Learn how to make your own oat milk at home with this easy recipe. It only takes 5 minutes and 4 ingredients! Add it to your morning coffee, cereal, baked goods and more!
About this Recipe
If you have a dairy allergy or sensitivity, oat milk is a great option. In fact, this Ted Talk explains how oat milk is the best for our personal health, as well as the health and sustainability of the planet. Plus oat milk is a nut free milk alternative to cashew or almond milk.
Over the past 4 years, I’ve been in my kitchen developing foolproof recipes and helping beginner home cooks. This recipe takes less than five minutes to make! Once you learn how to make your own oat milk at home, you won't go back to buying it from the store. Plus this recipe can easily be doubled or tripled.
But oat milk is nothing new. During World War 2, dairy was rationed so some folks turned to making oat milk instead.
This oat milk recipe is naturally dairy free and nut free. Plus if you use gluten free certified oats, this recipe is gluten free too. And unlike store bought options, this homemade version contains zero additives, fillers and preservatives.
How to Make Oat Milk
- Blend: Combine all the ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend for about 30 seconds, until the mixture is smooth.
- Strain: Pour the mixture into a large bowl through a clean thin cotton kitchen towel or cheesecloth. You can then pour the strained oat milk into smaller jars for storing.
- Refrigerate: Chill the oat milk in the fridge for at least a couple hours. Shake well when you're ready to use.
Recipe Tips
- Don't squeeze the towel or cheesecloth too hard while straining it. Squeezing while straining could cause your oat milk to be grainy.
- Separation of the oat milk is natural when it's stored in the fridge. Just give your jar a shake for a couple seconds.
- Don't use a fine mesh sieve, as some oat particles will be able to get though and you could end up with oatmeal in your oat milk… A clean thin cotton kitchen towel is the best for straining.
How Do You Make Oat Milk Not Slimy?
- Don't soak the oats. Soaking the oats activates an enzyme that binds oats together, like in overnight oats.
- Use cold water. Room temperature or warm water can also activate the enzyme in the oats that makes them bind together, like a hot bowl of creamy oatmeal.
How to Use Oat Milk
Oat milk can be used in many recipes in place of dairy milk. It's my go-to substitute in baking recipes such as in quick breads and cupcakes. I also use it to replace buttermilk in recipes, since it curdles after about ten minutes when combine with lemon juice or vinegar.
How to Make Flavored Oat Milk
You could get fancy with flavor additions, like pumpkin spice, berries, and melted chocolate.
Add any flavor additions to the blender with the other ingredients.
Recipe FAQ's
You can freeze oat milk in airtight containers for up to three months in the freezer. Oat milk will separate in the freezer, so it may have a slightly grainy texture once it thaws.
Store homemade oat milk in the fridge for up to 5 days in airtight jars like mason jars.
Rolled oats are the best when you make your own oat milk. Other types of oats like steel cut or quick cooking oats won't produce the same creamy, non-slimy texture.
The oat pulp or blended oats that get strained out from the milk can still be consumed. You can mix it into cookie dough or pancake batter.
How to Make Your Own Oat Milk
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 3 cups cold water
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar (optional; can substitute maple syrup or honey)
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend for 30 to 45 second until the mixture is smooth.
- Pour the mixture into a large bowl through a clean thin cotton kitchen towel or cheesecloth. You can then pour the strained oat milk into smaller jars for storing.
- Chill in the fridge for at least a couple hours. Shake well when you're ready to use. Enjoy!!
Notes
- Don't squeeze the towel or cheesecloth with oat milk too hard while straining it. Squeezing while straining could cause your oat milk to be grainy.
- Don't use a fine mesh sieve, as some oat particles will be able to get though and you could end up with a little oatmeal in your oat milk. A clean thin cotton kitchen towel is the best for straining.
- Use cold water, as warm or room temperature water could create slimy oat milk.
- Separation of the oat milk is natural when it's stored in the fridge. Just give your jar a shake for a couple seconds.
ordinaryfabgirl
Ooooh looks delicious. I love oat milk! Will try this recipe!
strawberryandcream
I love it too! I was so happy to learn how simple it is to make!
Rachel Duerden
I'd love to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing. 😀
strawberryandcream
Let me know how it goes! It's so nice to know how to make a few staples at home like this. 😀
Alison
Sounds delicious, I've just started having oat milk on my muesli, tastes so good
strawberryandcream
Oh I love muesli! Oat milk is my go-to for all cereal, granola, oatmeal, etc. since the flavor is so nice. 🥛😀
Alison
🙂
Jim
I wonder olif oat milk would be good in my winter stollen?
strawberryandcream
Most definitely it would! I'll test it out when I bake my own batch soon & I'll let you know!