Creamy Overnight Oats, Easy Comfort Food
Creamy overnight oats is what I eat almost every weekday morning, and what I’m savoring as I’m writing this post.
I mix it up differently each time, and this morning’s bowl has orange cranberry sauce and a splash of warmed “eggnog” swirled in. There also may be a dash of amaretto too. 😉
My oatmeal recipe is simple and very easy to double or triple, depending on your family size, and I cook up a big pot on Sunday evenings.
We store it in a large container in the fridge and scoop out however much we want each morning. Such a perfect breakfast throughout the week!
You’ll especially appreciate this oatmeal on busy mornings, because it is fast to heat up. The other great benefit is that you won’t get mid-morning hunger pangs.
A bowl leaves you feeling satisfied until lunch, but you won’t feel bloated or tired like some filling breakfast can make you feel.
Want an overnight oats recipe for warmer months? This one is a tropical oatmeal smoothie.
During the colder months I eat a bowl all the time, and I never get tired of it. I use different milks, toppings, and swirl-ins depending on what I’m in the mood for.
Having a simple oatmeal base to start with is why I make our porridge with only water.
Steel cut oats or a mix-in of quinoa, and maybe some ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice (recipe below) changes it up too.
This method is perfect for couples and families. Everyone is able to flavor their bowls how they like.
The sweeteners I use are maple syrup, plant based milks like chocolate or eggnog, or this vegan caramel from my autumn smoothie bowl.
Other good choices are coconut or organic brown sugar. Another reason I don’t pre-sweeten the oatmeal is because I like it less sweet, while my husband likes it more.
I also love adding a spoonful of almond or peanut butter. Nut & seed butters are a great protein choice, and so is a scoop of protein powder.
Homemade granola is a fantastic topping!
Fresh fruit, seeds, and nuts are also healthy and tasty additions, as you can see below.
I made this super yum treat by letting a thick scoop of a banana & lemon meyer nice cream smoothie melt into my hot oatmeal.
It tastes like a rich dessert, but it is actually really good for you. Definitely a win-win meal!
Oh, and before I forget, here’s the homemade pumpkin pie spice recipe. I love using this in baking and cooking, and if you put it in a dressy little jar it makes a really nice hostess or holiday gift.
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Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Whisk to blend and store in an airtight jar for up to 6 months, and shake to mix it before using. You can change up the ingredients and measurements to suit your taste.
And lastly, here is a fun thing to do with your oatmeal.
Change it with a rainbow of colors. I used Unicorn Superfoods Pink Pitaya Powder in this Autumn Unicorn Porridge.
It turned my apple and cinnamon spiced overnight oats into such a pretty pink bowl of YUM!
Simple Overnight Oats
Print RecipeIngredients
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup Quaker Steel Cut Oats *
- 1 - 2 teaspoons cinnamon or pumpkin spice
Instructions
Place all ingredients in a large pot, and bring to a boil over high heat. As soon as it's bubbling, cover and turn off heat but leave the pot on the burner.
After 1 hour stir and scoop into a container and place in fridge overnight. For softer oats heat on the stove the next morning until it's the texture you like. I prefer chunkier porridge, so I just scoop out enough for breakfast and microwave it in my bowl for 1 1/2 minutes.
Notes
*I like to mix it up with quinoa and different types of grains. Just keep the measurements the same for whole grains. You would use less liquid and cooking time for regular and rolled oats. I tend to throw in a handful of rolled oats near the end of cooking for a chunkier porridge.
P.S. I just posted a Gingerbread Granola recipe that would be perfect as a topping or mixed in!
