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.
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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.
Linda says
The easiest way I found to strain oat or nut milks is to use the foot end of cut off panty hose or stocking. It strains more quickly and easily then a nut bag.
Iosune says
Hi Linda! Thanks a lot for your comment 🙂
Diane Smith says
Thanks for this nylon hose tip!!! I was not going to be able to find a commercial product. We only have one store in these 'sticks'. But I do have hose with collapsed elastic which I was saving for paint straining.
Iosune says
Hi Diane! Hope you enjoy it 🙂
Winky Skevington says
Hi can you use super suave oats? i.e.: not rolled or otherwise, its almost like flour, can I use it? Thank you!
Winky
Iosune says
Hi Winky! I haven't use it, so I don't know, sorry!
Marisol says
I was so missing regular milk, but this is a very good alternative. Just made it this morning and at first the flavor was ok, but then I add some cocoa powder and stevia and it was great. Thanks for making it so simple!
Iosune says
Hi Marisol! You're so welcome 🙂 Have a beautiful day!
Heenie says
Hi Iosune,
Thanks for this as the oat milk turned out great! However, I was just wondering if you had anymore tips. For instance, I strained the mixture with a napkin and it took ages for all the liquid the come out (once most of it had gone through, I lost patience and poured the rest away). So do you have a particular method for straining that's time effective? Also, I used the minimal amount of water - 750ml - but the milk seemed quite thin. I used whole grain oat flakes so could this be the problem?
Iosune says
Hi Heenie! I just use a nut milk bag and it tastes some time. The amount of water may vary depending on the oats you use, probably you need more water if you're using whole grain oat flakes 🙂 Have a nice day!
Jessica Candelario says
I enjoyed this recipe. Aside of being fast, easy and economical, it resembles the taste of soy milk, which I enjoy very much, without paying the extra $$.
Iosune says
Hi Jessica! So glad you liked it 😀
Fuz says
hi! do you have any idea about the calories here? of 1 cup/250 ml prepared oat milk... no sweetener, just as you have prepared. would like to try it out. thanks!
Iosune says
Hi Fuz! I'm so sorry, but I don't know as most of the oats are discarted. Have a nice day!
Maria says
If using quick oats, and soaking overnight with lemon or ACV, do I still need to throw the water?
What happenst to overnight oat breakfast where oats are soked overnight with yogurt?
Iosune says
Hi Maria! I prefer to discard it, but it's up to you. You can make overnight oats and eat the water of liquid, but it's a better choice to discard it if you can. Have a nice day!
Lucy says
Thanks for this. Can you really heat it up though? I read on other recipes for oat milk that it would congeal when heated.....
Oat milk from the shops you can heat no problem but I assumed they did something high technology wise to allow that.
Iosune says
Hi Lucy! Yes, you can. I think it depends on the type or brand of oats you're using. We shared a similar oat milk recipe in our Spanish blog a few years ago and many readers have heated it up successfully. Have a nice day!
Shari says
I would like to see your Spanish blog. What is the address for that one? Gracias para ayudarme.
Iosune says
Hi Shari! It's https://danzadefogones.com/ 🙂 De nada!
Dina Belous says
Can use use steel cut oats?
Iosune says
Hi Dina! Yes, you can 🙂
Roger Nehring says
Why throw away the soaking water? What are you soaking out? It sounds like a waste of water and nutrients to me.
Iosune says
Hi Roger! It's important to soak grains to soften, increase digetibility and eliminate phytic acid, which is an antinutrient that binds important minerals preventing your body from fully absorbing them. You need to discard the water. Have a nice day!
Roger Nehring says
https://nutritionfacts.org/video/new-mineral-absorption-enhancers-found/
Iosune says
Thanks a lot for your comment 😀
David says
Great ideas Folks. I have oat porridge made with oat Mill nearly every day. I use vanilla when cooking and add loads of home made jam
Iosune says
Hi David! Thanks a lot 🙂 Sounds great!
Diane Murral says
Thank you, Roger, for the very helpful link.
Iosune says
Hi Diane! Thanks for your comment 🙂
Ginny says
https://nutritionfacts.org/video/phytates-for-the-treatment-of-cancer/
Iosune says
Hi Ginny! Thanks a lot for your comment 🙂
Nicholas says
Just wanted to say thanks Roger and Ginny for the links to relevant nutritionfacts.org videos. That cleared things up for me.
I love that site because they show, and help you understand, the research. There are far too many "experts" out there happy to just tell us how to eat, and their advice varies tremendously. No thanks -- show me the research, please. And NF vets the research for study size, who paid for it, was there a placebo, was it in rats or humans, in a petri dish or inside the body, was it observational or interventional, was it cross-sectional or longitudinal, etc., and helps us understand the significance.
Iosune and Alberto, thanks for all the great tips in your blog!
Iosune says
Hi Nicholas! You're so welcome 🙂
Wanda Adolf says
Can I use the soaking water to water my vegetable garden?
Iosune says
Hi Wanda! I'm not sure, but I think it's okay 🙂
Jo says
Hi - it may be an idea to include additional information why it is important to discard the soaking water - phytic acid prevents minerals from being properly absorbed by the body, for example iron and soaked oats release phytic acid that is why it's important to discard the soaking water - this information is all in the public domain
Iosune says
Hi Jo! Thanks a lot for your comment 🙂
Angela C says
Can the soaking water and oats be used for anything besides compost?? Thanks!
Iosune says
Hi Angela! Have you read the full post? It's important to soak grains to soften, increase digetibility and eliminate phytic acid, which is an antinutrient that binds important minerals preventing your body from fully absorbing them. You need to discard the water. There are so many recipes you can make with the pulp (read the full post). Have a nice day!
Angela says
I thought I read all of the post. Where are recipes for the pulp. Sorry!
Iosune says
Hi Angela! Read the third paragraph: "There are so many recipes you can make with the pulp, we usually add it to our smoothies to get more fiber, but you can also use it to make cookies, truffles or whatever you want." You can find the links there. Have a nice day!
Fran says
When I add the clean water do I have to let it sit again for 30 minutes?
Iosune says
Hi Fran! No, you just need to blend the water with the oats, that's all 🙂
Kate Hillier says
When you say blender - stir up, or use a blender? <3
Iosune says
Hi Kate! I use a blender 🙂
Jill Cobb says
I misunderstood that too. I didn't realize you were saying use a blender! No wonder mine didn't turn out 🙂
Iosune says
Hi Jill! Thanks a lot for your comment 🙂