The $2 Aldi Grocery Staple I Use Every Single Morning

Almond milk is ancient among the new varieties of plant-based milk. Sure, soy milk paved the way, but almond milk changed the minds of even the most devout dairy drinkers. Luckily for me, alternative milks expanded in the dairy case at the same time I started to seek out lactose-free options. My taste buds adjusted to the alt milk, and the differences between brands became startlingly apparent. To my surprise (and my wallet’s delight), Aldi’s Friendly Farms Unsweetened Vanilla Almondmilk has become my go-to brand.

Aldi’s almond milk comes in several different varieties: unsweetened plain or vanilla, sweetened plain or vanilla, organic unsweetened vanilla, and even chocolate. Because I rarely add my almond milk to savory dishes or beverages, my preference is the unsweetened vanilla version. With a consistency similar to 2% milk, this almond milk is ideal for adding to my morning coffee.

It’s subtly sweet — even without the added sugar — and carries a hint of almond flavor. If what’s not in the almond milk is important to you, Aldi has you covered. This almond milk is vegan, dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and carrageenan-free. While other almond milk brands may also check a lot of these boxes, they can’t beat the price. At just $1.89 for a half-gallon, Aldi’s unsweetened vanilla almond milk is a fraction what some of the other name brands cost.

Coffee isn’t the only thing almond milk is good for. Almond milk can be used in recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and, let’s not forget, dessert. And because it’s so affordable, you might want to grab a half-gallon of the unsweetened plain almond milk, too. Here’s how to use it.

Unsweetened Vanilla

• Breakfast: Pancakes, chia pudding, smoothies
• Dessert: Carrot cake, almond tahini cake, ice cream

Unsweetened Plain

• Lunch: Savory muffins, salads
• Dinner: Mac and cheese

What Aldi staples have you completely fallen for? Tell us in the comments.