Learn how to make oat milk at home! With this easy recipe, it always comes out smooth & creamy - perfect for adding to coffee, baking recipes & more!
Have you tried oat milk yet? Lately, it seems to be popping up everywhere. You can add it to your coffee at Starbucks, buy a carton of it at the store, or even pick up a pint of oat milk ice cream! I had to see what all the fuss was about, so I tried making my own homemade oat milk. I have to say, I’m hooked! It’s super easy to make, it’s smooth and creamy, and it has a yummy oat-y flavor that tastes great in coffee or tea.
Unlike other non-dairy milk recipes, this one doesn’t require any special equipment (looking at you, nut milk bags). And because you don’t need to soak the oats beforehand, it takes minutes to make. All you need is 5 minutes, a handful of whole rolled oats, filtered water, a fine mesh strainer, and a powerful blender! What are you waiting for?
How to Make Oat Milk
Making delicious oat milk is easy! But if you have made other plant-based milks in the past, a word to the wise: it is NOT like making almond milk, where you wring as much liquid as you can out of a nut milk bag. In this recipe, your goal is to squeeze and press the mixture as little as possible. Otherwise, it will end up slimy and grainy. Here’s my method:
- Blend. First, I add the oats and filtered water to a powerful blender (I use a Vitamix) and blend for 30 seconds, until the water looks creamy and white. For the best texture, be careful not to over-blend!
- Strain. Next, place a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl and pour the oat milk through it. Some liquid may pool at the bottom of the strainer. That’s ok! Discard this liquid and any oat pulp below it. DO NOT try to press the pulp to get more liquid through the strainer, as it will make the milk slimy and gritty.
- Strain again (optional). For extra-smooth oat milk, strain the liquid twice, discarding the leftover pulp both times. This step is optional, but it will yield the smoothest final texture.
- Chill, and enjoy! I like my oat milk best when it’s cold from the fridge. Unlike other dairy-free milks, don’t shake it when you go to use it. Instead, allow any leftover oat pulp to settle at the bottom of the container, and pour the creamy milk off the top.
How to Use Oat Milk
Once you’ve made oat milk, use it as you would dairy milk, cashew milk, or any other type of milk you like. I like to chill it and drink it with ice, add it to coffee, or use it to make a matcha latte. It would also be great in breakfast/brunch oat-y recipes like oatmeal, baked oatmeal, overnight oats, or no bake cookies. Alternatively, use it in any brunch baking recipe that calls for milk, like my vegan chocolate cake, blueberry muffins, banana bread, or cinnamon rolls.
Because it has a strong oat-y flavor, I don’t recommend using it in savory recipes. You’ll find my favorite way to enjoy it in the recipe below. I like to add a pinch of salt and a splash of vanilla and maple syrup to sweeten it up!
Next, try these plant based basics: tofu, tempeh, quinoa, chickpeas, or lentils.
How to Make Oat Milk
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup whole rolled oats
- 3 cups water
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Combine the oats, water, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt in a blender and blend for 30 seconds.
- Place a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl and strain the milk without pushing any excess pulp through the strainer. This will create a creamier texture that’s not gritty or gummy.
- Add more maple syrup, to taste, if desired. Chill overnight. If you want to drink your oat milk right away, I recommend adding ice - it's flavor is best when well chilled.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Detoxinista’s method
How long does this typically stay good in your fridge?
about 5 to 7 days
This is a great non dairy option! My daughter just drank it all!
My questions is should I have a mound of oats left? I am only blending for 30 seconds?
Any tips or if there is a video I missed please link! Thank you!
Hi Sara, I’m glad it was a hit! Depending on the blender, it’s normal to have some pulp left over. A few other readers left comments about things they make with the leftover. Or if you google oat milk pulp, there are a bunch of yummy looking cookie posts. I hope that helps!
Would quick oats work for this?
