I made my first batch of overnight oatmeal last Monday so I'm taking this oatmeal high I'm on right now as an opportunity to try to convert you. Or, if you're already an oatmeal lover, remind you. Tis the season.
This belly warming steel cut oat recipe cooks overnight while you're sleeping and gives you enough servings to last the week.
That means overnight oatmeal is already twice as good as whatever single serving plate of mediocrity you normally have to prepare for yourself while you're awake.
You can't ignore the stick to you ribs goodness of a pot of warm, creamy oatmeal on a snowy morning. Or a chilly morning. Or a morning.
It was my favourite as a kid too, but back then I was eating instant oatmeal from a packet which contained a few flakes of processed oats, 4 cups of sugar, cinnamon and three chewy pieces of dehydrated apples that would get stuck in my molars. My mother had her standard breakfast of cigarettes and Taster's Choice.
Table of Contents
There are 3 types of Oatmeal
- Steel cut oats This is oat exactly how it comes off of the stalk of the Oat plant, but it's been cut into smaller pieces. Processed by roasting at a low temperature before sale for shelf stability. Chewy.
- Rolled oats - exactly what it sounds like. Oat from the plant is cooked to soften it a bit, then rolled 'til it's squished flat. Processed by steaming then pressing flat. Mushier than steel cut.
- Instant oats - These are rolled oats that have been completely cooked and pressed even flatter than rolled oats.
Steel cut oats are what I make oatmeal out of. They take the longest to cook (25-30 minutes), followed by rolled oats and lastly of course, the instant oats.
This weekend try making a big pot of overnight Steel Cut oatmeal. It eliminates any time you need to stand around the stove stirring AND you end up with a big pot of oatmeal when you wake up.
Let's Make Overnight Oatmeal
Instructions
The basic instructions are that you're going to bring 1 cup of oats and 3 cups of water to a boil. Once at a boil, cover it with a lid and turn off the heat.
Then you leave it to sit on the stove overnight.
Grab a pot, throw a pat of butter or coconut oil into the pot and let it melt.
Once it's melted, throw in 1 cup of Steel Cut Oats and stir it all together.
Keep cooking and stirring until your oats smell toasty. That's my spurtle by the way.
It's the official stir stick in the world of Scottish oatmeal fanatics. Mine is handmade from Cattails Woodwork. You can also get spurtles on Amazon.
Once it's all toasty, add a big pinch of salt.
Throw in 3 cups of water, and bring it to a rolling boil.
As soon as it boils ....
Put a lid on the pot and turn off the heat. Then go to bed and dream sweet dreams.
In the morning when you remove the lid from the pot, your oatmeal will be perfectly cooked with just the right amount of bite left in the oat pieces.
Give it a stir and add a slosh of milk if you like (I like) & heat that pot back up. Breakfast for the imaginary family where everyone LOVES oatmeal is ready.
I started making overnight oatmeal (as opposed to cooking a pot in the morning) years ago and there are 2 reasons I love it so much. The first being, overnight oatmeal has a creamier texture than oatmeal you've cooked for half an hour on the stove. I assume this is because all of the water is absorbed into the oat mixture as opposed to simmering away into the air.
The second reason I love the overnight oatmeal is because you wake up, and breakfast is not only done, it's ready and waiting on the stove for you.
Or you can do what I do, which is portion the oatmeal into individual containers and keep them in the fridge. I use little 8 ounce mason jars. The recommended serving of oatmeal is 6 ounces, so that gives you some space in the jar for toppings. In the morning you can just grab it and go.
Toppings
I don't eat virgin oatmeal. I fully admit that. I like my toppings. My favourite combinations are:
- A blob of homemade strawberry jam, walnuts & milk
- Sliced strawberries, pecans & almond milk.
But you have a lot to choose from ...
Fruits
Nuts & Seeds
- Sliced bananas
- Berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
- Sliced apples
- Sliced peaches
- Chopped mango
- Sliced kiwi
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Cranberries
- Apricots
- Dates
- Chopped almonds
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Cashews
- Chia seeds
- Flaxseeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
Sweeteners
Spices & Flavourings
- Honey
- Maple syrup
- Agave nectar
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon sugar
- Spices and Flavorings:
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Vanilla extract
- Cocoa powder
- Cardamom
- Allspice
Overnight Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 cup Steel Cut Oats
- 3 cups water
- pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon butter of coconut oil
- Regular milk or Almond milk to taste.
