There are so many alternatives to regular milk, with oat milk being a popular plant-based version. For one, it’s creamy and delicious, boasting a mild yet sweet flavor that’s further complemented by its allergen-free characteristics!
However, there’s a less known plant-based milk that’s also delicious and very underrated: hazelnut milk! This stuff boasts a delicious texture, and has a rich flavor that’ll pair really well with many things!
But which milk should you choose?
Let’s dive into that question, exploring all the characteristics about these two that’ll help us make the best decision!
Comparing hazelnut milk vs oat milk
Both milks are plant-based, but hazelnut milk is the only one with an allergen: tree nuts. Oat milk is completely allergen-free, and also fits well into vegan diets.
That said, hazelnut milk is super versatile, fitting into vegan, paleo, and keto diets!
| Hazelnut milk | Oat milk | |
| Type | Plant-based (nuts) | Plant-based (grain) |
| Allergens | Tree nuts | None |
| Vegan? | Yes | Yes |
| Paleo? | Yes | No |
| Keto? | Yes | No |
Differences between hazelnut milk and oat milk
The main difference between hazelnut milk and oat milk is where they come from, with hazelnut milk coming from nuts and oat milk coming from grains.
Hazelnut milk is made by soaking hazelnuts and blending them with water, straining the resulting liquid to give us a full, rich, creamy, and earthy milk! However, as great as it is, it’s a little tricky finding it in stores, especially compared to oat milk…
Oat milk is made by blending oats with water, which is also strained. It boasts a creamy texture too, but has a milder flavor profile that’s slightly sweet. Although, sweeteners and flavorings are sometimes added to enhance the taste, and you’ll sometimes see vitamins and minerals added for a boost in nutritional profile!
As mentioned, it’s much easier to find oat milk at the store, but you can also make it at home!
How to use hazelnut milk vs oat milk
Try using your hazelnut milk and oat milk in these ways:
Hazelnut milk:
- Bake with it.
- Enjoy as a dairy-free beverage.
- Mix it into your smoothies and oatmeal.
- Add it to your coffee or tea.
- Make delicious and creamy hot chocolate.
- Use as a nutty and creamy ingredient in soups.
Oat milk:
- Enjoy it as a dairy-free beverage.
- Add it to your cereal and oatmeal.
- Pair it with your favorite pancake recipe.
- Put it in your coffee.
- Make smoothies with it.
Can you substitute hazelnut milk for oat milk?
Usually, you can absolutely substitute these out for one another. It might get a little tricky balancing flavors, however, as hazelnut milk has a more pronounced rich, nutty, and earthy taste while oat milk is milder. That said, play around with them to find what works best for you, as both are creamy and delicious options!
Nutrition: Hazelnut milk vs oat milk
Hazelnut milk has twice as many calories as oat milk, but similarly has very little sugar. Oat milk barely has any fat in it, while the rich and full hazelnut milk has 9 grams per serving. You’ll also find more carbs in oat milk, but both are poor in protein.
Oat milk is a much better source of calcium and vitamin D than hazelnut milk.
| Per 1 cup (237 ml/8 oz.) | Hazelnut milk | Oat milk |
| Calories | 90 | 45 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 9 g (0.5 g) | 0.5 g (0 g) |
| Total carbs | 1 g | 8 g |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | 1 g (0 g) | 0 g |
| Protein | 2 g | 1 g |
| Calcium | 2% DV | 25% DV |
| Vit D | 0% DV | 20% DV |
How to store hazelnut milk and oat milk
Hazelnut milk and oat milk are quite stable until they’re opened, especially when packaged in aseptic containers. Oat milk will last at room temperature for 1-4 months, while hazelnut milk can last up to 6 months!
Once you open them, finish your hazelnut milk within 5-7 days and your oat milk in 7-10 days, and keep them in the fridge.
Hazelnut milk vs oat milk: The ultimate verdict
Both of these are great, and it generally comes down to your preferences.
Hazelnut milk boasts a rich and fuller flavor than oat milk, which is more mild. Both are creamy, and boast some awesome nutritional benefits. However, there can only be one winner here today…
Oat milk is great, and boasts a delicious allergy-free experience, but hazelnut takes the win for having a richer flavor experience with a creamy texture, as well as being more versatile in special diets!
FAQs
Oat milk has some healthy qualities such as low calories, no saturated fat, no sugar, and calcium and vitamin D contents!
Unsweetened almond milk tends to have the least sugar naturally. However, you can also get unsweetened oat milk, coconut milk, and soy milk, which are all quite low in sugar too.
That really comes down to what your needs are, as you’ll find nutritional benefits in regular milk, almond milk, oat milk, pea milk, and even hazelnut milk!
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