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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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.
Richard says
What a find! We ran out of oat milk over the Easter weekend so my wife and I followed your really simple recipe - great results, and so simple!
My wife is using the remaining pulp as an exfoliant wash as I type!
Iosune says
Hi Richard! So glad you liked it 🙂 I use oats mixed with water as an exfoliant, but I've never used the pulp, it's a great idea!
Haelim Son says
Hello, I now am trying to not to drink cow milk and changing to plant based milk. Thank you for your vegan recipes. I also read your rice milk recipe and I have a question. When you make rice milk, you did not strain rice and if you have power blender. But for oat milk, why you strained it? Or if I have power blender, don`t I have to strain oat?
Thank you again and surely I will try to make plant base milk. At first, I was thinking that I might buy from supermarket. However, I checked the ingredients of it and I didn`t like it.
Iosune says
Hi Haelim! Cooked rice is softer than oats, so the rice milk has a softer texture, so I don't strain it, but it's up to you, you could straing them both if you want. If you do have a powerful blender, try the oat milk and if you like the texture, you don't need to strain it either. Hope it helps!
walter arango says
great great,
Miss
Iosune says
Thanks a lot Walter 🙂
Jhazz says
Gonna try this tonight. Thanks for sharing!
Jhazz says
Can i use this for my diet?
Iosune says
Hi Jhazz! Of course, this milk is super healthy 🙂
Jen says
I love this but when I put in coffee it sinks to the bottom and becomes sludge. Any tips to avoid this? I shake before use every time. Thanks
Iosune says
Hi Jen! I've never made this milk to make coffee, so I'm not sure. How did you strain the milk? A plant milk bag works better than a strainer. You could also add more water to the milk. Hope it works!
Rodrigo Vilches says
Why you discard the water after soaking the oatmeal there? what is the reason?
Iosune says
Hi Rodrigo! 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. It's better to discard the water. Have a nice day!
Haydee says
Hi, i tried this and the result was thick and slimy. I rinsed well using a sieve and did soak for 30 minutes and added 4 cups water. What am I doing wrong?
Iosune says
Hi Haydee! I'm so sorry the recipe didn't work for you. Try to use other brand or add more water/use less oats. Hope it helps!
lapiz says
I had the same results of it being thick and slimy, and I just kept filtering it multiple times. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about and you didn’t do anything wrong. Also to add on to extra filtering after add some more water, it may make the milk thin but it’s still better than it being slimy.
Iosune says
Hi Lapiz! Try to was really well the oats after soaking it and add more water to the blender if needed. Hope it helps!
Clare says
I made this for the first time this morning and this is a game changer! Thank you so much for posting the recipe! This is going to be my go to now!
Iosune says
Hi Clare! You're so welcome 😀 So glad you enjoyed it!
Nancy B. says
Have you tried to make oat milk yogurt using your soy yogurt recipe and the oat milk as an alternative? Curious if that would work.
Iosune says
Hi Nancy! No, I don't, sorry!
Jane says
Hi!
How long do you think it would last in the freezer? I would like to make huge amounts and store then in the freezer and defrost the milk in the microwave everytime I'd like to drink it?
Do you think that it would be a bad idea? I'm not patient so waiting for it to strain will be dreading for me 🙁 love your blog!!
Iosune says
Hi Jane! I've never frozen it myself, so I can't help you, sorry! Thanks a lot 🙂
Ann-Christin Thompson says
Hi - do you squeeze the last drops out of the oats or do you just leave it to stop dripping? Thanks
Iosune says
Hi Ann-Christin! Sometimes I squeeze them, sometimes don't, you choose! Have a nice day!
Miriam says
Quick question, do you dehydrate the pulp before adding it to smoothies? Or how do you do it?
Iosune says
Hi Miriam! No, I don't, I add it fresh 🙂