Who is this choice for?

Bakers watching the drink’s fat contribution

If you want to compare the fat in the liquid added to your biscuit dough, check the figure on each carton. The recipe’s butter, oil or other separate fat remains a different decision.

Bakers adapting a milk-containing recipe

An unsweetened, unflavoured drink is a practical starting point when replacing the milk in an otherwise suitable biscuit recipe. Keep the recipe’s other ingredients and their roles in mind.

Households checking for nut allergens

Almond drink contains almond. Check the current carton for almond, peanut and other-nut information before making biscuits for anyone with an allergy.

What should you check?

Start with the biscuit recipe: decide whether the drink is supplying a little liquid or whether milk plays a larger part in the dough. Then compare cartons on the same stated nutrition basis and check the ingredients for everyone who will eat the biscuits.

Priority What to check Your needs
Recipe fit Choose an unsweetened, unflavoured drink for a plain-milk swap. Check how much milk the recipe uses and keep its prescribed butter, vegan butter or other fat separate; King Arthur Baking notes that milk components can affect structure, flavour and browning. I’m replacing the milk in biscuit dough, not trying to replace its butter or oil. If the recipe relies heavily on milk for structure, I’d rather use a dairy-free recipe developed for that bake.
Fat and sugars Read both figures and their units on the nutrition panel. Marks & Spencer lists 0.9g fat per 100g for its unsweetened drink; the reviewed Alpro and Tesco drinks each list 1.1g per 100ml. Their sugar figures also differ. I want to limit the fat contributed by the drink itself and avoid changing the recipe’s intended sweetness. I’ll assess the other biscuit ingredients separately.
Allergens Check the current almond declaration and any peanut or other-nut warning. A dairy-free label does not describe the allergens or dietary suitability of the finished biscuits. Someone eating these biscuits needs an appropriate alternative to almond drink, or I need to check every ingredient in the whole recipe.

Common biscuit-baking mistakes

  • Replacing the butter with almond drink

    Almond drink supplies liquid, while the recipe’s dedicated fat has a different role. King Arthur Baking notes that milk’s fat and protein can affect baked texture, but swapping the drink does not replace butter or shortening.

    Replace the recipe’s milk quantity, not its butter or other fat. For a different fat arrangement, follow a recipe developed for it.

  • Assuming unsweetened cartons have identical nutrition

    The reviewed labels differ. Marks & Spencer lists 0.9g fat and 0.2g sugars per 100g; Tesco lists 1.1g fat and 0.3g sugars per 100ml. The figures must be read with their stated units.

    Compare the current nutrition panels rather than relying on “unsweetened” or “no added sugar” as a complete description.

  • Equating dairy-free with nut-free

    Almond is an allergen, and some almond drinks carry warnings about peanuts or other nuts. Replacing dairy milk does not remove those risks.

    Check the carton and every other biscuit ingredient. If almond drink is inappropriate for someone eating the biscuits, choose a suitable alternative.

  • Relying on a previous carton’s label

    The product you use needs to suit the recipe and the people eating it; an older listing or remembered ingredient list cannot tell you what is printed on the carton in hand.

    Before baking, read its ingredients, allergen information, nutrition panel and storage instructions.

Almond drink brands to consider

These are references for particular almond drinks, not a claim that every product in each brand’s range has the same ingredients or nutrition.

M&S

A useful label to compare when the drink’s own fat figure matters.

  • Marks & Spencer lists 0.9g fat, 0.2g sugars and 0.5g protein per 100g for its Unsweetened Almond Drink.
  • That figure describes the drink, not the fat content or baking performance of a finished biscuit.

Alpro

Its reviewed No Sugars almond drink is an option for a plain liquid swap.

  • Sainsbury's lists 1.1g fat, less than 0.1g sugars and 0.5g protein per 100ml for the reviewed 1L drink.
  • Do not assume an almond drink will give the same structure as dairy milk in every biscuit recipe.

Tesco

Its reviewed unsweetened almond drink provides another clearly labelled comparison.

  • Tesco lists 1.1g fat, 0.3g sugars and 0.5g protein per 100ml.
  • Check the current carton for its ingredients and allergen warnings before baking.

Sainsbury's

Its own-label unsweetened drink can be considered where a plain almond-based liquid is needed.

  • Sainsbury's lists 1.4g fat, less than 0.5g sugars and 0.6g protein per 100ml for the reviewed drink.
  • Its listed fat figure is higher than those of the reviewed Alpro and Tesco drinks on a per-100ml basis; the biscuit recipe determines how much drink is used.

Plenish

Plenish describes its Almond M*lk as suitable for baking.

  • It is a product to consider if you want to check its ingredient list alongside its stated baking use.
  • Read the current carton’s fat and sugar figures before comparing it with drinks that have stated nutrition values here.

Rude Health

Its No Sugars Organic Almond Drink offers a different stated ingredient list to check against your recipe.

  • Rude Health lists spring water, organic almonds (3%), organic carob seed flour and sea salt.
  • Its product information warns that it may contain traces of other nuts. Check the carton’s nutrition panel before making a fat comparison.

Almond drink on Joybuy

This Alpro multipack is an almond-drink option for biscuit recipes in which you are replacing milk while keeping the recipe’s separate fat.

Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink 8 x 1L

Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink 8 x 1L

For a biscuit recipe that calls for milk, use this almond drink as the liquid rather than as a replacement for butter or oil. The pack contains 8 x 1L; check the current cartons for nutrition and allergen information before use.

View on Joybuy

Biscuit-baking questions

Can I use almond drink instead of milk in biscuit dough?

An unsweetened, unflavoured almond drink is a practical starting point when replacing the milk in a biscuit recipe, particularly if milk is a small part of it. Keep the recipe’s prescribed fat; for a bake that depends heavily on milk for structure, consider a recipe developed with a dairy-free drink.

Will low-fat almond drink make the biscuits low in fat?

No conclusion about the finished biscuits follows from the drink’s label alone. Its fat figure applies to the drink, while butter, oil, chocolate or nuts in the recipe must be considered separately.

Which carton details matter for baking?

Check whether the drink is unsweetened and unflavoured, then read its fat, sugars and protein figures with the stated units. King Arthur Baking notes that these milk components can affect baked structure, flavour and browning; also check the current ingredients and allergen declaration.

Is almond drink suitable when someone has a nut allergy?

Almond drink is not an appropriate substitute for someone allergic to almonds. The Food Standards Agency identifies almond as an allergen, and some cartons also warn about peanuts or other nuts; check the exact product and choose an appropriate alternative for the people eating the biscuits.

Does using dairy-free almond drink make a biscuit recipe vegan?

No. Butter, eggs, milk chocolate or other ingredients in the recipe may still be animal-derived. Check the complete ingredient list or follow a biscuit recipe developed as vegan.