After a few tries, I realised that making oat milk at home wasn’t exactly like making cashew milk or almond milk. On the surface, it seems easy: oat milk is made by blending oats with filtered water. But there’s a catch: it can have slimy mouthfeel if it’s not made properly. Good thing for you, I’ve taken the guesswork out of how to make oat milk because I’ve tested this recipe again and again… and again and again. I wanted it PERFECT and I think I’ve worked out all the kinks to come up with a recipe for oat milk that’s delicious and creamy (not slimy!). I can’t wait to hear what you think!
Why You’ll Love This Oat Milk Recipe
Mild flavour. Oat milk tastes kind of like oats, and also like the flavouring you give it (like vanilla extract). It has a lovely mild flavour, similar to oatmeal. A great choice for cooking and baking. The mild flavour makes oat milk excellent for using in recipes. I’ve used it to make a single mug macaroni (yes, my love for mug recipes is off the chart), and in banana bread and I didn’t taste any distinct oat flavour. Easy to make. With the right technique and just a few pantry staples, you can make your own oat milk at home, simple as that!
Notes on Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
Filtered cold water – The water should be quite cold—ice cold is best. Old fashioned oats – Also known as rolled oats. Be sure to buy gluten-free certified oats if you want your homemade oat milk to be gluten-free. Sea salt Maple syrup – You can adjust the amount to your preferences. Date syrup is another sweetener option. Vanilla extract – Skip this if you plan on using your oat milk for savoury recipes, but it’s a nice flavour enhancer if you’ll be drinking it straight, using it for cereal, etc.
How to Make Oat Milk
Blend. Combine the cold water, oats, salt, and maple syrup in a blender. Blend for 30 seconds. Strain. Pour the oat milk through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl. Press the pulp with a wooden spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Add more water. Transfer the oat milk to a glass bottle or jar. Stir in the extra cup of water, then use or refrigerate for later.
Tips for Success
Make sure the water is super cold. Here’s the number one tip for not making oat milk slimy: use very cold water. We don’t want to heat up the oats! I add ice to water, let it sit for 10 minutes, then remove the ice and measure out 3 cups of water. Don’t soak your oats before. I tested this and it definitely contributed to that undesirable slimy consistency. It’s best to start with dry oats for this oat milk recipe. Use a high-speed blender. This part is kind of non-negotiable because you need a machine that’ll blitz the oats quickly, so they aren’t blending for too long. (This, again, helps prevent the sliminess.) Limit the blending time. You want to blend for as little time as possible. I blitz the mixture for about 30 seconds. After testing it several times I found that this was the best method. Save the pulp. You can discard the pulp or use it in smoothies, cookies, or other baked goods.
How to Use Homemade Oat Milk
Anything cold? Perfect. Hot recipes? Let’s get into that. When homemade oat milk gets heated up in certain recipes, it’ll get slightly slimy. So if you’re making a hot breakfast beverage, for example, it wouldn’t be the best option. I do find that where the milk is just an ingredient in a recipe that’ll be cooked or baked, it works perfectly. So, I would say make it and test it to see where it works for you. These are some of my favourite recipes to use this in:
Whipped Coffee Whipped Matcha Blueberry Pancakes Vegan Cheese Sauce Baked Mac and Cheese
How to Store
You can store this homemade oat milk recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 days; shake it well before using it. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months and thaw it in the fridge before using.
