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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📖 Recipe
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.
Sue Chant says
Good texture but a bit bland tasting. I added some maple syrup to liven it up a bit. Next time will probably incorporate some almonds as mentioned by lapiz above.
Iosune says
Hi Sue! Oat milk is not as tasty as other plant milks, but feel free to add any ingredient you want 🙂
Jo says
Brilliant I've always hated using Tetra packs. This is cheap and better for the planet. Thank you
Iosune says
Hi Jo! You're so welcome 🙂 Have a nice day!
sandra mcnally says
Hi. I use a lot of oat milk so was delighted to find this recipe. I made it but find it’s not as creamy as the commercial one. Would decreasing the volume make it creamier or just thicker.
sandra mcnally says
Sorry, meant to put decreasing the volume of water
Iosune says
Hi Sandra! I'm not sure, I think it should be both, creamier and thicker. It depends on the store-bought oat milk you're used to, mine was as creamy as this one 🙂
Avigail says
I see your links for pulp recipes, but the recipe (at least the cookie one) doesn't call for pulp...what should I substitute the pulp for? It will be wetter than the oat flour...
Iosune says
Hi Avigail! You can adjust the recipe by using some pulp instead of some of the oats in the recipe, then add more or less liquid until you get the perfect consistency. Hope it helps!
FARIDA BANU says
Simply super. Really fantastic.
Iosune says
Hi Farida! Thanks a lot 🙂
Nasir says
Excrllent
Iosune says
Hi Nasir! Thanks a lot 🙂
Freddie says
Followed instructions, soaked for 3 hours. Tasted like cloudy water with no real substance, texture or flavour.
Iosune says
Hi Freddie! I'm so sorry the recipe didn't work for you, but this milk is really tasty. If you tell me more, I could help you. Have a nice day!
lapiz says
I combined the oats with some leftover almonds and the milk turned out great! I suggest using Agave Sweetener instead of sugar because the agave adds a unique taste similar to honey. I have found that it’s better to let the sweetener dissolve in the container for half an hour in the fridge instead of drinking it right away if you want it to taste the same every time. The oat milk was delicious and I am definitely making it again! Thank you.
Iosune says
Hi Lapiz! You're so welcome 🙂 Thank YOU for your valuable comment 🙂
Kim says
Do you know how to determine the nutrition information for this recipe?
Iosune says
Hi Kim! It's not easy, as you discard part of the oats...
Roxy says
Hi, So I made this and followed the directions... but it tasted really bad. 🙁 I don't know what I did wrong. Is the one you make naturally sweet? The one I made was really bitter.
Lapiz says
It was a little bit bitter for mine too. I used some agave sweetener to hide the bitterness and it turned out great. I recommend that.
Iosune says
Hi Lapiz! Thanks a lot for your comment 🙂
Iosune says
Hi Roxy! This milk shouldn't be bitter. What kind of oats did you use? You could try to wash really well the oats after soaking it and also add some sweetener to get a better taste. Hope it helps!
Daisy says
I have never tried oat milk before and I usually just buy prepackaged milk. I have recently bought a couple of canister of oats for $0.50 each and now I'm going to have to try this and compare the taste. Thank you for the recipe share.
Iosune says
Hi Daisy! You're so welcome 🙂 Hope you enjoy it!
Chaz says
Can I soak the oats in cows milk? And then rinse the oats?
Iosune says
Hi Chaz! You should use water, it's much healthier, cheaper and also cruelty-free 🙂
Laura says
Hi. Can the soaking oats be left on the counter or do they need to go in the fridge?
Iosune says
Hi Laura! You can leave it on the counter or in the fridge, you choose 🙂
Terri Anton says
Do you have a use for the oats afterwards?
Iosune says
Hi Terri! You can add it to your smoothies, soups, make burgers, cookies or these truffles: https://simpleveganblog.com/chocolate-hazelnut-truffles/ Hope you like them 🙂
Peter Hanson says
Why discard the water after soaking the oats,- why not just blend it as it isand then sieve off any bits?
Iosune says
Hi Peter! 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, so it’s better to discard the water. Have a nice day!
Julia says
I think you might consider reading up on this.
https://www.drweil.com/diet-nutrition/nutrition/are-phytates-bad-or-good/
Iosune says
Hi Julia! Thanks for your comment 🙂
teresa martin says
does it matter the types of oats ...steel or reular
Iosune says
Hi Teresa! Any type of oats is okay 🙂
Jay says
Hi!! I just want to say I found this recipe 3 weeks ago gave it a shot and OMG! I love it! Thank you! One thing I wanted to ask was when I’m making the oat milk (I have been experimenting A LOT with the recipe) when I add the 3 cups of water I also add 2 bananas with some sweetner not a lot and it comes out good just wondering if maybe you have something similar to that or anyone and if so is it correct the way I did it? Basically I want to add some other flavors to the oat milk
Iosune says
Hi Jay! I'm so glad you liked it 🙂 I've never added other ingredients to make this milk, so I can't help you, sorry. Have a nice day!