How To Make The Best Creamy Oatmeal Recipe
Oatmeal, arguably one of the most nutritious of the cereal grasses, has been a staple in continental breakfast bars for decades.
I enjoy oatmeal as an addition to my morning routine, serving both as a nutritious and balanced breakfast to kickstart my day. But, I also enjoy eating oatmeal as a yummy afternoon snack to keep me energized.
My personal favorite time to eat oatmeal is when I am camping and backpacking!
While camping, I prefer to keep things simple and easy. I love this hot oatmeal to go alongside my hot coffee. It’s a comforting breakfast with simple ingredients and is ready in less than 30 minutes (especially, if you use old-fashioned oats!)
Ingredients – Base Oatmeal Recipe
This Creamy Oatmeal recipe is so easy anyone can make it.
Steel-Cut Oats: I prefer to use steel-cut or Irish oats when making oatmeal. If you prefer to use any other type such as old-fashioned rolled oats, you can do so but the cooking time with change. I prefer McCann’s Steel Cut Oats for its chewy texture and delicious flavor.
Oatmilk: Homemade or store-bought oatmilk will do. This can be used as a non-dairy milk alternative. Alternatively, you can use other plant milk such as soy milk for a little more protein.
Whole Milk: I like to use whole milk, but for even creamier oatmeal I’ll use heavy cream. To keep this recipe vegan, use coconut milk instead.
Butter: Finally, I love to add a bit of butter at the end of cooking. Add the butter to your big ol’ pot of oats or a bit in your bowl after serving. This adds to the creaminess.
Salt: I add a pinch of salt (kosher) to bring out the flavors and natural sweetness of the oats.
I have a whole list of oatmeal toppings below, but I love to add some healthy fats with some nut butter and more protein with added protein powder. I prefer to add Vital Proteins Collagen powder to my oatmeal because its taste and texture does not interfere with the flavors of the oatmeal and toppings.
Step-By-Step Instructions For Creamy Oatmeal
- Add oats and oat milk to a medium pot and turn the stove to medium heat.
- Cover the pot with its lid and let the oatmeal sit on low for 15 minutes. Consider a heat diffuser to keep the heat very, very low.
- Mix in the butter and then let sit, off the heat, for 5 min.
- Top oatmeal with your favorite toppings and dig in!
The Best Oatmeal Toppings
Now, for the best part, let’s top the creamy oatmeal!
I’ve compiled a list of possible add-ins and toppings that are great options to add to this Creamy Oatmeal Recipe. This list is not all-encompassing – please get creative with the toppings and listen to your taste buds! This is the best way to make an oatmeal bowl you will love to make and enjoy again and again!
- Fruit – Fresh fruit such as raspberries and bananas, dried fruits such as cranberries and apples, freeze-dried fruit such as strawberries and blueberries.
- Jam – marionberry, raspberry, apple butter
- Nut butter – cashew, sunflower seed, almond butter
- Something sweet – maple syrup, date syrup, honey, brown sugar, chocolate shavings, chocolate hazelnut spread
- Creamy – sweetened condensed milk, butter, milk
- Nuts/seeds – sunflower seeds, chia seeds, walnuts, slivered almonds
- Seasoning – nutmeg, cinnamon, cinnamon sugar, flakey sea salt
- Other – cookies (e.g. Quest Peanut butter protein cookies), date bars (e.g. Lara bars), granola bars (e.g. Kind bars), extracts (e.g. almond extract, vanilla extract)
Some Creamy Oatmeal Topping Combinations
Strawberries and cream: Mix the strawberry jam, freeze-dried, or fresh strawberries directly into your oatmeal. Then mix in a little sweetened condensed milk or half and half. Top the oatmeal with more sweetened condensed milk, sliced strawberries, or freeze-dried strawberry crumbles.
Blueberry Banana Bread: Mix in ½ tsp cashew butter along with fresh or freeze-dried blueberries and banana chips or fresh bananas. Top with walnuts and some more of your fruit toppings.
Dark Chocolate Cherry: Mix in 1 tsp cherry jam. Top with fresh cherries and/or dark chocolate chunks. Option to top with slivered or sliced almonds.
PB&J: Mix in 1 tsp peanut butter or PB2 powder. Top with dried cranberries or raisins. Drizzle with a bit more peanut butter. You have the option to top with chopped peanuts, too.
Apple Cinnamon: Mix in ½ tsp butter and ¼ tsp cinnamon. Top with bite-sized apple chunks or dried apples. Option to dust with brown sugar, date sugar, cinnamon, and sunflower seeds or pecans.
FAQ (Ask A Dietitian!)
What Is Oatmeal?
Oat groats, Steel-cut, and Rolled oats are all oatmeal!
Below are the differences between these many oats.
Oat groats: Oat groats are cleaned, toasted, hulled, and cleaned again whole oats. These cook similarly to rice.
Steel-cut oats: These are oat groats cut into 2 to 3 pieces. These take longer to cook than old-fashioned or quick quick-cooking cooking oats. Steel-cut or Irish oats have a chewier texture old-fashioned when compared to old-fashioned.
Rolled oats: Also known as Old-fashioned oats, rolled oats are groats that have been steamed and flattened with large rollers. Rolled oats take about 15min to cook.
Quick-cooking rolled oats: Finally, we have quick-cooking oats which are oat groats that have been cut into several pieces and then steamed and rolled into thinner flakes. Quick oats are the fastest-cooking oats, taking only about 5min.
How To Make Oatmeal Creamy without Milk?
To make oatmeal creamy without milk, use a plant-based alternative such as oat, cashew, soy, coconut, or almond milk.
Is Oatmeal Better With Milk or Water?
The answer to “Is oatmeal better with milk or water” depends on your personal preference.
Do you prefer the taste of oatmeal made with milk or water? For me, I prefer the taste of oatmeal when it is made with milk. Milk has additional health benefits such as protein, vitamins, and minerals that aid in a balanced breakfast.
The Bottom line is, make a breakfast you will enjoy. Healthy food should taste great!
Like this recipe? Check Out These Breakfast Articles and Recipes!
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Steel Cut Oatmeal
Equipment
- 1 Pot
- 1 rubber spatula
Ingredients
- 3 cups Oatmilk unsweetened
- 1/4 cup Whole milk option for 1/2 & 1/2 or heavy cream
- 1.5 cups Steel cut oats
- 2 tbsp Unsalted butter
- 1/4 tsp Kosher salt
Instructions
- Add oatmilk, 1/2 and 1/2 and oats to a pot. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Turn the heat to low and cover. (you may want to use a heat diffuser if you have a gas stove). Cook for 15min.
- After 15min. Turn the heat off and add 3 tbsp of butter over top your oats. Mix in and let rest for 5min.
- Enjoy with your favorte oatmeal toppings!
Nutrition
Hi, I'm Sarah Harper. I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves to cook, eat, and talk about food! Here at The Addy Bean, you'll discover an array of flexitarian recipes. My mission is to inspire and encourage others to eat and explore the world of plant-based foods!
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