Creamy, slightly sweet, absolutely delicious — oat milk is all the rage right now and I’m not mad about it. In fact, I’ve been using oat milk in everything from coffee to cereal to baking and it has quickly become one of my favorite dairy free milks out there. I’m currently going dairy free while I breastfeed Viggo so it’s amazing to have such a delicious dairy free alternative that I can add to literally everything.
If you haven’t tried making your own oat milk from scratch, today is the day! It’s SO EASY and more affordable than any store-bought brand. Bonus: you don’t have to spend time soaking nuts like you would with homemade nut milk! We’ve included everything you need to know about how to make oat milk, plus plenty of tips, flavor add-ins (yum) and plenty of ways to use it.
Be sure to check out this video tutorial, too, and get ready to have delicious oat milk in under 5 minutes.
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The two key ingredients in homemade oat milk
The best part about making oat milk at home is that you know exactly what’s going into it. This easy homemade oat milk recipe has no weird additives but is equally as delicious as the store-bought version. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Oats: we’re using old fashion rolled oats in this oat milk recipe. Feel free to use certified gluten free rolled oats!
- Water: the second key ingredient in homemade oat milk is water! This will help blend up the oats to make creamy oat milk.
How to make homemade oat milk
Making your own oat milk can seem intimidating, but it’s much easier than you think and SO affordable!
- Blend your ingredients. You’ll first add the rolled oats and water to a blender and blend on high for just 5-8 seconds.
- Strain it. Next, be sure to strain the blended mixture into a large glass or jar over a wire mesh sieve or with a clean dish towel. Use a spoon to stir it around so that you get all of the liquid out. Don’t discard the oat pulp — we have easy ways to use it below!
- Store & enjoy. Feel free to use the oat milk immediately or store it in the fridge.
Delicious flavor boosters
Try one of our favorite ways to add flavor and sweetness to this oat milk recipe:
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-3 teaspoons honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
Tips for making creamy oat milk
Don’t forget these simple tips and tricks for getting perfect oat milk every time:
- Don’t soak your oats. Unlike homemade nut milk, you’ll want to be sure you do not let the rolled oats soak in the water before blending them. This can make the oat milk slimy.
- Be sure not to over blend. Over blending the oats and water together can also create a slimy texture in the oat milk. Just give the oats and water a quick blend on high so they’re combined.
- Do not use steel cut oats. Rolled oats are truly the way to go when making homemade oat milk perfectly creamy.
Can I heat it up?
I wouldn’t recommend heating this oat milk on its own, or it could congeal. Feel free to add it to hot coffee or tea, though!
Save that leftover oat pulp!
That’s right, you can actually use the oat “pulp” that’s left over after you squeeze the oat milk into a jar or glass. Feel free to add this pulp to your regular bowl of oatmeal or even overnight oats.
How to store fresh oat milk
Store your homemade oat milk in an airtight jar or container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Our favorite ways to use homemade oat milk
You can use this oat milk recipe to replace all of the different ways you use other milks! Here are some of our favorite ways to use it:
- Pour it into hot tea or coffee to add delicious creaminess
- Add it to a bowl of granola or your favorite cereal
- Use it in any baking recipes that call for milk
- Blend it in right with your morning smoothie
Tools you’ll need to make oat milk
Check out our fav kitchen essentials here.
More tutorials you’ll love
- How to Make Oat Flour
- How to Freeze Fresh Herbs
- How to Make the Perfect All Butter Pie Crust
- How to Make the Best Cauliflower Pizza Crust
- Our Favorite Homemade Tomato Sauce (using fresh tomatoes!)
Get all of our how-to guides and tutorials here!
I hope you love this easy tutorial for how to make oat milk! If you try it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so let me know how you liked it. Tell us how you used your homemade oat milk, too!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
How to Make Oat Milk
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 2 cups water
- Optional additions:
- 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2-3 tsp. Honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp. sea salt
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a high speed blender and blend for 5-8 seconds. Don’t overblend, or it could get slimy!
- Strain mixture into a jar over a wire mesh sieve and use a spoon to gently stir it around so that the liquid can get through. You can stir the remaining oat pulp into your morning oats or overnight oats, if you’d like!
- Enjoy immediately or store in the fridge for up to 5 days. If the liquid separates, just shake the jar to combine!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
I found that if you take the pulp and just heat in up for about a minute and a half, and then pour the milk and some sweetener over it, its pretty good.
Sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Nice Article! Oat milk is now being used as a healthier alternative to dairy milk in multiple products like tea, smoothies, coffees, and other health-related drinks.
Hi, quick question. You recommended not heating this oat milk. Could you bake with it?
Yes I think it should be fine to bake with! I just wouldn’t heat it up for coffee or tea because it’ll thicken up. But I don’t think that’ll cause any issues when baking 🙂
nice …. i used my ninja bullet blender and turned out ok 1st time.
Second time i increased oats to 1 cup and the flavor was much better.
More to my liking. added a splash of vanilla and this is going to be my
go to for oat milk. Never thought it would be so easy. AND CHEAP !!
thanks for sharing
Pam
So glad you tried it, and thanks for sharing about the quantity of oats!
Do you add the maple syrup and salt before you blend, or after you strain?
I add it before blending!
Love this! What is the fridge/shelf life?
It should keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can shake up the jar if it starts to separate at all (totally natural and normal!) 🙂
Def going to try! Thoughts on using vanilla bean in some way instead of extract?
That’s an amazing idea! You could try removing some of the seeds (maybe 1/8-1/4 tsp. to start?) with the back of a knife. Let me know if you try it!
Would a bullet blender for considered a high speed blender? I have that and a regular blender. Or is high speed just a vita mix type blender?
That should work fine for this recipe! Let me know if you try it 🙂
bullet blender is great. i use a ninja and it turned out perfect
Love the idea!!! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome, so excited for you to try it!
Would a nut milk bag be all right for straining?
Definitely! I just offered a sieve because I figured most people would be more likely to have that. But a nut milk bag is great!