Quick Orgeat Syrup Recipe with Almond Milk

Orgeat is a classic bar syrup that's traditionally made with almonds, sugar, and a dash or either rosewater or orange flower water. Orgeat's uniquely rich, nutty, and slightly floral flavor has made it a notable ingredient in classic tiki cocktails like the Mai Tai and Saturn.

There are a few different ways to make orgeat, but the process usually involves toasting almonds and then soaking them for several hours before blending, straining and adding sugar. The whole process can take about a day to complete, leading many of us to just buy a bottle of the stuff from quality brands like Liber & Co.

However, it is possible to make an ultra quick version of orgeat syrup by skipping the time-consuming almond toasting and soaking steps and just using store bought almond milk! The key here is to use an almond milk that actually tastes like almonds, so choose wisely.

I'm not sure who's to credit for the first quick almond milk orgeat recipe, but I've based my recipe on this one by Roger Kramholz over on Epicurious.

Lightning-fast orgeat ingredients

You'll need just a handful of grocery store ingredients for this recipe. For the best flavor, choose high quality brands.

Almond milk

For this recipe, you'll need an unflavored, unsweetened almond milk. The stronger the roasty almond flavor, the better. I think that Califia, Almond Breeze Original and Pacific are the most almondy-tasting options. I've used Califia for this recipe.

Sugar

I like to use plain white table sugar or cane sugar for my orgeat, but some prefer the stronger flavors of a demerara or turbinado sugar. You can use whichever you prefer, but keep in mind that darker sugars will make the syrup much darker in color and shift the overall flavor of the syrup.

I think demerara sugar is a great option when making orgeat the traditional way because the roasty, toasty flavors are much stronger. Another option is to use half white sugar and half demerara sugar, which I recently tested and really enjoyed.

Almond extract

When making almond milk orgeat, the addition of almond extract is going to do the heavy lifting and amp up the almond flavor. Choose the best quality almond extract possible to avoid an artificial or cloying flavor. I used Watkins and thought it gave the syrup a good flavor. Epicurious has an interesting article about different almond extracts they've tested and rated.

Rosewater or orange blossom water (or both)

Some orgeat recipes use rosewater, some use orange blossom water, and some use a little of both. This comes down to personal preference and I do think that using both gives the best depth of flavor.

Rosewater and orange blossom water are hydrosols, meaning that they are the fragrant water that remains after the steam distillation process used in extracting essential oils.

For simplicity, and because rosewater is a little easier to find in average grocery stores, I'm using just rosewater for this batch. Both of these ingredients add lovely floral notes to the syrup without being overpowering.

Brandy, rum, or other liquor (optional)

A common addition to classic bar syrups like orgeat and grenadine is an ounce or two of alcohol. The liquor has two purposes: to aid in preservation and to add flavor. Brandy or cognac is a common addition to orgeat and it's my personal preference. For this recipe, I've skipped adding any alcohol to keep the recipe as quick and simple as possible.

How to make orgeat in five minutes

Now that you've assembled the ingredients, all you really have to do is stir everything together. To speed that process up, combine the almond milk and sugar in a small sauce pan on the stove over low heat. Stir frequently to help the sugar dissolve. This will take just a minute or two.

Remove the pan from the heat and allow the liquid to cool, if necessary. Stir in the almond extract and rosewater and you're done! Store your new almond milk orgeat in a glass bottle or jar in the refrigerator. It should stay fresh for at least two weeks.

Pro tip: It's optional, but adding a pinch of salt to the syrup while it's warm will really enhance its flavors.

If you like to make your own syrups, you might also like these other recipes:

• How to Make Grenadine
• The Complete Guide to Simple Syrup
• Blackberry Simple Syrup Recipe