Healthy & Delicious Chocolate Oat Milk Recipe

As the alternative milk industry explodes, there’s one milk that has completely dominated shelves and the hearts of vegans everywhere: Oat milk. This blog will break down everything you need to know about this non-dairy beverage. So whether you’re looking for the best dairy alternatives, or you’re just curious about what all this oat talk is about, you’ll discover something that will oat your boat (I crack myself up!).  But seriously, we’ll get into how to make oat milk, what homemade oat milk tastes like, and I’ll even share my favorite oat milk recipe! After reading this blog, you’ll be saying, O(at)MG, I can’t wait to make some oat milk!  

What Is Oat Milk?

Okay, before we get any further, let’s clear one thing up: What the heck is an oat milk recipe anyways? So happy you asked. Oat milk is a neutral-tasting milk substitute. Oat milk is made from… you guessed it… raw oats. The reason that the oat milk fad has caught on like wildfire is that oat milk is pretty incredible. Here are just a few of the health benefits of oat milk:

• Contains ZERO dairy
• Environmentally friendly
• Very few saturated fats
• Contains more protein than nut-based milk options
• High in fiber
• Nut-free
• Contains a healthy dose of B vitamins and other minerals

Although oat milk is wildly popular and served as a healthy milk alternative in coffee shops across the country, it wasn’t always so chic. Oat milk was invented by a Swedish food scientist in 1994 as a solution to lactose intolerance and food sustainability. (1) The small Swedish company, Oatly, was the first company to sell oat milk. The company marketed oat milk which led to a lawsuit filed by the Swedish dairy lobby. The dairy lobby sued Oatly for their slogans, which they argued unfairly criticized the dairy industry. The lobby won and Oatly published a full-page protest in response to the lawsuit… and for the first time, oat milk finally gained momentum. 

Fast forward to today, you can find oat milk sitting next to almond and soy at most cafes. Who knew the trials and tribulations that oats had to go through!? Oat milk is SO popular that it frequently sells out. Turns out, oat milk shortages are a real thing. And luckily, you never have to worry about running out of oat milk because I’m going to show you step-by-step how to make your own oat milk recipe.

How To Make Oat Milk At Home

For anyone interested in making oat milk at home, you’ll be relieved to know that making a delicious, creamy oat milk is simple, affordable, and quick! There are tons of oat milk recipes and ways to make oat milk.

Making oat milk starts with a clean kitchen space and the proper tools: You’ll need a powerful blender and separate the milk from the pulp by using a cheesecloth, clean t-shirt, or a special nut milk bag.

The flavor profile of oat milk can be quite neutral so you can experiment with different flavor profiles by adding vanilla extract, cacao nibs, berries, and my personal favorite… Chocolate Cake Super Youth! 

Be sure to hop on the SkinnyFit Facebook community page and share your favorite way to make oat milk!

Helpful tips for making oat milk:

It can be a bummer if my homemade oat milk comes out a bit slimy. As an oat milk enthusiast myself, here are a few tips I’ve found helpful to avoid a slime texture:

• Best served cold. Oat milk is best enjoyed cold. Think cereal and cold milk, an oat milk smoothie, or an iced latte with a splash of chilled oat milk. When oat milk is heated up it can take on a thick, oatmeal-like consistency… AKA queue the slimy consistency.
• Skip soaking. Most recipes call for you to properly soak the rolled oats before moving forward, but in my experience, that leaves the oats a bit slimy. Instead, go ahead and use the oats and skip the soak.
• Fight the urge to over blend your milk. I know it’s satisfying to throw the ingredients into your powerful food processor. But if you have a powerful blender, don’t mix the recipe for over 30 seconds. For this recipe, over blended does not equal tasty.  
• Invest in a nut milk bag or fine mesh strainer. Most food bloggers use nut milk bags to make oat milk. Try not to squeeze the pulp as it can increase the slime factor. 

Is Oat Milk Healthy?

Yes, oat milk is definitely healthy! It’s non-dairy and great for vegan diets! Compared to almond and rice milk, oat milk has more protein and fiber. Although some of the fiber content is lost during the processing, oat milk still ends up with 2 to 3 grams of fiber per serving. Oat milk is higher in carbs and calories than almond or rice milk—coming in at around 100 calories per serving or more. (2) So go ahead and sow your wild oats. And watch how it comes out as healthy milk!

Another benefit? Oak milk is a great alternative to nut milk! If you have a nut allergy, oat milk is your new best friend.