• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Loving It Vegan

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Free Ebook
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Free Ebook
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » How To » Homemade Oat Milk

    Homemade Oat Milk

    Published: May 1, 2018 Updated: Mar 24, 2022 by Alison Andrews This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    Homemade Oat Milk

    This creamy and delicious homemade oat milk recipe is made with 2-ingredients, ready in minutes, and delicious in tea or coffee or poured over cereal. 

    Homemade oat milk in a glass milk bottle.

    It’s so easy to make your own homemade oat milk!

    It has a lovely neutral oaty taste that is delicious to drink as is or to use in smoothies, over cereal, or in your coffee and tea.

    All you need is some rolled oats in your cupboard and you’re good to go. Rolled oats blended with water = oat milk!

    You can also add a little maple syrup, vanilla extract and a pinch of salt for some optional extra flavoring, but the main ingredients are simply rolled oats and water.

    Oat milk in glass milk bottles with lids.

    How To Make Oat Milk

    You will find full instructions and measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. This is a summary of the process to go along with the process photos.

    • Add all the ingredients to the blender jug and blend for around 1 minute until well blended.
    A blender jug full of just blended oat milk.
    • Strain it through a nut milk bag and you have a creamy and delicious homemade plant milk to use as you please.
    A glass milk bottle filled with oat milk.

    Tips For The Best Homemade Oat Milk

    • Don’t soak the oats first. A lot of recipes recommend soaking your rolled oats first and then rinsing them very well to remove any sliminess before blending. Yes, oats get slimy. It’s weird. But I actually found in experimenting that the best results came about from not soaking the oats at all. It’s also quicker this way. So just add your oats and water to the blender (plus optional flavorings) and blend!
    • Don’t over-blend. Over-blending can also cause the oat milk texture to feel slimy. So you just want to blend it well enough and then stop blending. Usually 1 minute of blending will be more than enough.
    • Strain your oat milk. I strain it through a nut milk bag (also sometimes called a nut mylk bag). This is the nut mylk bag I have and am very happy with. To get really smooth oat milk you may even want to strain it twice. You can also strain it through a thin tea towel.
    • Don’t heat your oat milk. This homemade oat milk is great in tea or coffee or over cereal. However, it’s not great heated as it tends to get quite thick and clumpy when you heat it. So you can add it to hot drinks and that’s fine, but don’t heat it up before adding it to hot drinks.
    A glass milk bottle filled with homemade oat milk.

    What To Do With Leftover Oat Pulp?

    A reader commented that they add it to pancake batter to create a nuttier tasting version (awesome idea, thanks Susan!). 

    You can also use the pulp to make cookies. I found a great recipe for Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Pulp Cookies that does exactly this. 

    This recipe doesn’t result in a huge amount of leftover pulp so you’re also fine to just throw it away unless that is something that goes against the grain for you. If that’s the case then bake some cookies or throw it into some pancakes.

    Oat milk pouring from a glass bottle into a white bowl filled with granola and sliced banana.

    Storing Tips

    Keep it stored in the fridge where it will stay fresh for up to 5 days. Shake it up before use as it tends to separate in the fridge, don’t worry this is normal, give it a good shake and enjoy.

    Oat Milk pouring from a glass bottle into a white bowl filled with granola and sliced banana.

    More Easy Vegan DIY Recipes

    1. How To Make Almond Milk
    2. How To Make Cashew Milk
    3. Vegan Buttermilk
    4. Vegan Condensed Milk
    5. Homemade Vegan Butter
    6. Vegan Heavy Cream Substitute

    Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below!

    Homemade oat milk in glass milk bottles.

