Ready to learn how to make oat milk? It's creamy, healthy, and made with 4 ingredients in just 15 minutes. It tastes so good!
Here you'll learn how to make oat milk, one of the most popular kinds of plant-based milk. It’s light, tasty, and lactose-free, but it’s hard to find store-bought oat milk that is not full of sugar and chemicals.
By making it at home, you’ll make sure that your drink contains only natural and healthy ingredients, and it’ll also be much more affordable! Besides, it's a great way to start switching from dairy milk to plant-based milk.
To make this homemade oat milk you only need 5 simple and easy to get ingredients and it’s ready in just 15 minutes, which is awesome.
It’s perfect to make plenty of other recipes and you can enjoy it plain or sweetened. Whether you drink it hot or cold, this healthy, soft, and delicious oat milk needs to be a must in your meals!
How to make oat milk - Step by step
- Soak the oats in water for at least 30 minutes.
- Drain the oats and rinse them.
- Add the oats, 4 cups of clean water (1 liter) and all the remaining ingredients to a blender (photo 1) and blend until smooth (photo 2).
- Strain the milk using a cheesecloth, a strainer, a napkin or a nut milk bag (photos 3 and 4).
- Serve your oat milk hot or cold.
Pro tips
- You can use 1-2 Medjool dates (double the quantity if they are Deglet Nour) or any other sweetener if you like your milk sweet.
- I usually make unsweetened oat milk so I can use it to make savory and sweet recipes.
- Salt is optional, but it enhances the flavor.
- To make the milk, use just 3 cups of water (750 ml), try it and then add more water until you get the taste and thickness you’re looking for.
- Oat milk goes well with everything. Drink it plain, sweetened, with cocoa, or even add it to your coffee or tea to make a healthy and delicious hot beverage for the cold winter days!
- Use the leftover oat pulp to bake spectacular vegan donuts, vegan oatmeal cookies or even make energy balls or truffles. You can also add it to your smoothies to incorporate more fiber into your diet.
What is oat milk?
Oat milk is a beverage made from oats and water. It is 100% plant-based and dairy-free, and it works as a great substitute for cow's milk.
Is oat milk good for you?
Yes, it is! Especially if you make it at home, that way you can make sure to only use whole and healthy ingredients and avoid artificial additives and preservatives. Besides, it will not raise your cholesterol levels.
Is oat milk gluten-free?
Oats are naturally gluten-free, but they sometimes can be contaminated with gluten. So if you have gluten sensitivity or suffer from gluten intolerance, remember to buy certified gluten-free oats to make this recipe.
Looking for more plant milk recipes?
Did you make this oat milk recipe?
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How To Make Oat Milk
Ingredients
- 1 cup oats
- 3-4 cups water, I make my oat milk using 4 cups or 1 liter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
- 1-2 tablespoon maple syrup or 1-2 Medjool dates, optional
- A pinch of salt, optional
Instructions
- Soak the oats in water for at least 30 minutes. I usually soak them overnight, but that’s not necessary.
- Drain the oats and rinse them. Discard the soaking water.
- Add the oats, 3 to 4 cups of clean water (750 ml-1 liter) and all the remaining ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Add more or less water depending on how thick you like your oat milk.
- Strain the oat milk using a cheesecloth, a strainer, a napkin or a nut milk bag.
- Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Notes
- You can use 1-2 Medjool dates (double the quantity if they are Deglet Nour) or any other sweetener if you like your milk sweet.
- I usually make unsweetened oat milk so I can use it to make savory and sweet recipes.
- Salt is optional, but it enhances the flavor.
- To make this oat milk, use 3 cups of water (750 ml), try it and then add more water until you get the taste and thickness you’re looking for.
- Use the pulp to bake spectacular vegan donuts, vegan oatmeal cookies, or even make energy balls or truffles. You can also add it to your smoothies to incorporate more fiber into your diet.
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published in March of 2020, but was republished with new photos, step-by-step instructions, and tips in February of 2022.
Antony says
Just wondering why you drain and rinse the soaked oats, rather than just blending it as is? I'm thinking there is probably good nutrients in that soaking water.
I could make a batch both ways and see what the difference is, but the wise learn from other people's experience 🙂
Just threw yet another tetra pak in the bin - I can't keep doing this!
Marc says
Question: do you use whole oats or oatmeal?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Marc! Oatmeal 🙂 Enjoy it!
Sandra Capano says
I have just made it this morning.I certainly won't be buying any more carton drinks again.It's absolutely delicious.
Thank you for the recipe
Iosune Robles says
Hi Sandra! Thanks for your kind comment 🙂
Hannah says
Just wondering how long it will keep in the fridge?
Fiddling around with blenders on weekday mornings is not appealing.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Hannah! You can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days 🙂
Linda Olander says
which type of oats do you recommend?
Iosune Robles says
Hi! Maybe instant oats 🙂
M says
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! I just found it and plan on using it as a much cheaper alternative to buying store bought almond milk. It's just too pricey needing so many store bought ones. I can also use this make vegan yogurt that I just got a starter culture for. Will it last only 5 days as yogurt too?
Thanks again!
Iosune Robles says
Hi! I haven't tried it myself so I'm not sure if it will last 5 days as yogurt too. I'm so sorry!
Kat says
Hi, I tried this recipe using 1 cup of oats and 3 cups of water only. It has come out very thin. Any suggestions on how to make the oat milk thicker? So it is more like shop bought oat milk. Would I just change the ratio to have more oats or is there something else I could add in to thicken it up?
Thanks
Iosune Robles says
Hi Kat! You only need to add more water until you get the thickness you’re looking for 🙂
Carmen Braun says
It's great that you offer suggestions on what to do with the pulp at the end, but the recipe links don't call for pulp, just oats 🙁 it would be great if there's more information on how to modify those recipes to work well with pulp, because all that extra liquid in them must require balancing out somehow!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Carmen! You can add the pulp to those recipes!
J says
Hi what about storage where do you store the milk if you don't want to use it straight away? And how long does it last before going bad?
Iosune Robles says
Hi! You can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or try to freeze it 🙂
Teyler says
Just a heads up! You mention that this oat milk can be enjoyed hot or cold. Store bought brands often have an added anti coagulant in them that stops them from thickening when heated, but homemade oat milk does not. Homemade oat milk will get thick and goopy when added to hot beverages or when used to make puddings or custards. I haven't made your exact recipe, but I make my own oat milk at home and the recipe is similar. I'd imagine that your milk probably thickens as well seeing as you only soak the oats vs heat them.
Iosune Robles says
Hi! I've heated it several times and it never thickens!
Lynne says
Hey teyler - I use it in my black spicy tea - adding it pretty soon after after pouring on boiling water and it doesn't go gloopy.
Lynne Rees says
I love it! The soaking, draining and rinsing is a good idea. I used a pinch of salt and a little bit of vanilla essence. And I mixed the leftover pulp with chopped pecans, chopped dates and maply syrup and it's currently baking in the oven. It may not be a good enough biscuit but it might crumble up for granola.
Iosune Robles says
Hi! Sounds so good 🙂
Annette says
How long does homemade oat milk last in the fridge?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Annette! You can see it in step 5 (instructions) 🙂