My quick and easy homemade oat milk recipe can be made with both steel cut and rolled oats, and produces creamy, smooth oat milk every time. I explain why I make mine with steel-cut oats when I can, and I’m also giving you all the tips and tricks for out-of-this-world oat milk!
Oat milk is a plant-based milk substitute with only 2 ingredients. It’s a popular non-dairy alternative that you can make cheaply at home by blending oats and water into a pulp with a high-speed blender.
Why this Recipe Works
This recipe works with or without sweeteners and with both steel-cut oats or rolled oats. This makes it easy to make with whatever you have on hand, and to your sweetness liking.
The secret to smooth, creamy oat milk and not slimy oat milk is to avoid over-blending the soaked oats and water. You should blend them together for 30 seconds maximum to achieve the perfect texture.
This recipe is made with a high-speed blender, yielding a natural thickness and sweetness that you won’t get if using a regular blender.
Steel cut vs. rolled oats
This recipe works great with both steel-cut and rolled oats, so you get to use whatever you already have on hand. Here are some things to consider:
- Steel cut oats – Using steel cuts oats produces a nuttier flavor in the oat milk – that tastes amazing! Although this is my preference, it does require soaking the oats overnight, which we don’t always have time for.
- Rolled oats – Although rolled oats don’t come with the same flavor punch as steel cut oats, you only need to soak them for 20 minutes so this is a more speedy and convenient option.
Do not use instant oats for this recipe. It will yield a sloppy mush, which no one wants!
Sweeteners
Sweeteners are optional when making oat milk. I prefer to sweeten my oat milk as I use it because different uses call for different sweetness levels. If you’d like to sweeten the oat milk when you make it be sure to also add a pinch of sea salt to round it out.
Here are some sweetener options that I recommend using in this recipe.
- Dates (1-2, pitted)
- Maple syrup (1 tablespoon)
- Agave syrup (1 tablespoon)
- Simple syrup (1-2 tablespoons)
Add any of these to the recipe when the oats and water are added to the blender. Once blended, taste, and add more if desired.
You can also add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to your oat milk for a subtle vanilla flavor throughout. This is especially tasty for use in teas and coffees.
Equipment
High-speed blender – You need a high-speed blender because it has sharper, higher-quality blades and a higher-powered motor. This allows you to break down the oats more, so you get more of the oats in the final product.
Strainer or nut milk bag – Either work to strain the oats from the water.
Airtight container or jar with lid – You’ll use this to safely store the oat milk.
How to make this recipe
Start by rinsing your oats thoroughly and draining the excess water. Then, cover the oats with more water and soak them.
- If using steel-cut oats, they will need to soak for 8 hours.
- If using rolled oats, they need to soak for 20 minutes.
Strain the oats from the water, and add the drained oats to a blender with a fresh three cups of filtered water, and (optional) sweetener. Blend the oats and water together for 30 seconds maximum. The key culprit for slimy oat milk is over-blending your oats. Don’t blend for any longer than the 30 seconds recommended for the best non-slimy texture.
If using a regular, fine-mesh strainer or sieve, strain the oats and water mixture 3-4 times until you are left with your oat milk liquid.
If using a nut milk bag, simply strain it through the bag once. You can the leftover pulp it to bake oatmeal cookies like these, and in other baked goods like muffins or banana bread. You can also add it to your smoothies or use it for overnight oats!
Transfer it to a sealable container, and it will keep in the fridge for 4-5 days. The oat milk will separate when left in the fridge, so shake well before using it again.
How to Flavor Oat Milk
At this point, you can add the oat milk back to the blender and gently blend in one of the following flavorings. Here are some of my favorites:
- Chocolate oat milk – add cocoa powder to your desired preference
- Vanilla oat milk – add 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
- Matcha oat milk – add 1 tablespoon of matcha powder to your desired taste
- Lavender oat milk – add a lavender simple syrup like the one I make here
- Cinnamon oat milk – add powdered cinnamon to your desired strength of flavor
Tips for Using and Storing Oatmilk
Refrigerate your oat milk and it will keep in the fridge for 4-5 days. Make sure to shake well before use! This is because it separates if left too long.
If heating your oat milk, take care. You can heat oat milk, but be careful. If you heat it up too quickly or for too long, the oat milk will cook and become thick and lumpy, like oatmeal.
More Homemade Dairy-Free Recipes
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Homemade Oat Milk
Print Recipe SaveIngredients
- 1 cup steel cut oats oats or rolled oats
- 3 cups drinking water
- sweetener optional, see notes below
Instructions
- Start by rinsing your oats thoroughly and draining the excess water. Then, cover the oats with more water and soak them.If using steel-cut oats, they will need to soak for 8 hours.If using rolled oats, they need to soak for 20 minutes.
