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Did you know oat milk can be made by using just two ingredients? The natural sweetness of the oats is enhanced by the maple syrup, while the vanilla adds a touch of cozy complexity. Whether enjoyed on its own, swirled into coffee, or used in your favorite recipe, this oat milk offers a delightful and wholesome dairy-free experience.
Learn how to make oat milk using just blended water and oats! This isn’t your average plant-based milk; it’s a silky smooth concoction, slightly thicker than store-bought versions.
Table of Contents
What is Oat Milk?
Oat milk is quite literally ‘milked oats,’ or oats soaked in water, then blended and squeezed through cheesecloth. Commercially sold, oat milk often contains fillers and gums, which I try to avoid. Making your own oat milk is easy, affordable and guaranteed clean ingredients.
Many people like this non-dairy milk because it is gluten, nut and dairy-free. This provides an option for those suffering from many common allergies. Not all oat brands are certified gluten-free, so make sure to look for this label when purchasing.
Why this Oat Milk Recipe Rawks
It can be frustrating to read label after label in search of an oat milk without refined sugars or gums, so I decided to create my own homemade oat milk recipe. This recipe is super simple, and is definitely less expensive than anything I’ve found at the store. Plus, the health benefits of oats is pretty awesome, too.
- A study conducted by the US National Library of Medicine showed oat milk lower cholesterol levels through the regular consumption of oat milk for 5 weeks.
- This homemade oat milk recipe is a fiber boost. One cup contains 3.3 grams of fiber, 13.2% of the recommended daily intake. Specifically, oat milk is loaded with B vitamins, which help the body stay energized, and also promote heart health.
- Not only does oat milk provide a non-dairy option for those with dairy aversions, it also supports environmental health. It takes hundreds fewer square miles to produce oat milk than dairy milk, and uses 1/8th of the water consumption used in the production of almond milk.
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Ingredients You’ll Need
Once I learned how to make almond milk, I was on a mission to see what other dairy-free milk recipes I could make in my own kitchen. Today, you’ll learn how to make oat milk with a super simple ingredients:
- Steel-cut oats: Steel-cut oats are less processed than rolled oats, so they retain more of their natural, nutty flavor, which makes a richer, more flavorful oat milk. Yet feel free to swap for your favorite variety like rolled, quick cook, gluten-free, etc. You can use any oat type you have on hand.
- Water: Use filtered, cold water to blend and soak oats, ensuring smooth and luscious oat milk.
- Maple Syrup: This is a natural sweetener. It adds a subtle sweetness and a slightly caramel-like flavor that complements the natural sweetness of oats. It’s often preferred over refined sugar for its perceived “healthier” profile, though it’s still a sugar and should be used in moderation.
- Vanilla Extract: Vanilla enhances the overall flavor profile of oat milk. It adds a warm, comforting note and rounds out the other flavors. It’s a classic pairing with oats and other grains. It can make the oat milk taste richer and more complex, even in small amounts.
- Sea Salt: A pinch of sea salt balances the sweetness, brings out the other flavors, and prevents the oat milk from tasting flat. It can also subtly enhance the creamy texture.
- Coconut Oil: Coconut oil can add a subtle richness and creaminess to the oat milk, especially if you’re using a lower ratio of oats to water.
WHICH Kinds of OATS ARE BEST for Oat Milk?
You can use all types of raw oats for oat milk. Rolled oats and steel cut oats are the most common and most nutrient dense. If you use quick cook oats, expect more of a thinner, slimier beverage.
How to Make Oat Milk
- Place steel-cut oats in a bowl and cover them with water enough to submerge completely. Soak for 20 minutes, then drain the excess water.
- Add the soaked oats and 3 cups of fresh water to a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour the blended mixture through a nut milk bag or cheesecloth into a wide glass bowl, gently squeezing to extract the liquid.
- Remove and discard the leftover oat pulp from the nut milk bag or cheesecloth.
- Rinse the blender, then pour the strained oat milk back into it. Add coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla (if using), and a pinch of salt. Blend for an additional 10 seconds until well combined.
My Oat Milk is Slimy. What Did I Do Wrong?
