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!
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  • 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

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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.

What is the best rice for horchata? ›

Jasmine rice- traditionally, long grain jasmine rice is used to make horchata. I've made some with short grain rice before and the results were very similar, but it does not have exactly the same taste and aroma as jasmine rice.

How do you make horchata less thick? ›

Easy Dairy-free Horchata

If serving for a crowd, dilute the concentrate with an equal amount of water in an ice-filled pitcher. For a thicker horchata, dilute with less water.

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 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).

What makes horchata chalky? ›

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.

Should you wash horchata rice? ›

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.

Why is horchata healthy? ›

It is a source of vitamins C and E, and is also rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron. Most recipes are dairy and gluten-free, ensuring horchata is easy on the stomach. When you want a beverage that is simple, natural, and provides health benefits with ease, horchata is the perfect option for you.

What does horchata mean in English? ›

Meaning of horchata in English. a drink made from nuts or rice, that looks like milk and is drunk in Spain and Latin American countries, or a glass of this drink: Valencia is also known for its horchata.

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.

Why does my horchata taste grainy? ›

In starchy horchatas, the starch grains are detectable on the tongue; so a rice (or barley or other grains with which you choose to experiment) horchata will always be a little grittier, a little less creamy, and more likely to settle out than one based on fattier nuts or seeds.

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? ›

Considerations and Risks. As we are aware horchata is high in sugar levels that might have a chance to increase sugar levels in individuals. Consumption of it in moderation is a wise decision for an enhanced state of health.

How long is homemade horchata good for? ›

To limit bacteria growth, it should be refrigerated after 2 hours and the drink consumed within 5 days. This version has been updated. The rice needs to be soaked for at least 2 hours at room temperature, and up to overnight in the refrigerator. The horchata can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.

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 have dairy in it? ›

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 almond milk the same as rice milk? ›

One key difference between rice milk and almond milk is their protein content. Almond milk contains more protein than rice milk, which can be beneficial for those looking to increase their protein intake. However, rice milk is a good option for those with nut allergies or sensitivities, as it is nut-free.

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