    Homemade Oat Milk

    This creamy and delicious homemade oat milk recipe is made with 2-ingredients, ready in minutes, and delicious in tea or coffee or poured over cereal. 
    4.83 from 56 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast, How To
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegan
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 4 cups
    Calories: 114kcal
    Author: Alison Andrews

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Rolled Oats (90g)
    • 4 cups Water (960ml)
    • ¼ teaspoon Salt Optional
    • 2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup Optional
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract Optional
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Add all the ingredients to your blender and blend until well blended. Don't blend for more than 1 minute.
    • Strain through a nut milk bag or a tea towel.
    • Store the milk in the fridge where it will stay fresh for up to 5 days. Shake it well before use.
    • Use in your tea or coffee or pour over cereal.

    Video

    Notes

    1. Don’t soak your oats first, I found this caused sliminess, no matter how much they were rinsed.
    2. Don’t overblend as it can also cause the oats to become slimy. You shouldn’t need to blend for more than a minute. 
    3. Don’t heat the milk as it causes it to get very thick and clumpy. It can be added to hot drinks like tea and coffee though.
    4. This recipe is gluten-free as long as you use gluten-free rolled oats.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cup | Calories: 114kcal | Carbohydrates: 21.9g | Protein: 2.9g | Fat: 1.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 150mg | Fiber: 2.2g | Sugar: 6.3g
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Rate it & leave your feedback in the comments section below, or tag @lovingitvegan on Instagram and hashtag #lovingitvegan
    Get Your Copy! It's FREE!
    « The Best Vegan Potato Leek Soup
    The Best Vegan Green Smoothie »
    12.6K shares

    About the Author

    Hi I'm Alison Andrews, I'm the voice and cook behind Loving It Vegan. I love making delicious vegan food and creating vegan versions of all your old favorites, so that you’ll never feel like you’re missing out. Find out more about me here.

    Loving It Vegan is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This site may contain some of these links to Amazon.com. If you make a purchase through one of those links, Loving It Vegan will receive a small commission from the purchase at no additional cost to you.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marni Aaronson says

      March 25, 2022 at 9:08 pm

      I fell in love with an oat milk latte on vacation recently and after spending a fortune at Starbucks that week and going through two expensive cartons on my own the following week, I was about to purchase a bulk order when I came across this recipe. I tried it immediately and it came out great! I wanted extra creamy (and was limited by the liquid capacity of my Ninja smoothie maker, too) so I used 3 cups water and just under 1 cup sprouted rolled oats. I’m not sure the maple syrup/vanilla ratios are exactly what I want – I think I’m rare in that I really like to taste the oats – so I’ll play with that and other varieties/none – but overall, very, very good! I did get great results using a tiny handheld strainer (did a second pass for good measure) and will be storing in my airtight smoothie making cup that goes with the Ninja for anyone that’s wondering if they need special tools. Can’t wait to put in my coffee tomorrow!4 stars

      Reply
      • Alison Andrews says

        March 28, 2022 at 10:58 am

        Awesome, thanks so much for posting Marni!

        Reply
    2. Carly says

      March 11, 2022 at 11:24 pm

      Best ever !!!! Me and the 3 boys all love it so easy and cost effective and good for u😍

      Reply
    3. Victoria says

      November 27, 2021 at 11:42 am

      Can you recommend what type of milk to make if you wish to heat it? I forgot about the advise not to heat this and it became so thick it was unusable – my own fault! I eat a lot of porridge so need a milk I can heat. This oat milk is great on cereal and in coffee though! Thank you

      Reply
      • Alison Andrews says

        November 27, 2021 at 12:28 pm

        Hi Victoria, you could rather try cashew milk or almond milk. Cashew milk does tend to thicken when heated, but that’s not necessarily bad, so you could see how it works for you. All the best! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Jeff says

      November 03, 2021 at 6:38 pm

      What do you do if you do not have a blender? Can you recommend a blender I can purchase? It does sound good.

      Reply
      • Alison Andrews says

        November 04, 2021 at 10:22 am

        We have a Vitamix 5200 and love it. But it is an investment so it’s worth it if you’re planning to make your own nut milks and cheeses etc.

