Bakers replacing dairy milk
If a loaf or roll recipe calls for milk, you may want a plain almond drink that does not deliberately add sweetness or flavour.
Who is this for?
Frequent home bakers
If you use several cartons over successive bakes, compare multipack quantities with what you can store and use after each carton is opened.
Shoppers checking ingredients and allergens
Almond drinks differ in their added ingredients. If almond or other nut allergies are a concern, check the current pack label rather than relying on a dairy-free description.
What should you check?
Start with the recipe, then compare the drink’s ingredients, the number of cartons you will use and the instructions for opened packs.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Recipe fit | Look for unsweetened, unflavoured drink when replacing milk in a plain bread recipe. For a recipe where tenderness or browning matters, try the substitution in a test bake. | I want to replace dairy milk without deliberately changing the loaf’s sweetness or flavour. King Arthur Baking recommends unsweetened, unflavoured non-dairy milk for most recipes that call for milk. |
| Ingredients | Read the exact product’s ingredient list for almond content, rice, oils, gums, flavouring and added calcium or vitamins. Do not assume variants from one brand have the same recipe. | A short ingredient list matters to me, or I prefer a drink with added nutrients; neither choice alone establishes how my bread will turn out. |
| Carton quantity | Compare the number and volume of cartons, then compare the current unit prices on the same basis. Consider how many unopened cartons you can keep. | If I bake regularly, several 1L cartons may be convenient. If I bake occasionally, I would rather buy only what I expect to use. |
| After opening | Follow the refrigeration and use-by-opening instructions on the carton. The Tesco listing specifies five days after opening; Sainsbury’s and M&S specify three days for their listed drinks. | I may use only part of a carton in one dough, so the time allowed for the remainder affects my next bake. |
| Allergens | Check the current almond declaration and any peanut or other-nut warning on the pack. Dairy-free does not mean nut-free. | If I am baking for someone with an almond allergy, almond drink is not an option; other relevant nut warnings also need checking. |
What can go wrong?
Assuming all almond drinks behave alike
Recipes differ: some drinks contain rice, oil or flavouring, while others have a shorter ingredient list. A sweetened or flavoured drink may alter a plain loaf’s intended taste.
For a straightforward milk substitution, begin with an unsweetened, unflavoured drink and check the exact carton’s ingredients.
Assuming a multipack costs less per carton
Buying more cartons increases the quantity purchased at once, but does not by itself establish a lower unit price.
Compare current unit prices and choose a carton count you expect to use.
A multipack also needs space for the unopened cartons.
Overlooking the opened-carton instructions
The listed post-opening periods differ: Tesco specifies five days, while Sainsbury’s and M&S specify three days for their respective drinks.
Refrigerate an opened carton as directed and plan subsequent bakes around its own label.
Equating dairy-free with nut-allergy-safe
Almond is a nut, and some product listings also carry peanut or other-nut warnings.
Do not use almond drink for someone with an almond allergy. Check the current pack for any other relevant allergen warnings.
Almond-drink brands to compare
Plenish
Plenish lists an organic almond drink in single 1L cartons and an 8 × 1L multipack.
- Its listed ingredients are water, organic almonds and sea salt; Plenish describes the multipack as suitable for baking.
- Check whether an eight-carton purchase fits your baking frequency rather than assuming it offers a lower unit price.
Tesco
Tesco lists an unsweetened 1L almond drink with added calcium, iodine and vitamins.
- The listed formulation contains 2% almond, along with gums and lecithins.
- Its listing warns that the drink contains almond and may contain peanuts and other nuts.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists unsweetened almond drinks in chilled and long-life 1L formats.
- The chilled listing specifies 2.3% almond and added calcium, iodine and vitamins.
- Its allergy warning covers other nuts, and its listed drinks should be used within three days of opening.
Alpro
Alpro lists a Roasted Almond No Sugars drink with added calcium, iodine and vitamins.
- Alpro states that this drink contains no sugars or sweeteners.
- The listed recipe also contains gums, lecithins and natural flavouring; check the exact variant if you want an unflavoured drink.
Rude Health
Rude Health’s almond-drink variants have notably different ingredient lists.
- Its standard Organic Almond Drink lists rice, 1% almonds and sunflower oil; Pure Almond lists water and 5% almonds.
- Choose by the variant’s ingredients, not the brand name alone.
M&S
M&S lists an unsweetened 1L almond drink with added calcium, iodine and vitamins.
- Its listing specifies 2% almonds and stabiliser E418.
- The listing warns against use by people with nut or peanut allergy and says to use an opened carton within three days.
Joybuy almond-drink multipacks
These multi-carton Alpro drinks are options to consider if you bake repeatedly. Check the exact formulation before choosing either one for a neutral-flavoured loaf.
No image availableAlpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink, 8 × 1L
The eight-carton pack may suit repeated baking when you expect to use that quantity. Its product description states no sugars or sweeteners and instructs you to refrigerate opened cartons and use them within five days. Check the current carton for its full ingredients and allergen information; it contains almond.
No image availableAlpro Almond Drink, 6 × 1L
Six 1L cartons may suit a series of bakes. The product description lists added calcium, iodine and vitamins, but describes the drink as low in sugars while its ingredient list includes sugar. Check the current carton’s ingredients before using it in a neutral bread recipe, and follow its instruction to refrigerate opened cartons and use them within five days. It contains almond.
Questions about baking with almond drink
Can almond drink replace dairy milk in yeast bread?
In most recipes calling for milk, a non-dairy drink can be used instead, according to King Arthur Baking. Start with an unsweetened, unflavoured almond drink and test a recipe where changes to flavour, tenderness or browning would matter.
Should I use sweetened almond drink for bread?
Choose unsweetened, unflavoured drink for a standard milk substitution unless the recipe calls for a sweetened or flavoured liquid. That follows King Arthur Baking’s guidance for non-dairy bread substitutions.
When does an almond-drink multipack make sense?
A multipack is worth considering when you expect to use several cartons and have room to store them. Compare the current unit price with individual cartons, and plan how you will use each carton after opening.
How long does an opened carton keep?
Follow the instruction on the particular carton. Tesco’s listed almond drink specifies refrigeration and use within five days of opening; the listed Sainsbury’s and M&S drinks specify three days.
Can I use almond drink when baking for someone with a nut allergy?
Do not use almond drink for someone with an almond allergy: the UK Food Standards Agency identifies almonds as nuts. Check the current carton for any additional peanut or other-nut warnings relevant to the person you are baking for.