Instant Pot Cherry Almond Butter Drink

Name: Instant Pot Cherry Almond Butter Drink
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3½ cups (840 ml) unsweetened almond milk; ¾ cup (115 g) dried cherries, unsweetened, roughly chopped; 3 tablespoons (48 g) natural almond butter, unsalted; 2 tablespoons (30 g) raw honey; ¾ teaspoon (3¾ ml) pure vanilla extract; pinch fine sea salt; to taste ground cinnamon (optional)

From the MyKitchenBank Kitchen

A silky-smooth, warming drink made in the Instant Pot by gently heating almond milk infused with tart dried cherries and creamy almond butter, sweetened with honey and vanilla. The pressure cooker coaxes deeper cherry flavor while keeping the texture perfectly creamy. Ready in 20 minutes—ideal for cold mornings or as a cozy evening treat.

Prep: 5 min
Cook: 5 min
Wait: 10 min
Total: 20 min
Makes: 4 servings (about 1 cup each)

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Steps

Before you start

Read the recipe start to finish so you know the total time.
Have almond milk chilled if you prefer a less-hot final drink.
If using unsweetened almond milk, you may want to increase honey by ½ teaspoon.
Gather all ingredients near the Instant Pot.

1
Combine liquids and cherries
- Pour 3½ cups (840 ml) almond milk into the Instant Pot.
- Add the ¾ cup (115 g) roughly chopped dried cherries.
- Stir briefly to submerge the cherries.
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Tip: Chop the cherries so they rehydrate and release flavor faster under pressure.
2
Pressure cook
- Close the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to Sealing.
- Press the Pressure Cook (or Manual) button and set the timer to 3 minutes on high pressure.
- The pot will take about 2 minutes to come to pressure.
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Ready when: Instant Pot beeps when pressure cooking is complete.
Tip: Do not skip coming to pressure; the time under pressure is what extracts the cherry flavor into the milk.
3
Natural release
- Once the beep sounds, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, then move the valve to Venting to quick-release any remaining pressure.
- Carefully open the lid.
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Ready when: Float indicator drops and lid opens safely.
Tip: Natural release is gentler than quick release and gives the drink a deeper cherry flavor.
4
Blend in almond butter
- Add the 3 tablespoons (48 g) almond butter, 2 tablespoons (30 g) honey, ¾ teaspoon (3.75 ml) vanilla extract, and a pinch of sea salt to the hot liquid.
- Using an immersion blender, blend on medium speed for 60–90 seconds until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy.
- If you don't have an immersion blender, carefully transfer the contents to a regular blender in batches, blend until smooth, and return to the pot.
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Ready when: Drink is velvety, with no visible almond butter streaks; cherries are suspended throughout.
Tip: Blending while still hot helps incorporate the almond butter smoothly and prevents lumps from forming.
5
Strain (optional) and serve
- If you prefer a completely smooth drink without cherry pulp or seeds, pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a serving pitcher.
- Otherwise, ladle directly into mugs.
- Top with a light dusting of cinnamon if desired.
- Serve immediately.
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Tip: Straining removes seeds but also some cherry pulp; skip it if you like a thicker, more textured drink.

Good to know

Tips

For a thicker, more dessert-like drink, add 1 extra tablespoon of almond butter and reduce the almond milk to 3¼ cups (780 ml).
If your almond butter is chunky or thick, soften it for 10 seconds in the microwave before blending so it incorporates smoothly.
The drink will separate slightly if left to sit; give it a stir before each sip to keep the almond butter and cherries evenly distributed.
For a cold version, chill the blended drink completely, then shake well before pouring over ice.

Make ahead

You can prepare this drink up to 4 hours ahead, cover, and reheat gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat or in the Instant Pot on sauté mode, stirring occasionally. Do not boil.

Storage & reheating

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring often, or in the microwave in 30-second intervals. Do not store unrefrigerated for more than 2 hours. This drink does not freeze well due to the almond milk base separating upon thawing.

Substitutions

unsweetened almond milk → oat milk or cashew milk. Use the same amount. Oat milk adds creaminess; cashew milk is silkier. Avoid very thin coconut milk, which may make the drink watery.
natural almond butter, unsalted → tahini or sunflower seed butter. Use the same amount. Tahini gives a nuttier, slightly earthy flavor; sunflower seed butter is mild and equally creamy. Avoid peanut butter, which overpowers the cherry.
dried cherries, unsweetened → dried cranberries or dried strawberries. Use the same amount. Cranberries are more tart; strawberries are sweeter. Both will give a similar infused flavor.
raw honey → maple syrup or agave nectar. Use the same amount. Maple syrup adds warmth; agave is neutral. Reduce amount by ½ teaspoon if using a very sweet alternative.