood sugar spikes.

What uses more water milk or almond milk? ›

One liter of dairy milk requires a whopping 628 liters of fresh water, compared to the 371 liters for almond milk — still high but not nearly as bad.

Why is my horchata so grainy? ›

The texture of horchata is slightly grainy, but otherwise smooth and refreshing. To achieve this texture, be sure to fully pulverize the rice and cinnamon in a grinder. You will want the rice and cinnamon mixture to have the consistency of rice flour.

Why does my horchata taste sour? ›

Horchata that has gone bad will usually smell sour, similar to spoiled milk. Also, if you pour it and observe any clumps, chunks, or separated layers, these are clear signs that the horchata is no longer good. The taste, too, will be off, generally sour or rancid. Always store horchata in the refrigerator.

Should you rinse rice before making horchata? ›

Place the rice on a fine-mesh sieve and rinse until the water runs clear. Transfer the rice to a large bowl and add the cinnamon with 1 quart (4 cups) of cold water. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 4 hours.

How to tell if horchata is bad? ›

The best way to tell if its bad is to remove any cover and smell and you can tell by the smell if it has gone bad or not. Horchata really doesn't last too long in our household, luckily all my family members really like this Horchata Recipe, there is something about the flavors that just pull them in.

Is drinking too much horchata bad for you? ›

Is horchata good or bad for you? Consumption of horchata in moderation is always a good choice for your health as it includes antioxidants, and hydrates your body after an intensive workout. Is it good to drink horchata every day? The answer is yes, intake of horchata beverage every day is good for your health.

Why does my horchata taste starchy? ›

The rice adds a starchy or chalky quality, and perhaps to compensate, most taquerias use a very heavy hand with the sugar. But the rice flavor is also part of horchata's charm, and this version inspired by GCM vendors reduces the sweetness—a bit.

What kind of milk is horchata made from? ›

Horchata is a sweet rice drink that is very popular not only in Mexico but also in the US! Most people know of the dairy version with evaporated and condensed milk, but horchata can also be made dairy-free. Mexican horchata is typically made with rice, water, cinnamon, milk, and sugar.

Does horchata contain dairy? ›

While the recipes may vary, it is a relatively simple beverage, requiring few ingredients. In general, horchata is a sweet, dairy-free beverage that is made via a process of soaking grains, nuts, or seeds overnight in water. This mixture is then drained, and sugar or other spices are added to sweeten the beverage.

Does horchata contain almonds? ›

Across South America horchata is made with rice and/or sesame seeds, melon seeds, peanuts, almonds, or cashews. For this homemade almond-and-rice milk horchata recipe, we roast the nuts for maximum toasted flavor (though you can skip this step if you prefer).

Is horchata made from cow milk? ›

However, Jennifer Feltham, one of the owners of Sonoratown in downtown L.A., said, “Real horchata isn't supposed to have dairy. But it's easier, cheaper and involves less labor to use cow milk because you get that creamy texture without all the work of soaking, blending, then straining out the rice.”

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