This easy maple-date chestnut milk recipe is made from fresh-roasted chestnuts, dates, water, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt. That’s it! If you’re a local food lover, it makes a beautiful alternative to hot chocolate for warm-weather sipping by the fire.
Chesnuts are the ultimate winter season crop, a lovely treat to wait for during the onset of cold weather. The lilting expression “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…” features prominently in so many classic American Christmas songs because chestnuts used to be a staple crop in North America, before a series of blights and over-harvesting at the turn of the last century dwindled the number of native chestnut trees bearing fruit across the continent.
Today, chestnuts are having a revival among local food lovers and native food enthusiasts in the States, because buying them locally is a now rare privilege and also a great way to support the forest and local foodshed in your area.
And chestnuts are SO much better when fresh-roasted than when purchased in a wet package– which, if you are in North America, typically means they are shipped from abroad. (Usually from China.)
Instead, we encourage you to seek out fresh, local chestnuts (more on that below) to make your down dairy-free nut milk. Roast them in the oven using this easy technique, then follow our easy chestnut milk recipe below. All you need is a blender!
Ultimately, making chestnut milk is a great way to use this often underrated seasonal crop– and doing so when it’s cold out is a wonderfully warming, winter tradition. Serve it to guests for the ultimate holiday party flex, or make it for yourself on a cold, snowy evening. It’s lovely either way.
Enjoy!
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Use Fresh Chestnuts! Here’s Where To Get Them
I get my chestnuts locally from Virginia Chestnuts— if you’re in the DMV region, this is a great option as they ship! Chestnut Farms are few and far between on the East Coast, but you can also ask around at your local farmers market or CSA pickup to see if anyone near you sells them direct-to-consumer. (Virginia Chestnuts does, and they ship around the country, as well.)
To make chestnut milk, you’ll first need to roast your chestnuts in the oven. This basically involves soaking scored chestnuts in water for one hour, then roasting for 25-30 minutes at 425 degrees F.
Then, steam the chestnuts by wrapping them in a dishcloth for 10-20 minutes immediately after taking them out of the oven. After that, they are good to go once you peel off the shells. And your kitchen will smell divine!
Once cooled, use fresh chestnuts to make this easy chestnut milk recipe:
Easy Maple-Date Chestnut Milk Recipe
- 5-6 whole fresh-roasted chestnuts
- 1 date (or more, to taste)
- 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 cup water
- pinch of salt
- Optional: 1/8 teaspoon turmeric and/or 1/8 teaspoon cardamom, which makes it very seasonal and wintery; these spices are great if you’re looking to make a hot chocolate alternative or another warm winter drink
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients together, then pour into a saucepan and heat until warm. Serve chestnut milk warm for the best experience.
Notes/FAQ
- You don’t need to strain this milk, though you can if you want the smoothest possible pulp-free experience. To strain, pour it through a coffee filter or cheesecloth before serving.
- This easy chestnut milk recipe can be modified with whatever spices you like– cinnamon, turmeric, cardamom, etc– to make a comforting winter drink that seasonal food lovers will adore.
- Chestnut milk keeps 2-3 days fresh in the fridge. The milk will settle and separate after a few hours in the fridge, so just give it a shake to reincorporate for future use. You can also freeze it for future use, but you should heat it directly to serve as it won’t last once thawed. (If you want to use it as coffee creamer, you can freeze it in ice cube trays and pop cubes directly into hot coffee or a morning beverage of choice. Enjoy!)
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Related: Try our recipe for Acorn Squash Pie, A Cool Pumpkin Pie Alternative that’s great for winter holidays.
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