Make your own homemade Oat Milk in less than 20 minutes from start to finish. My oat milk recipe is so quick and easy. I love that it's also nut-free, low in fat, and really budget friendly!
Two words : Oat Milk. This homemade oat milk recipe is a game-changer.
You've all heard of, and no doubt use all kinds of plant-based milks, like cashew milk and almond milk, but did you know that you can make your own milk from oats?
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Oat milk benefits
Reasons I'm loving this oat milk recipe:
- It's very low in calories and virtually fat free
- It's totally cholesterol free
- It's perfect for people who want to avoid dairy but are allergic to nuts
- Children tend to prefer it over other plant-based milks because it's so neutral and creamy with a natural slight sweetness
- It's really quick and easy to make
- It's easy to blend even if you don't have a very powerful blender
- Vegan, dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free and gluten-free if you use certified gluten-free oats
- Naturally thick and creamy
- Oats are very sustainable to grow so a very eco-friendly choice
- Oats are nutritious. See this article for details about their nutritional value and health benefits.
- Great in tea and coffee and does not curdle
What is oat milk?
Oat Milk is a popular dairy-free milk and is what happens when you soak oats in water, blend the mixture, and then strain it. The resulting milk-water is smooth, creamy, very slightly sweet and has a fuller texture than a lot of other plant-based milks. It's also happens to be really budget friendly to make because oats are very inexpensive.
Nut-based milks can get pretty expensive to make and buy, but this is oat milk recipe is ridiculously cheap to make. That's why I tend to use it in most recipes that call for milk, like cakes, muffins, pancakes etc.
A lot of vegan milks are nut-based and they take a little while to make because you have to soak the nuts for at least a few hours or overnight before you start. Oat Milk is different. You only need to soak the oats for about 15 minutes. Then you can jump right in and make it. You're talking 20 minutes tops from start to finish.
The number of times this Oat Milk recipe has saved me when I have been about to make something and realized I have no milk in the fridge is unbelievable.
We all do that from time to time, right? But as long as you have some rolled oats in the pantry, you are never more than 20 minutes away from having some homemade plant-based milk.
About to make some Vegan Banana Pancakes and realize you're out of milk? No worries! Make some homemade Oat milk!
Ingredient & equipment notes
This Oat Milk recipe is very quick and easy to make. Here is what you need:
- oats
- water
- optional add-ins such as a date, a pinch of salt and some vanilla
- a sieve or nut milk bag (I only use a sieve)
- a blender
How to make oat milk
(For detailed measurements and instructions, see the printable recipe card).
And this is how it's you make it in just a few easy steps:
Step 1: Soak the oats but not for long (nothing about this process is long!)
Step 2: Rinse the oats well
Step 3: Add the soaked oats to a blender with the other ingredients and blend until smooth
Step 4: Strain through a sieve, nut milk bag or cheese cloth and decant into a bottle/container of choice and refrigerate.
Success tips
- I recommend straining this Oat Milk at least twice. Three times is best if you have time.
- Adjust the thickness/thinness of the milk by increasing or reducing the water used when you blend it. You can make it exactly how you like it. When made really thick and creamy it's very like store-bought creamer.
- Don't over-blend. This is particularly of note if you have a high powered blender like a Blendtec or Vitamix because they are so powerful and produce quite a lot of heat. The heat can cause the milk to turn slimy.
- Some separation will occur during storage. That is normal with homemade milk because there are no emulsifiers added like in store-bought plant-based milk. Simply shake well before using.
- This milk works really well when added to hot drinks but do not try heating it independently with a steam wand or any other method, for instance when making lattes, hot chocolate etc. When heated it becomes very thick, very quickly and ends up unsuitable for use in drinks.
- My oat milk recipe can easily be adjusted to make smaller or larger amounts to suit your usage.
- If you are making the milk for use in savoury recipes, don't add the optional vanilla and date.
How to avoid slimy oat milk
My top tips for avoiding slimy oat milk are:
- Use cold water when soaking and blending. Heat is more likely to make it slimy. Think about what happens when you make oatmeal as it warms up.
- Do not over-blend. High-speed blenders produce heat as their motor runs and warm the liquid as it blends.
- Strain at least twice.
- Let the milk run freely through the sieve or nut milk bag. Don't squeeze it. By squeezing you will release more starch which is what makes the milk slimy.
Ways to adapt this recipe
- Add ¼ to ½ a teaspoon of ground cinnamon or pumpkin spice along with the date and vanilla when blending
- Add some cocoa powder or cacao (about 2 tablespoons should be about right) along with the optional dates and vanilla to make chocolate milk
- Use coffee instead of water to make the oat milk and add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder to make a mocha flavour milk
- Add some fresh or frozen berries when blending to make a delicious fruity milk
- Add 1 teaspoon of turmeric, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of black pepper, plus a couple of dates or a dash of maple syrup for sweetness
- Use cold chai tea instead of water to make the milk, and add a dash of maple syrup or a couple of dates to sweeten
How to use oat milk
Homemade oat milk is perfect for using in baked goods, smoothies, on cold cereals like vegan granola for breakfast and for making overnight oats, Bircher Muesli or cold drinks like shakes.