Instructions
- Melt 1 tsp. of butter of coconut oil in heavy bottom pot.
- Stir in 1 cup of Steel Cut Oats and cook until toasty smelling.
- Add 1 pinch of salt and 3 cups of water to pot and bring to boil.
- As soon as the mixture comes to a boil, turn heat off and cover pot with lid.
- Leave on stove overnight.
- In the morning just stir in a bit of milk to loosen the mixture up a tiny bit, heat and serve.
- Makes enough for 4 medium servings.
Notes
- Use ¼ cup of quinoa in your oatmeal. (just sub it in for ¼ of the oats - so instead of 1 cup of steel cut oats use ¾s of a cup of steel cut oats and ¼ cup of quinoa)
- Add a handful of wheat berries for extra chew and nutrients.
- Use ½ cup of coconut milk to add HUGE flavour and creaminess. (just sub it in for ½ cup of the water - so instead of 3 cups of water, use ½ cup of coconut milk and 2 ½ cups of water.
- Throw in some chia seeds. Chia seeds thicken the oatmeal as it cooks overnight and also boost the good health properties.
Varying the Recipe
- Use ¼ cup of quinoa in your oatmeal. (just sub it in for ¼ of the oats - so instead of 1 cup of steel cut oats use ¾s of a cup of steel cut oats and ¼ cup of quinoa)
- Throw in a handful of wheat berries for extra chew and nutrition.
- Use ½ cup of coconut milk to add HUGE flavour and creaminess. (just sub it in for ½ cup of the water - so instead of 3 cups of water, use ½ cup of coconut milk and 2 ½ cups of water.
- Throw in some chia seeds. Chia seeds thicken the oatmeal as it cooks overnight and also boost the good health properties.
So this is what I'm recommending you do this Sunday night. Just before bed, peek out the window to see that everything is quiet on the street like you always do, then head into the kitchen to put on a pot of Overnight Oatmeal.
The coziest, most nostalgic way to make Monday morning bearable.
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Kim C
Ahhh, the little packets of sugared up oats, Sanka and cigarettes...And my Mum in a thin zippered robe and the cold vinyl kitchen chair.
Fellow '70s sister here. ?
Jane Anderson
That's fantastic! All I'd need is a transistor radio tuned to old country music and that would be my Monday mornings growing up. :)
Thera
Does it have to be Steel Cut oats? I have a huge jar of Instant oats I would love to use up.
Karen
Hi Thera! These particular ratios are for steel cut oats. ~ karen!
Thera
Ok then, off to the store I go!
Any suggestions as to what to do with the Instant Oats, anyone?
Karen
I always have a bag of quick cooking rolled oats in my cupboard, and the only thing I use it for is for topping on rhubarb or apple crisp. You could also just eat the dumb things every morning until they're gone. I mean, they're instant oats so it's not like they take a lot of time to make. :) Then you'll never have to think of them again. ~ karen!
Kitty McCarty
before seeing this post, I always fixed instant oats at night. Put one of the instant envelopes (or equivalent loose oats) into a mason jar, add a little yogurt (flavored or vanilla), a splash of milk, lid and place in frig overnight. Next morning, add chopped apple, berries, nuts--whatever. You could heat them but I live on the East Texas Gulf Coast so I prefer cold. Experiment until they are gone.
Kitty McCarty
PS the Poms luv em too
Heather
Kitty, my daughter and I started doing that, too. We use a cashew or almond milk as well as the yogurt & sometimes add some PB2 (powdered peanut butter - don't knock it til you try it!). Works well.
Kitty McCarty
I'm not familiar with powdered PB. but, ooooh, I'd never knock anything about PB!! ;-) As a matter of fact I usually accompany my oatmeal with a rice cake slathered with PB. Firm believer in protein first thing in the morning.
Garth Wunsch
You could always feed them to the chickens...
Thera
Sadly I do not have chickens and have to live vicariously through Karen for that.
Donna Horne
We seniors have our big meal at noon sooooo oatmeal is often on the menu for the evening meal, with cream and brown sugar---comfort food.
Marilyn
Yummy I do mine in the slow cooker. But I may try this too.
Danni
Love steel cut oats and have done a version of overnight, but never toasted them first. THAT needs to be added to my recipe pronto!
lori
spurtle is my new favourite word!
