Cinnamon oatmeal is the best easy breakfast recipe! It's quick, healthy and great for busy mornings because you can whip it up in 15 minutes or less with a handful of simple ingredients. I especially love a warm bowl of oatmeal on a chilly morning and enjoy it all throughout the cold season, but you can totally eat it year round.
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There are so many good reasons to add oatmeal to your diet.
Oats have a lot of health benefits and they're packed full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They also contain more protein than most grains! (source: healthline).
If you're looking to include more oats in your diet, I've got so many easy recipes for you to try! I often eat oatmeal as a healthy breakfast but keep in mind, it's also a good way to satisfy your sweet tooth come dessert time.
More Easy Oatmeal Recipes
- Blueberry Baked Oatmeal Cups
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
- Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
- Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal
- Healthy Oatmeal Blueberry Pancakes
- No-Bake Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal
- Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
- Easy Homemade Cinnamon Granola
- Coffee Overnight Oats
- Chocolate Overnight Oats
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Ingredients & Substitutions
- Unsweetened almond milk: or milk of choice (oat milk, soy milk, coconut milk, regular dairy milk, etc)! You can also make oatmeal with water, but I always use milk of some kind because it makes for very creamy oatmeal.
- Salt: just a bit adds depth to flavors overall!
- Vanilla extract: I prefer using pure vanilla extract but imitation will work fine, too.
- Whole grain rolled oats: you can also use quick oats or instant oats, I definitely prefer whole grain oats because they're heartier and taste better overall. Plus, they tend to be less mushy and only take a few more minutes to cook!
- Cinnamon: adding ground cinnamon to oatmeal is SO yummy. You can also add a dash of nutmeg (you won't need much, nutmeg is a very potent spice).
- Raisins: you can use another dried fruit if you like.
- Pure maple syrup: or sweetener of choice, though I think maple syrup is the absolute best. I love the flavor it adds to oatmeal, though brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal is another great combo.
- Pecans: or nut/s of choice.
- Half and half: sub heavy cream, whole milk, or a non-dairy milk option if desired.
How To Make Cinnamon Oatmeal
Keep scrolling for the full recipe card and measurements. We’ll start here with a quick overview!
Boil liquids:
- Measure milk, salt and vanilla into a medium or small saucepan.
- Bring ingredients to a boil over high heat.
Add oats and cinnamon:
- Add whole grain oats and cinnamon to the saucepan.
- Mix well and simmer, uncovered, for 5-6 minutes (if you're using quick oats you'll need to simmer only 1-2 minutes).
Add raisins:
- Add raisins to the saucepan and mix. You can use other dried fruits, if desired.
Rest:
- Place a lid on the pot.
- Allow oatmeal to rest for a few minutes.
Portion:
- Split oatmeal into serving bowls.
Serve:
- Add extra raisins, a dash of cinnamon, chopped pecans, a touch of maple syrup and cream or any other desired toppings. And there you have it, the perfect breakfast! Enjoy!
Can I Use Steel Cut Oats?
Absolutely! Note: for steel cut oats, you'll need double the liquid. So, for one cup of oats you'll need to boil 3 cups of milk/water. You'll also need more simmer time. It takes around 20-25 minutes for steel cut oats to cook thoroughly.
In my opinion, if you've got some extra time, it's worth the wait. Steel cut oats are SOO good.
More Topping Ideas
- Banana slices
- Peeled & diced apple
- Fresh berries
- Chia seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Walnuts
- Cashews
- Nut butter
- Sun butter
- Brown sugar
- Greek yogurt
How To Store Leftovers
If you have any leftover oatmeal, place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave!
I like to place a damp paper towel on top of my oats before reheating them, this creates a steaming effect and keeps them from getting super dry.
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The Best Cinnamon Oatmeal Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Small or medium saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 & ½ cups unsweetened almond milk *or milk of choice *see note below
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole grain old-fashioned oats
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons raisins
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- 2 tablespoons half and half
Recipe notes:
Almond milk: water also works, but I have found it's not nearly as creamy or flavorful. Sometimes I do half water and half milk if I want to cut back on calories.Instructions
- Measure milk, vanilla and salt into a medium pot. Turn heat to high and bring ingredients to a boil.1 & ½ cups unsweetened almond milk, ⅛ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Add oats to the pot and reduce heat to medium/medium-low. Stir in cinnamon and simmer mixture for 5-6 minutes. (*Tip: if you like more liquid reduce simmer time. If you like less, cook oats longer).1 cup whole grain old-fashioned oats, ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Stir raisins into oatmeal. Place a lid on the saucepan and remove from the heat source and let the mixture rest for a few minutes.2 tablespoons raisins
- Portion oatmeal into bowls and add toppings. I like maple syrup, pecans and a bit of half and half but you can add anything you like. Enjoy!2 tablespoons maple syrup, ¼ cup chopped pecans, 2 tablespoons half and half
For steel cut oats:
- You'll need to double liquids. So, for one cup of oats, boil 3 cups of liquid along with salt and vanilla. You'll also need more simmer time. It takes around 20-25 minutes for steel cut oats to cook thoroughly, but the wait is worth it!
To store leftovers:
- Place leftovers in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave! I like to place a damp paper towel on top of my oats before reheating them, this creates a steaming/moistening effect.
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Nutrition
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