I don’t usually buy them but they were on sale and since i have to buy gf oats, i went for it. Thank you 😍
I haven’t tried, (I only keep whole rolled oats on hand) but I think it would be fine.
I enjoy your oats milk recipe
Just a note for those without a blender, this worked well with an immersion blender stick. Might be a bit more oat bits left over after sieving but I’m using them in my morning oatmeal. Next time will plan on making oat muffins with the leftovers. I like oat milk and find it sweet enough without additional sugars.
Hi Liese, thanks for the tip!
I’ve made oat milk a couple times and find that it is very different (in a bad way) from the store-bought kind. It pretty much tastes like lackluster oat-flavored water. I hope your recipe yields different results, because 1. I’d rather not keep buying it (and creating more packaging waste) and 2. I’ve recently learned how horrible almond mild is for the environment, so oats are the way!
Hi Jenna, homemade plant milks are never going to be exactly the same as store bought ones which often have fillers and stabilizers, but we really like this method and I hope you do too!
Store bought oat milk often has cheap oils like sunflower oil added in to “improve the taste” and stabilize the thickness of the drink. Not only does this give it a ton of extra calories, it is also unhealthy fat. Sunflower oil is high in omega-6s and low in omega-3s (which are the fat you actually want to supplement in your diet). Omega-6 fats are bad for your heart and overall health. So making your own oat milk is probably the best way to go.
That is some awesome photography! I too enjoy making milk at home. I often make Almond milk..but I need to try this Oat milk soon. Love that it’s so easy to make milk at home.
sounds interesting as a non-dairy option, guess I’d missed the trend on oat milk so appreciate your sharing it here
What are your thoughts on soaking the oats? I always soak oats to ease digestion but wondering if it would be different when making oat milk?
Hi Kim, it’s not a necessary step and I think it might make the texture more slimy. But I haven’t tried it, so I’m not sure.
Thank you for your instruction. You done a good job
Any clever ideas out there on how to use, not toss the resulting oat pulp?
Thanks!
There’s barely any oat pulp – I wouldn’t even really call it pulp, it’s maybe a tablespoon of foamy slime around the strainer. One of the nice things about oat milk vs. almond milk is that it all nearly gets incorporated.
I dry the pulp out in my oven, I then use my stick blender to make oat flour to make my dogs treats, works well with coconut n almond pulp to!
My grandma always shaped leftover oatmeal into patties and fried them on the stove like a pancake. I did that with my leftover pulp and it made a nice quick breakfast 🙂
This is healthy for body and yummy taste.
Hello! Do you think this would heat well in a milk frother?
Hi Charlotte, I don’t have a frother, so I’m not sure.
I put it in my frother mostly so I can have it warm instead of cold when adding to my coffee. It doesn’t give you that latte foam but it heats up nicely and works just fine.
I can’t believe how easy that was. definitely best chilled
Hi Jen, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you Jeanine. Such a great recipe as not a big fan of buying packaged/cartons of oats or almond milk. Love the fact this milk is home made and non dairy, You know exactly what’s in it, is super easy peasy to make, low cost and without packaging. Am amazed just how quick and easy it was/ is to make. Took less than 3 mins! 2 mins washing up! Brilliant!
Hi there, I followed the recipe exactly, including the 30 seconds, I have a ninja blender. And mine was pretty watery and had like a quarter cup of pulp. Do you think it needs more blending?
Hi Hope, if it’s not as thick as you like, you could blend a little longer and/or add more oats. Every blender will be a bit different.
I would love to know your results because I got the exact same results with the same blender.
it sounds like you could try blending it longer if it hasn’t thickened enough.
Really love this recipe! I have been making oat milk before and can tell you that if you get watery or slimy oat milk, you should follow a few recommendations:
1. blend well for no more than 45-50 seconds
2. strain twice for avoiding slimy oat milk and excess starch
3. skip soaking the oats, just blend them and strain with fine cloth.
Overall, what Jeanine recommends in the recipe is the way to go.
