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 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! You may also like simple blueberry oatmeal or my cranberry oatmeal breakfast bars.
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.
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. Zego Oats are a great top 14 free oat to try. I’ve also enjoyed the Gluten Free Rolled Oats from Trader Joe’s.
If you are very sensitive to gluten, you can also make this recipe with quinoa for a totally safe option!
Different Types of Oats
You can use any type of oats you like for this recipe.
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.
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!
Variations
Flax Oatmeal – Add 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds to the oatmeal before cooking. Cook as directed. 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 apple cinnamon oatmeal!
FAQs
Yes! All of those would taste great in this.
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.
More Oat Recipes to Try
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Equipment
- Medium saucepan
- Cooking spoon
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- Bowl and spoon
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 ⅓ cup water
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Dash salt
- Splash of milk if desired
Instructions
- In your saucepot, combine the oats and water.
- For rolled oats: Heat over low heat and let it cook for 10 to 12 minutes. Add more water if necessary. You want the oats to cook for at least 10 minutes to fully cook.
- For quick oats: Use 1 cup water and ½ cup oats. Heat over low heat and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand for 1 minute after cooking.
- For steel cut oats: Use up to 3 cups water and ½ cup oats. Heat over low heat and cook for 25 to 30 minutes.
- After cooking the oats, remove from the heat and add the remaining ingredients of brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt. Stir well to combine. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
