Cinnamon Oatmeal

This cinnamon oatmeal recipe is a simple and delicious way to start your day. My favorite way to enjoy this flavorful oatmeal is with fresh chopped apples and a spoonful of almond butter.

Adding some cinnamon to your morning bowl of oatmeal not only tastes delicious, but can offer some health benefits too! We love serving this cinnamon oatmeal with some chopped apples on top and a spoonful of almond butter. Adding lots of toppings like fruit, nut butter, and seeds not only makes oatmeal delicious, but the extra fiber and healthy fats means this bowl with keep you full much longer!

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

• Oatmeal is one of my favorite breakfast options because not only is it filling and easy to make, but oatmeal is also so good for you! Oats are chock full of fiber which can help lower cholesterol and reduce your risk of certain chronic diseases.
• Simple to whip up in just about 5 minutes on either the stove or the microwave.
• This easy oatmeal recipe can be paired with a variety of different fruits, nuts, etc so that it is never boring.
• If you use a plant-based milk for the oatmeal, this recipe is vegan, gluten-free (with certified gluten-free oats), dairy-free, and egg-free.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Oats: I like to make my morning oatmeal with old fashioned rolled oats, but you can also use quick cooking oats if you prefer. Steel cut oats will take much longer to cook.
• Milk: Use any milk that you like for this oatmeal recipe. I like plain, unsweetened soy milk best because it makes for such creamy and delicious oats.
• Water: Helps hydrate the oats without making them glue-y. You can use only water for your oatmeal, but they will be much creamier if you use a combination of water and milk.
• Cinnamon: You can use anywhere from 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon for this recipe. I usually use a full teaspoon to make them extra cinnamon-y.
• Maple Syrup: Adds just a hint of sweetness as well as maple flavor. You can also sweeten with honey or brown sugar if you’d like.
• Salt: A dash of salt in your oats will bring out and balance the flavors. Don’t skip it!
• Chia seeds (optional): I like to add some chia seeds to my oats for some extra fiber and healthy omega 3 fats.

How to Make Cinnamon Oatmeal

MICROWAVE: You can also make it in the microwave if you prefer. Simply add all of your oatmeal ingredients to a large microwave safe bowl and heat for up to 5 minutes in the microwave. (Oats can swell in the microwave so use a bigger bowl than you think you need! I like to use a small mixing bowl.) Stir oats occasionally while they cook in the microwave. Carefully remove from microwave when oats have thickened to your liking.

STOVETOP: Add the oats, milk, water, cinnamon, maple syrup, chia seeds, and salt to a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer until oatmeal has thickened to your desired consistency, usually takes about 5 minutes.

Cinnamon Oatmeal Toppings

• Cooked Fruit: I love adding some sautéed apple slices to this cinnamon oatmeal. The pairing of cooked apples and cinnamon is a match made in heaven. A fruit compote like this peach one or this strawberry rhubarb one would also be a delicious topping.
• Fresh Fruit: Some of my favorite fruit to add to this cinnamon oatmeal includes: blueberries, raspberries, apple, pear, banana, strawberries, peaches, figs, and plum.
• Nut Butter: Add some cashew or almond butter to your cooked oats. I love how the hot oats melt the nut butter so it adds a ton of creaminess to the oatmeal.
• Chopped Nuts or Seeds: Add some crunch by sprinkling your cinnamon oatmeal with some chopped nuts. Honestly, almost any nut or seed will work with this recipe including: pistachios, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, pecans, and almonds.

Health Benefits of Cinnamon

• Cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants, those compounds in food that can help reduce inflammation in your body. Some inflammation is necessary, but chronically high levels of inflammation can lead to chronic diseases like heart disease.
• Eating cinnamon with a meal can help with better blood sugar control. Cinnamon may play a role in blood sugar management in a couple of ways 1) more sensitivity to the hormone insulin which helps sugar in your bloodstream enter cells and 2) reduced absorption of sugar/carbohydrates from a meal.
• Some other potential health benefits of cinnamon that still need more research include: lower cholesterol, reduced risk of Alzheimers disease, and lower blood pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love

• Pumpkin Oatmeal
• Healthy Blueberry Oatmeal
• Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal
• How to Make Vegan Overnight Oats
• Apple Cinnamon Amaranth Porridge (a fun way to switch up breakfast with a new grain)