Hi Jenny, thanks for chiming in with your tips!
For cold oat milk, fill last cup of water with ice and then fill with water. This will chill the oat milk.
Fantastic – first try at making oat milk. Trying to get away from almond milk and this is absolutely delicious!
Do you think that steel cut oats would be good for this? I have a bunch on hand and would be interested to try it.
Is the milk supposed to be like a weird off- white translucent watery substance when the pulp settles?
You can shake it before you use it, if you’d like.
can you tell me what speed on vitamix you use? no one seems to say that but obv. low vs. high for :30 will differ greatly. I also think straining 3-4x is key. I’ve made about 5 batches so far, I’d also add that i like cinnamon and salt in it as well. my 2yr old loves it. thank you
high speed! I’m glad you’ve been enjoying it!
I love this recipe, and also the blueberry scones recipe, the Shiitake “Bacon” and Egg Breakfast Tacos, and the Blueberry baked oatmeal! Thanks so much for these healthy, delicious, and reliable recipes!
Hi Dale, I’m so glad you’ve been loving the recipes!
Roughly how much oat milk does this recipe make? I have never made this before. ☺
Hi Deb, about 3-ish cups
This looks so good! Is it good in coffee?
it is!
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
Hi Vanessa, I keep it about 5-7 days (since there are no preservatives in it compared to store-bought milks).
Do you discard the oat pulp or can it be used and eaten
I discard it, it’s pretty foamy (unlike almond milk pulp) and there’s not a lot of it. I suppose it could be dried and re-used but I haven’t tried yet.
Any ideas on what could be done (if anything) with the left over pulp after straining? I’m all about reducing waste….will likely put it out with the compost but any cool ideas for further consumption? Thanks!
I’d probably dry it and roll it into energy balls, or replace a similar quantity of oats in this granola bar recipe: https://www.loveandlemons.com/granola-bars-recipe/
Hope that helps! Let me know what you come up with!
Where did you get those beautiful glass milk bottles? <3
they’re from ikea!
Hi Jeanine! I can’t wait to try this recipe! I was wondering where you bought the adorable milk bottle in your photo?
Ikea!
Can you use the discarded oat pulp for anything (e.g. porridge)?
You could mix it into your porridge, that would be a great use. It wont be enough to make a whole bowl on it’s own.
Hi!
I’m new to oak milk and I’m interested in making mine own. Could I use honey instead of maple sugar?
Also I love your first book (I borrowed it from the library and still have it do to the virus & the library is still closed- ☺️ Lucky me) and I look forward to ordering your newest one. I’m a new pescatarian trying to avoid carbs/sugars. Wish I changed my diet years ago (65lbs gone in 6 months) ☺️
Hi Sophie, yep, you can use honey! I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying the book 🙂
Loved it! So yummy. I just moved and didn’t have a blender yet so used a food processor. It was messy but worked fine.
Hi Ree, I’m glad to hear that it worked out in a food processor!
Loving this recipie! Also wanted to say that a hack for making this even EASIER (if that was possible) is to pour the blended mixture into a french press. The strainers are so fine that there is no need to strain multiple times or deal with the cleanup of a cheesecloth or tshirt (my previous method).
Thank you!
Oh that’s a great idea, thank you for sharing!
Thanks for this tip! I’m planning to make this and am looking for all the helpful tips!
Weird question, but you do think a steel reusable coffee filter would work for this? I have one for my pour over carafe.
Hi Sophie, I think it would if the holes aren’t too fine (or you might just have to pour slower)
I used it and it worked really well!
Hi. I’m going to try this tomorrow. I have a KitchenAid blender. Should i choose the ‘smoothie, chopping or whisk’ option? I guess smoothie is the highest speed.
BTW, love your posts!
Thanks.
thanks! I’d probably go for the smoothie option.
Is this any good for making yogurt?
SUCCESS! Next time I will try less salt and more vanilla. Otherwise, very satisfying.
