Brown Sugar Cinnamon Oatmeal

Brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal is a perfect breakfast for your busy mornings! Easy to make in 10 minutes, gluten free, vegan, nut free options. Delicious! 

Thick and creamy oats with sweet maple syrup, rich brown sugar, and sprinkled with cinnamon. What could be better? 

This recipe is great for a busy morning during the week but is just as delicious on a lazy weekend morning brunch. This oatmeal is much healthier than the instant packs you can buy. This brown sugar oatmeal recipe is one I keep on rotation in my house!

Free from: wheat, gluten, dairy, casein, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, sesame, peanuts, tree nuts, coconut, corn, celery, mustard, and more

I totally love oatmeal for breakfast, and sometimes even for lunch! Make sure you check out my overnight oats recipe where I share how to make apple pie, blueberry parfait, and even carrot cake inspired overnight oats! 

Ingredients 

This easy breakfast recipe needs only 5 ingredients to come together!

• Old Fashioned Oats - Also known as rolled oats, these are my favorite to use in this recipe. See the note below for how to cook the different kinds of oats you may have in your pantry. 
• Brown Sugar - dark brown or light brown sugar are both great in this recipe.
• Maple Syrup 
• Cinnamon 
• Salt - Just a pinch to help make the flavors pop. 

Different Types of Oats 

You can use any type of oats you like for this recipe. The health benefits for each of the oats are similar. 

Quick cooking oats (also known as quick oats or instant oats) are rolled oats that have been chopped up into fine pieces. That makes them cook so quickly! Add the oatmeal and water to a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 1 minute. Let it rest for one minute before adding the remaining ingredients. 

Rolled oats or old fashioned oats are oats that have been flattened. They are just the same as steel cut oats, but flatter. That makes them easier to cook and digest. 

Steel cut oats are a less refined version of rolled oats. They are the least processed of the oats. Steel cut oats also take longer to cook, about 30 minutes. Add half cup of steel cut oats to 3 cups of water. Cook for 25-30 minutes. Make the recipe the same. 

Instructions 

For the full instructions complete with recipe measurements, please see the recipe card below. 

This recipe is so easy to make and I love that it uses simple ingredients.

First, combine your oats and water into a small to medium saucepan on the stove. Heat over low heat, cooking for 10 to 12 minutes. You may need to add more water depending on how thick vs how thin you prefer your oatmeal.

Next, keep stirring almost constantly to make sure the oats get creamy. 

Finally, after 12 minutes, remove them from the heat and stir in the remaining ingredients. Easy peasy! 

Serve immediately. This makes enough for 2 hungry kids or 1 hungry adult. 

If you like, you can add additional milk to this recipe to make it a creamy oatmeal. Whole milk, almond milk, rice milk, heavy cream, they all work in this recipe. Use your personal favorites!

Allergy substitutions 

Sometimes maple syrup can be processed with different allergens, causing very sensitive people to have a reaction. That’s why I like to use Anderson’s maple syrup. They have an allergy policy right on their website. 

If you are concerned, you could also use pancake syrup, agave syrup, or even honey to make this. 

To make this gluten free, make sure that you are using certified gluten free oats. Bob’s Red Mill Rolled Oats are my personal favorite.

If you are very sensitive to gluten, you can also make this recipe with quinoa for a totally safe option! 

Variations 

Flax Oatmeal - Add 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds to the oatmeal before cooking. Cook as directed. This adds more fiber and lots of omegas to the oatmeal. If you are out of flax seeds, chia seeds would also be a great addition.

Chocolate - Add a handful of chocolate chips after cooking to make it a chocolate inspired oatmeal. 

Nut Oatmeal - Add a spoonful of your favorite nut butters  after cooking the oats. If you're allergic to nuts, you can also add a spoonful of soy nut butter or sunflower seed butter!

Cinnamon roll oatmeal - Add a splash of pure vanilla extract to make this like a cinnamon roll!

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal - Add 1 apple, cut into small pieces to make delicious and super healthy apple cinnamon oatmeal!

FAQs

Can I use honey, agave, or pancake syrup in place of maple syrup? 

Yes! All of those would taste great in this. 

What types of milk can I use? 

Any type of milk you like! Dairy milk, goat milk, soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, the list goes on and on. 

I like to be a little sassy and use my soy creamer in my oatmeal. That makes it super creamy and delicious. 

Is this a healthy breakfast? 

Yes! Oatmeal is a super healthy breakfast. 

Oats are filled with fiber, plant based protein, and complex carbohydrates. Plus, they are full of vitamins and minerals like magnesium, phosphorus, and iron. Oats can reduce blood sugar levels, lower bad cholesterol, and have been proven to keep you full for a long time. 

Cinnamon is one of my favorite spices not just because it is tasty but because it is packed with health benefits. It is full of antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties, and can help lower blood sugar levels. It is even speculated that it contains types of probiotics, making it a gut healthy choice!

If you try these out, please leave a comment below! This provides helpful feedback to both me and other readers. And if you want more delicious, dietary friendly recipes you can subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!