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Homemade oat milk is a creamy, vegan, and nutritious alternative to dairy milk. It is inexpensive and easy to make in your own kitchen!
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When it comes to dairy-free milk, you have heard of almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, soy milk, and maybe even macadamia nut milk. It is the perfect dairy-free milk for those who may also have nut allergies or soy allergies. It works great in smoothies, with cereal, and even with dipping Oreos! You can use it in baking recipes as well.
This homemade oat milk is the perfect combination of sweet and savory giving you all the milk flavor with less fat and healthy for you. It is a non-dairy milk that is still full of flavor and so simple to make. Learn how to make the best homemade oat milk and avoid having the oat milk slimy with the best tips and instructions. Follow this homemade recipe for all the step-by-step information you need!
Ingredients for Homemade Oat Milk
When making homemade oat milk, rolled oats are the best. Choose your favorite type of sweetener if you are looking for sweeter oat milk. The salt balances the flavors and water is something that can be adjusted for thickness and gives most of the liquid for the oat milk. It is the perfect combination!
- Oats – For this recipe, rolled oats work best. Rolled oats are oats that have been separated from the husk, steamed, and flattened. Rolled oats work well for milk because they soften quicker than other types of oats. For example, steel-cut oats are not steamed or rolled, they are just cut into thin slices. They don’t work well in baking or making milk because they won’t soften. Rolled oats will give you the creamy, smooth texture you want.
- Water – Filtered water works best for this recipe, as it is not cooked before consumption. Make sure to use cold water. Warm water changes the texture of the oats. Think of what happens when you make oatmeal. That is what will happen if you use warm water.
- Sweeteners – You do not have to add sweeteners, but I like to. Without a little bit of sweetener, the milk doesn’t taste like much. You can use dates, maple syrup, honey, agave, brown sugar, vanilla extract, or Stevia. If you want to make chocolate oat milk, then add a little bit of cocoa powder as well!
- Pinch of Salt – A pinch of salt brings out the flavors of the other ingredients and also balances any added sweetness.
Equipment
Normally there are a few ways to make recipes but with this homemade oat milk, it is best to have a nice or newer blender. It is best to have a high-power one that can blend quickly and smoothly. The strainer and a sealed container are interchangeable. Each of these equipment requirements can be used for several other recipes too!
- High-Speed Blender – Because the oats don’t react well to over-blending, you should use a high-speed blender. I have a Blendtec blender and it works really well for homemade oat milk.
- Strainer – To strain the milk you can use a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, a thin tea towel, an old (but clean) t-shirt, or a nut milk bag. I repeat myself several times in this recipe, but this is important – DO NOT squeeze or force the mixture through the bag. It will turn out slimy.
- Sealed Container – The milk needs to be stored in a sealed container to ensure freshness.
How to Make the Best Homemade Oat Milk
Making homemade milk with oats is very simple and does not take long to make. You will add all the ingredients into the blender and blend until it is smooth. You can store your milk in a mason jar and keep it in the refrigerator until it is gone. This homemade oat milk can replace your milk at home!
- Combine – Place all the ingredients in a blender.
- Blend – Blend only until smooth. Do not over-blend or you will get slimy oat milk.
- Drain – Line a bowl or measuring cup with a nut milk bag or cheesecloth. Pour the mixture into the bag or the cloth. Hold the bag or cloth up and allow the milk to drain out of the bag. Do not squeeze.
How to Avoid Slimy Oat Milk
This milk recipe can turn out slimy for a few reasons. Working with oats you need to make sure you blend them and not soak them compared to other types of homemade milk. Also, using a high-speed blender can help with the process too. Follow these steps to avoid having slimy oat milk.
- First – If you soak the oats before blending. With rolled oats, you can put the oats in the blender right away – no soaking needed.
- Second – Heating the homemade oat milk makes it slimy. Make sure to use cold water to blend, and do not heat. It will turn slimy or even to an oatmeal consistency.
- Third – If you blend the oats and water for longer than about 30 seconds, then it will turn out slimy. A high-speed blender works best for this recipe.
- Forth – Finally, when you strain the milk, use a fine-mesh sieve, nut milk bag, or cheesecloth, but do not force the milk through. Let it naturally strain out. Pushing it through can allow too much pulp to come through.
Recipe Tip
If you strain the milk and it still is not smooth, then you can double-strain it. Just make sure not to force it through the sieve.
“This is the perfect oat milk recipe. So good!”
-Amanda
FAQs
Technically, homemade oat milk should be gluten-free. However, a lot of oats are grown near wheat and get cross contaminated. Make sure the oats you are using are certified gluten-free oats, and then your homemade oat milk will be safe!
Some store-bought oat milk has added vitamins and minerals. If dairy milk is a big staple in your diet and you are replacing it with homemade milk with oats, you may need to supplement it with extra vitamins or nutrient-rich foods.
The best way I have found to use the leftover oat pulp is to put it in my or my kid’s baths! Oats are soothing to the skin and can reduce irritation.
No, it may seem like it is at first buying the equipment and ingredients but after several times making it, the homemade oat milk is better in price. Purchasing the oat milk at the store costs between $3 to $7 depending on location and the grocery store. After making homemade oat milk the amount comes to $0.70 each time. These amounts can vary depending on personal experience.
Storing the Perfect Homemade Oat Milk
Store homemade oat milk in an airtight container in the fridge and use within a week. Make sure after each use that you seal the lid back on. Shake well before each use. You do not want to heat this milk.
More Drink Recipes
We are all about tasty and delicious beverages that fill your cup! Some are fruity, savory, sweet, and a combination of it all. You can’t go wrong with these drinks in your hand at a party, game night, or celebrating a holiday!
How to Make Homemade Oat Milk
Homemade Oat Milk
Ingredients
- 4 cups water cold
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 pitted date
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a blender.
- Blend only until smooth. Do not over-blend or you will get slimy oat milk.
- Line a bowl or measuring cup with a nut milk bag or cheesecloth. Pour the mixture into the bag or the cloth. Hold the bag or cloth up and allow the milk to drain out of the bag. Do not squeeze.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge and use within a week. Shake well before each use. DO NOT HEAT.
This is such a great post! It really breaks it down into an easy an approachable process!
This is the perfect oat milk recipe. So good!