What type of milk do you use?

I personally like to use whole milk or oat milk because they are creamier and higher in fat. Any milk will work- cashew milk, organic soy milk, coconut milk, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, etc. but keep in mind that the fat content of the milk will determine the creaminess of the oatmeal.

What if I don’t have vanilla bean paste?

If you don’t have vanilla bean paste , use one teaspoon vanilla extract.

Can I use steel-cut oats instead of rolled oats?

Yes. You may want to add another ½ cup liquid and cooking time will be closer to 15-20 minutes.

To make this gluten-free, make sure to use organic certified gluten-free oats . You could also try organic quinoa flakes instead of oats!

Is there a way to make this sugar-free?

To make no sugar added oatmeal simply omit the maple syrup. Other options for nutritive sweeteners include brown sugar, organic coconut sugar, honey or agave nectar. Non-nutritive sweetener options include monkfruit, stevia extract or sugar alcohols like sorbitol or xylitol.

Creamy Vanilla Oatmeal (the best healthy oatmeal base!)

Description

This creamy vanilla oatmeal is bound to become your new favorite oatmeal base! It’s filling, delicious and the perfect canvas for your favorite toppings.

Ingredients

Units Scale

1 teaspoon butter
1/2 cup rolled oats (old fashioned oats)
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup milk of choice (dairy, coconut, cashew, oat, soy, etc)
2 teaspoon chia seeds
Pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
Toppings of choice: banana slices, fresh berries, chopped apple, peanut butter, almond butter, chopped nuts, sunflower seeds, hemp hearts, granola, toasted coconut, chocolate chips, etc.

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark while cooking this recipe!

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the oats, tossing to coat in the butter and toast for 2-3 minutes until they have a lightly golden brown color and fragrant smell. Add the water, milk and chia seeds and stir well. Bring to a simmer and simmer for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low and stir in vanilla bean paste, cinnamon, salt and maple syrup.

Spoon oatmeal into a serving bowl and top to your heart’s content! I love a classic combination of banana and peanut butter, I think it pairs perfectly with the creamy vanilla oatmeal base.

Notes

See above blog post for expert tips, variation ideas, ingredient substitution recommendations and answers to frequently asked questions.

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Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl of oatmeal
Calories: 312
Sugar: 15.7 g
Sodium: 145.3 mg
Fat: 8.9 g
Carbohydrates: 50.8 g
Fiber: 8.6 g
Protein: 8.8 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg