Homemade Almond Mylk & Adaptogenic Chai Cacao Bites

I don't know about you, but as a latte obsessed individual, I love my nut mylks. I love adding it to my morning cacao or chicory chai brew, my evening golden mylk, as well as cooking with it in oatmeal or sauce recipes that call for dairy. I go through nut mylk quite often, and I find it not only expensive, but tedious to have to go to the store so often for something that only has a few ingredients. I thought it would be much harder to make at home, but I have found it to be so easy & convenient!

All you need to do is soak the nuts overnight, run them through a blender with water, and strain! You can substitute almonds for any soaked nut in this recipe, or even experiment with mixing! I love a creamier mylk, so sometimes I mix almonds & cashews, even hazelnuts if I'm feeling adventurous!

A huge plus of making your own nut milk, is that you avoid some low vibe ingredients, like carrageenan, unnecessary oils, and preservatives that can be found in store bought nut mylks.

Once I started making my own nut mylk, I realized how much pulp was left over. While a lot of the nutrients go into the mylk, there are still quite a bit of benefits left in the almonds! While you can use it for a variety of different things, I've always been a fan of protein bites. I've made these with matcha, coconut, rose powder, blueberry powder, you can really get creative with these, but as an herbalist, I love to throw herbs and nutrients in anywhere I possibly can.

These little guys are such fantastic snacks to grab on the go, a great replacement for a sugar or cookie/brownie craving, and also make a delicious night time snack. I used ashwagandha and reishi mushroom as my adaptogens (herbs that help the body adapt to stress), and chai spices (to aid in digestion) to give these bites a superpowered punch of wellness. The nuts are pure protein and healthy fats, while the seeds add some more protein and antioxidants. I invite you to play around with this recipe, and see what works for you! If you don't have something on hand, replace it with something else you may have! The sky is the limit with these, and it's all about finding what makes you feel your best!

Vanilla Almond Mylk & Adaptogenic Chai Cacao Bites

Ingredients:

Vanilla Almond Mylk

• 1 cup almonds (soaked overnight)

• 5 cups Water

• 2 Dates

• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract (optional)

Chai Cacao Bites

• Almond Pulp from Mylk Recipe

• 2 tbsp Cacao Powder

• 2 tbsp Honey or Agave

• 2 tbsp Nut Butter of choice

• 1 tsp Chia Seeds

• 1 tsp Hemp Seeds

• 1 tsp Ashwagandha Powder

• 1 tsp Reishi Powder

• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp Cardamom

• 1/2 tsp Ginger (powdered or fresh shredded)

*Recipes adapted from Minimalist Baker

Directions

Vanilla Almond Mylk

1. Add all ingredients to a blender, and blend for 2 minutes

2. Strain through a cheese cloth, nut milk bag or thin kitchen towel

3. Refrigerate & Enjoy!

Adaptogenic Chai Cacao Bites

1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl with a spoon or rubber spatula

2. Use a teaspoon to measure out batter and shape into balls

3. Refrigerate for 20 minutes so they harden

4. Enjoy!

Both of these recipes last in the refrigerator for up to 5 days!

I hope you enjoy these delicious treats, and let me know how you like them!

Light, Love & Faerie Wishes,

Ilona