I don't recommend you use oat milk for making hot sauces or drinks like lattes or hot chocolate because as it heats up it thickens a lot and could become a little slimy. You can however add a dash of it to tea and coffee made with water.
What to do with oat milk pulp
When you make this oat milk recipe you will be left with some oat pulp. There are a few ways you can use it:
- Make my oat pulp chocolate chip oatmeal cookies
- Add to smoothies
- Add to oatmeal
- Use a dehydrator or spread out thinly on a baking tray and bake in a low oven until completely dry then use in granola recipes or blend up into flour
- compost it
Recipe FAQs
I get asked these questions about making my oat milk recipe a lot, so thought it would be useful to have them all in one place:
Oats become slimy when they get wet. By discarding the soaking water and rinsing them well before making the milk, you wash off the slime. If you do not discard the water and rinse the oats well then your milk will be slimy. I use the discarded water to water my plants.
Oat milk will last for 3 - 4 days in the fridge.
This is completely normal. Because it is homemade it doesn't contain emulsifiers like storebought oat milk. Simply give it a good shake before serving.
You can use certified gluten-free oats if you need your oat milk to be gluten-free. If you are sensitive to even gluten-free oats then I don't recommend you make this beverage.
Want more great vegan dairy alternatives?
For more great vegan dairy alternatives, check out these very popular reader favourite recipes:
📖 Recipe
Oat Milk Recipe
Author:
Ingredients
- 1 cup / 90 g rolled oats , see recipe notes if you only have steel cut oats
- 4 cups / 960 mls cold water , plus extra for soaking
- 1 - 2 medjool dates , (optional for sweetness)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract , (optional)
- 1 small pinch salt , (optional)
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add the oats to a large bowl or jug and cover with cold water. Leave to soak for 15 minutes then drain them through a sieve over a sink and either discard the soaking water or catch it in a container and use it to water your plants.
- Rinse the oats very well under cold running water then add them to a blender with the optional vanilla, dates and salt.
- Cover with around 3 cups / 720 mls cold water then blend until you can't see the oats anymore. In a high powered blender it shouldn't take more than 20 to 30 seconds. Don't blend it for too long as the heat from the blender can make the milk thicken or turn a little slimy.
- Check the thickness. It will likely be quite thick like cream consistency. Add enough extra water to get it to the thickness that you like and give it a quick pulse in between additions. If you are using it as a coffee creamer then it's nice left pretty thick. For other things it's better thinner.
- Strain the milk 2 or 3 times through a sieve. You can use a nut milk bag if you have one but it isn't necessary. If you use a nut milk bag straining once will be sufficient. Once strained pour into a bottle or jar and keep refrigerated.
NOTES
NUTRITION
Nutritional information is provided for convenience & as a courtesy. The data is a computer generated estimate so should be used as a guide only.
Gae says
Hi I've just tried this...I'm trying to find something I can use when I'm away(an island) as buying 'milk alternatives' or local milk(not very good!) is expensive! I really didn't mind the look or texture (?) but I found it smelled like I had oatmeal in my tea! Does one get used to the smell?? Otherwise...great alternative to highly processed & overpriced 'milks'!
A Virtual Vegan says
It's made from only oats and water so there's no getting away from the fact that it's going to smell like oats. I don't drink tea with milk in it, but in coffee I don't find it noticeable. Maybe you would prefer nut-based milks?
Adrian says
Love the fact that people leave feedback and questions and you respond! Gonna try this (sorry, annoys me when people just say gonna try it but there's more!) - have you tried this in your butter recipe? Hoping 2 birds with one stone and a cheap option!
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Adrian. I make it my mission to respond to all comments, even if it takes me hours. It's something I think is really important.
I have made my butter with the oat milk and it's fine. The only downside is that the oat milk doesn't stay fresh for longer than 3 days, 4 days max. So the butter doesn't either when you use it to make it. If you want it to last a couple of weeks in the fridge it's best to use store bought milk rather than homemade. Having said that, if you are able to freeze the excess butter that would solve the problem. I freeze mine in silicone ice cube trays because I don't use much of it. Then I just pop out a cube whenever I need some. Hope that helps!
Mark Homer says
For soaking, how long is not long: For those wary of phytates this is not trivial--otherwise, why mention it at all?
Nice, relaxed presentation generally.
A Virtual Vegan says
Full details, including soaking time, are given in the recipe at the end of the post.
Alicia says
Straight out of the blender this tastes amazing! I'm not sure what I did wrong though because the morning after I made the oat milk I used it in cereal and it had an incredibly slimy texture. I rinsed the pats thoroughly and put the milk through a sieve 3 times - is there anything else I could have done incorrectly?
A Virtual Vegan says
It doesn't sound like you did anything wrong. It does go a little slimy when left sitting overnight. It's one of the downsides of oat milk. It shouldn't be too bad though and once you give it a good shake it should be ok to use again. One thing I have learnt from readers when making this, is if you blend it for too long and it gets warm in the blender it can make it slimier. With modern high speed blenders this can happen easily if you aren't careful. Maybe that's the case here?
Toni says
Does the soak water have any other negatives to it besides slimy?can it be used as base for cooking (stews..etc.)any nutrients in it ?
A Virtual Vegan says
I have no idea about how many nutrients are left in it. I'm sure it could be used in cooking if you wanted to. I just water my plants with mine.
Stacie says
I just made this!! :) So cheap, and a great dairy free alternative! It tastes pretty good too. I am freezing some so I wonder if it keeps well in the freezer. If not, I buy my oats in bulk (.99/lb) so I can quickly make more. I also really love making my own rice milk so this is another great option. Thanks a ton for the recipe!
A Virtual Vegan says
That's awesome Stacie! I haven't actually tried freezing it. I would imagine it would be ok though with a real good shake. Thanks so much for stopping by to leave feedback. I really appreciate it!
Margie says
What did I do wrong? I have a vitamix and followed the instructions, but I didn't have any pulp left really after straining through my nut milk bag. Did I pulverize it too much? I haven't tasted it yet, it's in the fridge getting cold now. It looks great though.
A Virtual Vegan says
Maybe your blender is much better than my blender and made the oaty bits so small you had no pulp? At least there's no waste! I have a Blendtec. I have never tried this in Vitamix. I hope you enjoy it once it's chilled!
Shari Denker says
Just curious, I’d think the soaking liquid would be both flavorful and nutritious......why dump it?
A Virtual Vegan says
Oats become slimy when they get wet. By discarding the soaking water and rinsing them well before making the milk, you wash off the slime. If you do not discard the water and rinse the oats well then your milk will be slimy.
Betty says
Looking forward to making this recipe but I noticed that your ingredients call for 4 cups of water, plus more for soaking. But your directions say add the rinsed oats to 3 cups of water. Can you please comment on which is correct? Thank you!
A Virtual Vegan says
4 cups of water is the maximum you will need to make the milk. You start with 3 cups, blend, then I explain to add more to get it to the thickness you want. It's different for everyone. Some people like it thick, some like it thin, so you might use the extra cup, you might not. The soaking water isn't included in the quantity. Hope that helps!
Colin Pendlebury says
You have made my day....about a year ago I decided to stop using dairy and started using (relatively expensive) shop bought oat milk for my tea and porridge. So far so good but the idea of being able to make it at home is something I would never have thought of.... until now. Keep up the good work, it is very much appreciated.
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Colin. Comments like this make my day too!
Angel Karing says
I made this!!!! Thanks so much for this recipe, I tried it in my coffee a it would be a great creamer if I ran out and had to make some. I used it in my raisin Bran muffins instead of reg milk, A+++
A Virtual Vegan says
That's awesome Angel! I'm so glad you like the recipe and thank you so much for stopping by to leave feedback. I appreciate it!
Lepidoptera says
Thank you for such well written post.
I made mine the second time by soaking the oats overnight, then blended with date (peeled). The main reasons to do this way were: thickness, better digestion, and trying to get rid of bitterness. To my frustration, it still has a bitter underlining taste to it...
PS: using organic rolled oats
Namaste!
A Virtual Vegan says
You're welcome. I wonder what is making it taste bitter? I've never detected any bitterness in mine. The flavour is more slightly on the sweet side. Could it be your tap water perhaps?
yuliya murasina says
Thanks a lot for the recepie, can not wait to make it ????. Expensive at the supermarket but seems quite easy to make it.
A Virtual Vegan says
You're welcome. I hope you enjoy it!
ABC says
I don't understand how a liquid can get slimy? Isn't the definition of slimy a solid that's kind of liquidy? I'm honestly curious.
A Virtual Vegan says
Oats get slimy when they get wet then you are blending them up in water so if you don't rinse them thoroughly the milk will end up slimy. And no I don't think the definition of slimy is a solid that's kind of liquidy. According to Wikipedia slimy means "covered by or having the feel or consistency of slime" which is exactly on point. If you made the milk you would understand.
Erica K. says
I think that the soluble fiber content in the oats is what makes it so slimy. I think this makes sense, given that soluble fiber essentially turns into a gelatinous matrix when metabolized, which in turn supports bowel movements. I like to think of a water slide to illustrate the role of soluble fiber in digestion...
Tan Mei Jing says
Thank you for recipe! I used 80g organic rolled oats + 450ml water and it turned out much better than the packet oat milk that I bought from stores. Not to mention it's pocket-friendly! I didn't strain the milk as I'm ok with some fine oat pulps in my milk.
A Virtual Vegan says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!