        Reply
    5. Leslie Ross says

      August 11, 2021 at 11:45 am

      This was my first attempt at making oat milk and it definitely won’t be my last. This recipe is a keeper it’s yummy!5 stars

      Reply
      • Alison Andrews says

        August 11, 2021 at 1:11 pm

        Awesome! Thanks so much Leslie!

        Reply
    6. Ruth Kirk says

      August 09, 2021 at 10:27 am

      Fantastic recipe! Many thanks. I’m a very recent convert to home-made oat-milk, after making just two batches. For the second batch, I added 2 Canderel sweeteners at the blender stage, which gives (to my taste) just the slight sweetness of dairy milk. I also squeezed out the hanging bag both times I filtered the milk, and this gave a much better, tastier and creamer result. Next time, I plan to grind the dry oats to flour in the blender before adding the sweeteners and water. At present I’m filtering the milk through a single layer of cheesecloth, tied with string, and hung over a bowl from the handle of a kitchen unit. However, I’ve sent for 2 nut-milk bags, to see how well these work. Finally, I’ve sent for a Lock and Lock drinks shaker to store the milk in. These containers are watertight, and have a special fitting inside. When shaken, this fitting should re-blend any separation that has happened while the milk was in the fridge. I’m so excited to be making my own milks!5 stars

      Reply
      • Alison Andrews says

        August 10, 2021 at 10:19 am

        Awesome Ruth, that sounds fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing!

        Reply
      • Rachael Huxley says

        December 13, 2021 at 7:11 am

        Hi Ruth, did you try grinding the oats first and did it change it much? Also was there a difference between the cheese cloth and nut bag?
        Many thanks

        Reply
    7. Anna says

      July 22, 2021 at 8:49 pm

      Thank you for posting this! It’s so simple and inexpensive. I’ve been consuming plant milk for about 18 months. While there is a range of good and bad versions out there, the associated packaging has troubled me as tetra-paks cannot be recycled where I live, and I’ve read some dubious things about the protective layers in its composition. I can’t believe how easy this is to make. I added no sweetener or vanilla, as I like a plain taste myself. A pinch of salt though definitely a must. I just used a spare piece of light cotton I had in my sewing scraps as I don’t have a nut milk bag. I strained once through my kitchen sieve to clear most of the oat bulk, and a second time squeezed through the cotton. This was probably necessary as the cotton I used is a bit fine and the liquid was taking ages to pass through. All in all, it turned out great. Finally, I really appreciate that you provide both grams and millilitres in your recipes as well as cup measurements – it’s very helpful!5 stars

      Reply
      • Alison Andrews says

        July 23, 2021 at 11:18 am

        So happy you enjoyed the recipe Anna! Thanks so much for sharing!

        Reply
    8. Michelle says

      March 01, 2021 at 3:30 pm

      I’m excited to try this as I’ve never made nut milk before. Hoping it’s creamy enough to replace the actual cream in my coffee. Where do you buy your glass containers?

      Reply
      • Alison Andrews says

        March 02, 2021 at 7:35 am

        Hope you enjoy the recipe! I’m not sure where I got the glass containers.

        Reply
    9. Liz Browne says

      January 18, 2021 at 1:33 am

      If you increase the ratio of oats to water, would you end up with a slightly thicker, creamier milk?

      Reply
      • Alison Andrews says

        January 18, 2021 at 1:37 pm

        Yes, that’s certainly how it works with nut milks so I assume the same here.

        Reply
    10. Sean Franklin says

      January 06, 2021 at 12:02 pm

      I’ve got very good results from your recipe which equates well with the ‘ordinary’ for sale commercial oat milk. However it does not froth like the Oatly Barista oat milk. 

      Can you kindly let me know what additive should be added to make it froth like the Oatly Barista oatmilk?

      I look forward to your kind reply.