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I have a Blendtec blender. What speed to use? Where to get the strainer?
Hi Mike, high speed. It’s just a regular fine mesh strainer, you can find one at Target, or anywhere that has kitchen things. I have a set like this: https://amzn.to/3kHfmYV
Great Recipe! Not slimy at all! Put everything in the Vtamix on top speed for 30 seconds then through a nut bag over a wide bowl.
Next question: Do you have a recipe for OAT MILK ICE CREAM? I guess you would have to add some oil, but I’m not sure what would work.
I’m so glad you loved it! I haven’t tried making ice cream with it. I’d probably add some type of fat, or start with half oat half coconut milk?
You should soak the oats… the rolled oats still have the husks which contain phytic acid – which inhibits the uptake of minerals like iron and zinc. All seeds grains and nuts contain this- it is the seeds defensive system. It only luckily inhibits the mineral uptake of the meal you’re eating with these foods and not subsequent food. It may be that for the relative ease of making that it doesn’t matter- everyone can decide for themselves. But it’s interesting nevertheless….
I’ve just made it. So good. Thank you for sharing.
Glad I never tried store bought oat milk because this is delicious! Wow!! Super easy! I made two batches. How long can you store it? I might’ve skimmed over this part. I just wanted to share how yummy and easy this recipe is!
Dumb question- you said savory meals, what is an example? I use almond milk in everything, I really want to use oat milk but you said not great for savory dishes.
Hi Nancy, I’m so glad you loved it! It’ll keep for up to a week, give it a shake if it separates.
You can use it in savory foods if you don’t mind the oat-y flavor that it’ll add. You might want to leave out the maple syrup and vanilla in that case.
I’m i’ve made this a few times now and the first few times I didn’t feel like it was slimy at all, but now I have a different blender, maybe different brand of oats too and it’s super slimy even though I don’t try to push anything through the strainer. Help?
Hi Lily, I’m so curious to know what type of blender and what type of oats you had before vs. now?
Previously I was using my roommate’s ninja 900 watt and now I have a Nutribullet also 900 series. Oats before were bulk oats from Sprouts supermarket and now I have Quaker Oats Old fashioned from Costco.
Hmm, assuming they’re both whole rolled oats (not instant), I might first try using your original type of oats. Or with the new blender, I might experiment by blending one batch a little less and blending one batch little more to see if there’s a difference in how much you blend. I hope that helps!
I’ll try those, thank you. I’m wondering now that I’ve been thinking about it, if I have been over blending. I also read with some other recipes that really cold water for blending is important. Do you have any comment on that front?
That’s interesting, the temp might make a difference (ie, I find overnight oats less slimy than cooked oatmeal). I’ve always used filtered water from our tap on the coldest setting. It’s always been fine, not ice cold but not warm. I’m curious to know what you figure out!
Can you use steel cut oats for this recipe? I have an Almond Cow machine and need to use gluten-free oats.
I think you can oats except for the instant ones because they make the drink too slimy. Hope this helps!
Does anyone know what the calories would be for this recipe?
The flavor of this milk substitute is great! Definitely double strain, as you want the consistency here to he very fine. In order to get closer to this ideal, I blended my oats dry first, and then with water.
I have never tried store-bought oat milk, but this is amazing! I realized that cow’s milk might not be the best because of the impact on the world. Are there any other good recipes that can include oat milk? I would love to try it! Thanks for this tasty milk!
I made this last night to use in my latte this morning. I followed the instructions to a t, and used my Blendtec to blend it.
It did not froth with my espresso machines milk frother. Maybe I should shake it so it’s thicker? I didn’t want it to be slimey, so I didn’t use any of the liquid that settled at the bottom.
Unfortunately, I need to consider this recipe a fail as its sole purpose was to replace dairy milk in my lattes.
Hi Susan, I don’t have a frother so I’ve never tried frothing it.