There’s nothing healthier and easier than bowls of oatmeal in the morning. If you just started on a plant-based or you are after a healthy breakfast that brings you all you need to fill full and energized, this is the one. The health benefits of oats are lovely. They are high in fiber which slows down the absorption of carbohydrates and keeps your blood sugar stable. Oats are also a wonderful grain to add to your diet and decrease cholesterol like in my Vegan Baked Oatmeal or Peanut Butter Baked Oatmeal. Let me share with you how to make this fall oatmeal recipe.
Ingredients and Substitutions
All you need to make this easy healthy breakfast recipe are a few basics ingredients.
Old-Fashioned Oats, quick-cooking oats, or a combination of both. I enjoy half rolled oats and half quick oats because rolled oats provide texture, while quick oats make the recipe creamier. Feel free to use what you have at home. Plant-Based Milk of choice. You can use soy milk to boost proteins and vitamins or almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk. Water – The combination of water and milk makes the oats creamier. Ground Cinnamon Coconut Sugar or brown sugar – I highly recommend brown sugar in vegan oatmeal. The flavor is fantastic, but coconut sugar is a healthier option if you are after a refined sugar-free sweetener. Maple Syrup – The combination of two sweeteners adds delicious fall flavors.
How To Make Vegan Oatmeal
To make this easy vegan oatmeal recipe with cinnamon flavors, you need only 10 minutes.
Stove Preparation
There are two ways to cook oatmeal in the morning. You can use the microwave or stove method.
Microwave Method
On busy mornings, I recommend the microwave to cook your oatmeal. It’s faster and works as well as the stove method. Add all the vegan oatmeal ingredients in a large bowl- except the vanilla extract. Place in the center of the microwave and cook at 1000W for 1 minute. Then, stir, return to the microwave, and cook in 30-second bursts until all the liquid is absorbed. Remove from the microwave and stir in vanilla extract.
Flavor Variations
You can add some delicious ingredients in this recipe to boost flavors of health benefits.
1 tablespoon of chia seeds or ground flaxseeds – add the seeds at the same time you add oats. 1 tablespoon of chocolate chips – at the end, on top of your bowl. 2 tablespoons of shredded coconut – add the end before you cover the pan.
Serving Vegan Oatmeal
Oatmeal is always better with some toppings. Here’s some delicious combination to add to your vegan oatmeal recipe.
Vegan Apple Oatmeal – Peel and core a small apple. Then, cut the apple into medium cubes. Set aside. In a nonstick saucepan, warm one teaspoon of coconut oil, then add the apple pieces, a pinch of ground cinnamon, and a drizzle of maple syrup. Stir and cook until fragrant – about 2 minutes. Serve the warm cooked apples on top of the vegan oatmeal with a drizzle of peanut butter or almond butter. Vegan Banana Cinnamon Oatmeal – Serve the bowl with slices of a small banana, pecans, walnuts, drizzle maple syrup, and a pinch of cinnamon. Vegan Protein Oatmeal – Cook the oatmeal with one scoop of vanilla protein powder. Serve with plant-based protein yogurt or a drizzle of nut butter for a boost of proteins. You may want to skip the vanilla extract to avoid an overpowering taste of vanilla. Vegan Berry Oatmeal – Stir 1/2 cup of frozen blueberries or strawberries in the cooked oatmeal. Vegan Pumpkin Oatmeal – Add the end, stir in 1/4 cup of pumpkin puree, and add 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg or pumpkin pie spices.
Storage Instructions
Fridge – Place leftovers in a bowl, cover them with a piece of foil or lid, and keep them for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Freezer – Freeze oatmeal in airtight containers for up to one month. Thaw in the fridge the day before. Rewarming Oatmeal – Place the oatmeal in a nonstick saucepan, add a splash of extra dairy-free milk, and rewarm on low heat, stirring to combine. Or, rewarm in a microwave-safe bowl with a splash of almond milk until warm.
Allergy Swaps
If you need some ingredient substitutions, try the options below.
Gluten-Free – Use a gluten-free certified oat brand. Nut-Free – Use oat milk or soy milk and serve with shredded coconut or a drizzle of sunflower seed butter. Sugar-Free – You can remove the sweetener in any oatmeal recipe. Instead, you can sweeten oatmeal with mashed fruit puree like mashed banana or use sugar-free monk fruit or stevia.
Here are some answers to your common questions about this easy breakfast recipe.
