Vegan Horchata

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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.

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!

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

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.

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!

• 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).

• For an even better horchata, I recommend straining it a second time through a nut milk bag or cheesecloth. 

• 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! 

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

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Vegan Horchata

Aline Cueni

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

5 from 5 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Soaking Time 8 hrs

Total Time 8 hrs 10 mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 4

Calories 111 kcal

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• ⅓ 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. 

Recommended Products

Vitamix Blender

Nut Milk Bag

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Vegan Horchata

Amount Per Serving

Calories 111 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g2%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Sodium 241mg10%

Potassium 51mg1%

Carbohydrates 24g8%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 9g10%

Protein 1g2%

Calcium 112mg11%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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