      Many thanks,

      Sean Franklin5 stars

      Reply
    11. Karina Celis says

      November 15, 2020 at 5:59 pm

      Love this recipe. straight forward and easy. stoked with the result. thank you x

      Reply
      • Alison Andrews says

        November 16, 2020 at 11:26 am

        Awesome Karina, so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    12. Heather says

      October 22, 2020 at 3:44 am

      It’s certainly a lot cheaper than oat milk from the supermarket. I am very happy with the end result. Will sure make more. Thank you!5 stars

      Reply
      • Alison Andrews says

        October 22, 2020 at 9:23 am

        So glad it turned out well! Thanks for the great review Heather!

        Reply
    13. Katie says

      October 11, 2020 at 9:11 am

      I’ve made this with and without the syrup and vanilla and it’s yummy either way over cereal etc, but it always sinks to the bottom of my coffee 🙁 I’ve tried putting the milk in first and last and I’ve tried adding it reeeaaaally slowly, I’ve tried soaking and not soaking but it still does it, any ideas for how to fix it? Thanks 🙂 I use instant coffee by the way and I use a nut milk bag to strain.5 stars

      Reply
      • Alison Andrews says

        October 12, 2020 at 10:47 am

        Hi Katie, you can also try letting your coffee cool a little before adding the milk. This can be a common issue with plant milks, as the acid in the coffee can interact with them causing them to separate from the coffee. Letting it cool a little before adding the milk can help.

        Reply
        • Katy says

          February 23, 2021 at 8:22 pm

          I often add a small pinch of salt to my coffee to help cut the acid. (Table salt is generally considered neutral, not basic, but still helps cut the acid because it is *less* acidic than coffee.) I have never tried it with oatmilk specifically, but it may help prevent separation? Maybe try adding a small pinch to your cup before adding the oat milk.

          Reply
    14. Virginia says

      October 05, 2020 at 10:15 pm

      Any hints on how I’ve ended up with a bitter after taste? Is that normal for oat milk or something I may have done? Many thanks!

      Reply
      • Alison Andrews says

        October 06, 2020 at 10:06 am

        Hi Virginia, sorry no I have no idea why that would be. Did you soak your oats first? I’m just taking a guess at a possible cause, we don’t soak the oats first as it’s our preference for taste and texture.

        Reply
    15. Allison says

      July 11, 2020 at 3:06 pm

      Can you use honey instead of maple syrup?

      Reply
      • Alison Andrews says

        July 13, 2020 at 10:41 am

        Sure!

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Comment Policy: Your feedback is really appreciated! Please do us a favor and rate the recipe as well as this really helps us! The most helpful comments are the ones that give useful feedback for others who might make the recipe, tell about substitutions you made or adjustments you made and how it turned out, or assisting other commenters. Rude or insulting comments will not be accepted.

    Leave A Comment & Review Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi I’m Alison Andrews! I love making delicious vegan food and creating delicious vegan versions of all your old favorite dishes, so you can have your vegan cake and eat it too!

    More about me →

    Popular Posts

    • Vegan Tuna
    • The Best Vegan Mac and Cheese (Classic, Baked)
    • Vegan Burrito
    • Super Eggy Vegan Tofu Scramble
    • Sliceable Cashew Cheese
    • Homemade Vegan Butter

    Outdoor & Grill

    • Vegan Chicken Salad
    • Vegan Kebabs
    • Vegan Baked Beans
    • Tofu Burger

    See ALL Outdoor and Grill Recipes →


    Father's Day Recipes

    • Vegan Biscoff Cupcakes
    • Vegan Biscoff Brownies
    • Vegan Peanut Butter Blossoms
    • Vegan Biscoff Cake

    See ALL Father's Day Recipes →


    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Follow Us

    Contact

    • About
    • Contact

    Copyright © 2022 Loving It Vegan

    Get 10 fabulous dinner recipes!
    Absolutely free! Sign up below!
    Get Your Copy! It's FREE!