Looking for an easy-to-make, warm, and comforting healthy breakfast? Look no further than this cinnamon and spice oatmeal recipe.
This recipe is especially great on a chilly fall, winter, or early spring morning and is one of my favorite breakfasts.
Old-fashioned oats are soaked and cooked with a variety of warm spices, vanilla extract, and a little salt to enhance the other flavors.

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Who didn't grow up eating instant oatmeal packets for breakfast before school? They were quick and easy to make and tasted pretty good.
The only problem is they are loaded with sugar and artificial flavor. That's what makes this recipe so great! It is filled with simple ingredients and you have complete control over how much sugar is added.
Need some more easy breakfast ideas? Try this one bowl banana bread or these ham, egg, and cheese hash brown muffins.
Jump to:
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Oatmeal is packed with whole grains and contains fiber, protein, and healthy fats, along with other vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Oatmeal makes an easy and filling breakfast for busy mornings.
- Easily customize this recipe. Add your favorite toppings and change up the flavor.
- This oatmeal can be made ahead of time. Simply reheat and enjoy. It is a great way to meal prep for busy school mornings.
Warm and comforting this oatmeal is a great breakfast for chilly winter months.
Ingredients
Old-Fashioned Oats: Personally I love steel-cut oats. But I want this to be a quick and easy recipe so old-fashioned oats it is. They take a bit longer to cook than quick oats or instant oats but retain more of their texture.
Milk of Choice: I typically use 2% dairy milk. But you could also use almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, or any other non-dairy milk of your choice.
Spices: Spices are an easy way to add flavor. Since I like to eat this oatmeal during the colder months I choose spices that will also add some warmth. This oatmeal is sprinkled with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cloves.
Chia Seeds: Chia seeds are optional but I like to add a couple to up the protein content of my oatmeal.
Sweetener: Sweetener choice and the amount is completely up to you. It's one of the best things about making homemade oatmeal rather than relying on premade packets. You can use regular white sugar or brown sugar for some extra caramel flavor or sweeten it with pure maple syrup or honey.
Vanilla Extract: Good quality vanilla extract helps to bring out the flavor of the other ingredients.
Salt: I add at least a pinch of salt to all of my recipes. Salt complements and intensifies the other flavors. For all of my recipes, I use Morton Kosher Salt which is saltier than Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt. If you are using Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt you will want to double the amount of salt you add.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Tip: Make a double batch. Oatmeal stores really well in the refrigerator and is easily reheated in the microwave making it a great make-ahead meal.
Directions
On your stovetop, bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat.
Add the oatmeal, sweetener, chia seeds, salt, and spices to the hot water. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer stirring occasionally. Cook until most of the water has been absorbed. This should take about 8 minutes.
Stir in the vanilla extract and a splash of milk. Add your toppings and enjoy.
Variations
Slow Cooker: Make this recipe even easier by starting it the night before in your slow cooker and wakeup to a bowl of delicious oatmeal.
Add all of the ingredients to your slow cooker except for the vanilla and milk. Stir well to combine. Cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours.
Stir in the vanilla and milk, add your favorite toppings, and enjoy.
Overnight Oats: Divide the ingredients evenly between four glass jars. Stir well to combine. Refrigerate the containers overnight. The next morning add your desired toppings and enjoy.
Serving Suggestions
Consider this recipe a jumping-off point. Feel free to customize it and add additional ingredients to make this recipe your own.
Fruit: There are so many fruits that pair well with cinnamon. Try adding some fresh apples, pears, fresh berries, bananas, or peaches.
Dried Fruit: No fresh fruit on hand? Feel free to add your favorite dried fruit. I love adding raisins, craisins, or chopped dried apricots.
Jam or Jelly
Nut or Seed Butter: Stir in your favorite nut butter like cashew or peanut butter for added creaminess and extra protein.
Nuts or Seeds: Add a little crunch to your oatmeal with your favorite nuts and/or seeds. Try adding almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds.
Storage
Make-Ahead: Combine all of the dry ingredients in an airtight container. Store at room temperature for up to 3 months. When you are ready to enjoy combine ½ cup of the oatmeal mixture with ¾ cup of milk in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the oatmeal reaches your desired consistency.
Microwave Oven Instructions: Single servings of oatmeal can also be cooked in the microwave. Combine ½ cup of the oatmeal mixture with ¾ cup of milk in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in one-minute intervals stirring in between each interval.
Refrigeration: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Reheating: Reheat leftovers in the microwave. You may need to add a little more milk to loosen up the consistency. For more detailed information about how to reheat oatmeal check out this blog post, How to Reheat Oatmeal - The Three Best Ways.
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a crowd. Depending upon the amount you are cooking you may need to use a bigger pot. As the amount of oatmeal increases it becomes more important to stir the oatmeal to ensure even cooking.
Tips
- Don't overcook the oatmeal or add too much liquid. It will turn into a gummy mushy mess.
- Overmixing the oatmeal will also create a gummy texture.
- Avoid high heat to ensure your oatmeal doesn't burn.
- Dried oatmeal is a pain to clean. Be sure to fill your saucepan with water to soak while you enjoy your bowl of oatmeal. It will make cleaning up so much easier.
- Serve your oatmeal in a deep bowl. Oatmeal will cool off more quickly in a shallow bowl.
Related Recipes
Looking for more yummy breakfast recipes like this? Try these:
📖 Recipe
Cinnamon and Spice Oatmeal Recipe
Equipment
- medium saucepan
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 tablespoon of sweetener
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- milk or non-dairy milk of choice
- toppings
Instructions
- On your stovetop, bring the 2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat.
- Add the 1 cup old-fashioned oats, 1 tablespoon of sweetener, 1 teaspoon chia seeds, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon ground allspice, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, and ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves to the hot water. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer stirring occasionally. Cook until most of the water has been absorbed. This should take about 8 minutes.
- Stir in the ½ teaspoon vanilla extract and a splash of milk. Add your toppings and enjoy.
Notes
- Don't overcook the oatmeal or add too much liquid. It will turn into a gummy mushy mess.
- Overmixing the oatmeal will also create a gummy texture.
- Avoid high heat to ensure your oatmeal doesn't burn.
- Dried oatmeal is a pain to clean. Be sure to fill your saucepan with water to soak while you enjoy your bowl of oatmeal. It will make cleaning up so much easier.
Nutrition
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