Description
This Cozy Peanut Butter Oatmeal recipe offers a warm, comforting breakfast with a perfect balance of creamy peanut butter, toasted oats, and optional sweet banana. Quickly made on the stovetop, it’s ideal for a nutritious, filling start to your day, customizable with various toppings like honey, maple syrup, or fresh fruit.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 1 tablespoon butter or coconut oil
- 2 cups Old Fashioned rolled oats (do not use instant oats or steel cut oats)
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup milk, oat milk or almond milk (or additional water)
Sweet Variation (optional)
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed
Toppings
- 2 to 3 tablespoons peanut butter
- Other toppings as desired: small drizzle honey or maple syrup, berry jam, fruit, etc.
Instructions
- Melt the Fat: In a saucepan, melt the butter or coconut oil over medium heat until fully melted and slightly bubbling, preparing the base for toasting the oats.
- Toast the Oats: Add the rolled oats to the saucepan. Toast them for about 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until they become fragrant and slightly golden to enhance flavor and texture.
- Add Spices: Sprinkle in the kosher salt and cinnamon. Stir to combine, allowing the spices to toast briefly with the oats for better aroma.
- Add Liquids & Banana: Turn the heat to low. Carefully pour in the water and your choice of milk (or additional water if dairy-free), stirring as you pour. For the sweet variation, mash in ripe bananas at this stage.
- Cook the Oatmeal: Cover the saucepan and simmer on low heat for about 5 minutes, or until oats are tender but still chewy. The mixture should thicken without becoming soggy.
- Adjust Texture: Remove the saucepan from heat. If you prefer a creamier oatmeal, stir in an extra 1/2 cup milk until fully incorporated; otherwise, keep the chunkier texture.
- Add Toppings & Serve: Spoon the oatmeal into bowls. Top each serving with 2 to 3 tablespoons peanut butter and any desired additional toppings like honey, maple syrup, berry jam, or fresh fruit. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Use Old Fashioned rolled oats for best texture; avoid instant or steel-cut oats.
- To make it dairy-free, substitute regular milk with oat milk, almond milk, or additional water.
- Bananas add natural sweetness but can be omitted for a less sweet version.
- Toast oats carefully on medium heat to avoid burning and to bring out a nutty flavor.
- Adjust the thickness by adding more milk after cooking according to your preference.
- Customize toppings based on your taste, including nuts, seeds, or different fruit preserves.