Oats contain a type of soluble fiber called beta-glucans, which can create a gel-like consistency when blended with water. The more you blend, the more things heat up, break down and contribute to the slime. To prevent this, try blending for a shorter period of time and use cold water. It’s a delicate balance— you need to blend enough to get a creamy texture, but not so much that it becomes slimy.
Ways to Use Homemade Oat Milk
Another reason I love blending my own homemade oat milk recipe this is for the creaminess. I’ve noticed many coffee shops starting to use this beverage in specialty coffee drinks. This is due to its ability to foam and nicely thicken beverages. I’ve even created my own cinnamon dolce latte recipe, which capitalizes on the cream factor.
Now that I know how to make my own oat milk, I like using the leftover pulp in the cheesecloth from this homemade oat milk recipe, as extra fiber in some homemade granola bars, a smoothie boost, or dried and added to vegan yogurt with berries. Zero waste and a whole host of extra health benefits!
I use it all the time when blending, cooking or baking recipes from my two cookbooks – Simple Green Smoothies and Simple Green Meals.
Common Questions
Good news! Yes! Making oat milk will save you a minimum of several dollars per week vs. store bought, depending on how much you use. Yet if you choose to buy your oat milk, then check out my master guide to the best oat milk brands.
Oat milk is higher in fiber than traditional dairy milk. It also contains extra B vitamins. Both fiber and B vitamins help lower cholesterol levels and promote heart health.
Oat milk is considered perishable and should be refrigerated. If kept well sealed in your fridge, it can last up to five days.
Oats have a natural sweetness to them, yet contain less than 1 gram of natural sugar per serving. Many store-bought oat milks contain added sugar. When making your own oat milk, you can sweeten it with maple syrup or enjoy without any sweeteners.
Soaking oats is optional, but it can help create a creamier oat milk and reduce the slimy texture some people experience.
Oats are naturally gluten-free, but they can be processed in facilities that also handle gluten-containing grains. If you need gluten-free oat milk, look for a certified gluten-free label like Bob’s Red Mill.
More Plant-Based Milk Recipes
Now that you know how to make oat milk, why not expand your horizons with these homemade plant-based milk recipes:
If you make this oat milk recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below. Your feedback helps me and all the readers in this community. And if you’re interested in more plant-based recipes (and exclusive content), sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter.
How to Make Oat Milk
Ingredients
- 1 cup steel-cut oats or whichever kind you prefer
- 3 cup water + enough water to soak oats
- 1 tbsp coconut oil, unrefined optional
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup optional
- ½ tsp pure vanilla extract optional
- pinch sea salt, unrefined optional
Instructions
- Soak steel-cut oats in bowl of water (just enough water to completely cover the oats) for 20 minutes prior to blending. Drain excess water.
- Place soaked oats and 3 cups water in high-speed blender.
- Strain through a nut milk bag or cheesecloth into a wide glass bowl.
- Discard pulp from bag or cheesecloth.
- Rinse the blender and pour the milk back into the blender from the bowl.
- Add the coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla (if using), and salt. Blend for 10 seconds.
Helpful Tools
Notes
- Save pulp for using in smoothies, baked goods or overnight oats.
- As an alternative to maple syrup, use fresh pitted dates to sweeten instead.
- Alternate flavoring options include 2 Tbsps cacao powder for a chocolate option, or 1/2 cup berries for a berry flavored oat milk.
If I am using rolled oats, how long should the oats and water be blended for? I have a vitamix… thanks!
Hi Lana! You could still stick with the 20 minutes and it should be fine!
I wasn’t thinking and used extra virgin coconut oil (it’s the only kind I keep on hand). EVCO is solid at room temperature so blending it with my cool oat milk made it super clumpy. I’m guessing you used refined coconut oil?
Hi Courtney,
That’s a great point – if the water you’re using for your oat milk is cold, the coconut oil may not blend as well. I would recommend room temperature water, rather than using a particular type of coconut oil as a solution.
I used steel cut, soaked and drained as per directions, and I blended at a medium speed on my vitamix for exactly one minute. I skipped the oil. Very happy with the results.
I’m confused. The article says rolled oats are best for oat milk, but the recipe calls for steel cut oats.