- Strain the oats from the water, and add the drained oats to a blender with a fresh three cups of filtered water, and (optional) sweetener.
- Blend the oats and water together for 30 seconds maximum.
- If using a regular, fine-mesh strainer or sieve, strain the oats and water mixture 3-4 times until you are left with your oat milk liquid.If using a nut milk bag, simply strain it through the bag once.
- Transfer it to a sealable container, and it will keep in the fridge for 4-5 days. It will separate, so shake well before use!
Video
Notes
- dates (1-2, pitted)
- maple syrup (1 tablespoon)
- agave syrup (1 tablespoon)
- simple syrup (1-2 tablespoons)
- Steel cut oats – Using steel cuts oats produces a nuttier flavor in the oat milk – that taste amazing! Although this is my preference, it does require soaking the oats overnight, which we don’t always have time for.
- Rolled oats – Although rolled oats don’t come with the same flavor punch as the steel cut oats, you only need to soak them for 20 minutes so this is definitely a more speedy and convenient option.
Is it okay if they soak longer than 8 hours? I’m leaving them in overnight but unless I get up at 4am to make them they will be in there for about 10ish hours. Will this affect them to much?
10ish hours will be ok. Enjoy!
Hi Hi,
I’m confused in your recipe you said Steel cut oats – Using steel cuts oats produces a nuttier flavor in the oat milk – that taste amazing! Although this is my preference, it does require soaking the oats overnight, which we don’t always have time for, but in the instructions you said Start by rinsing your oats thoroughly and draining the excess water. Then, cover the oats with more water and soak them.
If using steel-cut oats, they will need to soak for 8 hours. So do you soak or not soak?
Hi Khameron, sorry for the confusion! Yes, the flavor is better with steel cut oats and it requires an 8 hour soak after rinsing. So in step 1, you rinse the oats, cover them with fresh water after rinsing, then soak for 8 hours.
Hi Candice,
Thank you for clarifying 😊 I’ll give your recipe a try.
I blended it in the Vitamix at high speed for 30 seconds. It turned out slimy but I’m using it to make kefir so it’s not a big deal. I’m wondering if I should have used more of a regular blender speed with the Vitamix – it did the job a blender would have taken for several minutes, thus the slimy mix.
(1) what’s the serving size of steel cut oat milk here..is it 1/2 cup or 1 cup..
(2) the 26g carbs per serving in oat milk – does it comes from oats only or anything else like sweeteners ?? If it’s comes from sweetener too, then what would be the per serving carbs if someone using only oats without any sweeteners..?
Hi Dhruv, great questions! 1. each serving is just under one cup. 2. there is no sweetener taken into account when calculating the nutrition facts using the program I used.
Have you tried this recipe in almond cow milk maker? If so what would be the ratio between water and steel cut oats ?
If using the Almond Cow milk maker you can use 1 cup of steel cut oats, soaked for 8 hours, and 3 cups of water, with ice to float the water to the minimum line. You can leave the ice in the oat milk or remove it with a slotted spoon. I recommend processing it twice.
If using rolled oats, soak them for 10 minutes and process twice.
i’m soaking the oats right now, can’t wait to try it! i was wondering, can i put vanilla in this?
Absolutely, yes!
Wondering what serving size your. nutrition information is set for? One cup ? The whole batch?
Thanks. Made this recipe from steel cut oats, strained only once through a mesh strainer ( not fine mesh, I guess) and there was some residual “sludge” at the bottom, but it tasted good and I was fine with that. Could have strained it more, but did not see a need .
Hi Cynthia. Nutrition information is per serving, with 4 servings in the batch. As for the sludge, you can use a finer strainer and give it a good shake before each use. Enjoy!
What brand of steel cut oats did you use for this recipe?
I have used Bob’s Red Mill and McCann’s for this recipe.
Oatmilk does not look as good as soy milk, but once noted on cereal it feels more like real milk than soy milk. Plus more fiber. It’s a win-win.
I’m so glad you like it, John! And yes, not as pretty, but a win-win.
I love all the excellent info on this post!! Thanks!! I’ll definitely be making some next week!!
Can’t wait to hear what you think, Aline!
This is fantastic as I am such a DIYer. I’ve got my first batch soaking right now. Question, can I use the soaked & strained oats in something else? Maybe you mentioned it and i missed it, but I hate to throw them away if there are still some benefits from including them elsewhere (muffins, cookies)?
I’m so happy about it, Tara! You can definitely use it in baking. I have used it to make cookies – oatmeal cookies. Try these oatmeal raisin ghee cookies.
Such a great recipe! I didn’t know it was that easy and fast to make your own oat milk! Thank you for the inspiration!
So happy to hear you were inspired to make your own… enjoy, Nicoletta!