Karen
I know, right?! ~ karen
Kim from Milwaukee
Sorry, sounds like something that happens during sex.....just saying.
Eileen
oh jeez, just snorted my tea on the monitor....
Eileen
oh wait, that sounds almost as bad?!
Kim from Milwaukee
Yes, it certainly does. :)
Jenny W
Wash your hands after sex - that is all I have to say :)
maggie van sickle
Love, love steel cut oats and eat them all winter with my favourite topping. Blueberries are the trick, no milk , no sugar. I will try the overnite method. Thanks Karen have a great weekend.
Sherry in Alaska
Tried steel cut oats once. They were rancid and no fun. Waiting to try them again. Love rolled oats oatmeal. Cook in already boiling salted water adding more oats than the recipe calls for. Cook & stir about a minute. Turn to low. Cover. Cook a bit more. Turn off. Wait a bit. Spoon into bowl. Top with turbinado sugar and sliced bananas and drizzle heavy cream into the bowl. YUM!
Teri
Ya, ya. Oatmeal. Me 'n' Bob's Red Mill are old pals. Big pot, store in fridge. Nuke as required. Done and done. Your other Sunday Evening recommendations caught my attention...
RachelSD
Okay, okay, you convinced me! I always walk by the barrel of bulk steel cut oats and buy rolled oats instead to make stovetop oatmeal for my toddler (oats, water, milk, tons of cinnamon, and a banana stirred in), but this sounds yummy and a good way to cut down on the time it takes to cook the steel cut oats. Have you ever tried cooking steel cut oats in a pressure cooker? I'm still too chicken to use my new pressure cooker for anything but making beans. :(
Collette
Steal cut oats in the pressure cooker are THE BOMB! Much quicker (but what's quicker than already having made it YESTERDAY and just eating it this morning... lol) I made a batch in my PC and kept it in the fridge and ate it all week. yum.........
Karen
Hi Rachel! I actually never really pressure cook anything. For one thing my pressure cooker (which is also my pressure canner) is so HUGE, lol. I love the idea of making beans in it but that'd make enough beans for a civil war reenactment. ~ karen!
Mark
This! I shall try this weekend.
I make oatmeal for one of my dogs every morning - he's a fussy eater but he loves his porridge. It was a suggestion from the vet because he is a fussy eater.
Karen
My chickens love oatmeal too! I make it for them on really cold days with raisins. :) ~ karen!
Alena
I should try it. My dog is a fussy eater at times, too. I wonder if she will want butter, maple syrup and raspberries on her oatmeal, too.
Alyssa
Ooh, I will be trying this! I tried mine in the crockpot and it crusted to the sides, even on warm overnight. Not appetizing. I get a large bag of Bob's red mill from Costco, they are "quick cooking steel cut oats" and my favourite. Much heartier than quick oats. I've been experimenting with flavours, and while I will always have a special place in my heart for cinnamon and raisins, we also really love coconut oil, coconut flakes and orange zest, and a touch of nutmeg. Cheers to oatmeal!
Sandra Lea
I love this idea of coconut, orange zest and nutmeg. Definitely trying it this weekend. Thanks!
Karen
That does sound good doesn't it? :) ~ karen!
jainegayer
I eat Bob's too from Costco and it's delicious and I think Scotland voted them the best oatmeal, says so on the bag.
Sabina
Golden Spurtle I believe the award title is ?
Gayle M
Our breakfast de semaine lately has been equal parts fruit, cottage cheese, and oatmeal. (Don't knock it til you try it. Gives you a bit of protein that helps those oats stick to your ribs.) I never have eaten oatmeal made with water (because I gag on it and it just won't go down). My mother always made it with milk--soooo creamy and yummy with a pat of butter and a touch of sugar. Sweet memories.
Kath
While I have to admit oatmeal is a pretty darn fascinating subject, all I really came looking for today was the skinny on your Valentines Day plans. How high are you gonna bid? I'm liquidating assets as I type this.
Karen
Well, you know what? Idris and I gave it our all a few years ago in my imagination and it didn't end well. I have no reason to believe that it would be any different in real life. In fact in real life I wouldn't even have an English accent or live in a French chateau so ... it'd never work. ~ karen!
Robert
A few years ago you were also swearing you would NEVER even try brussel sprouts in any way or shape and just a few months ago you even gave us a recipe!
Things change
jainegayer
LOL Enquiring minds want to know!
Melissa
Well, so much for going to bed, NOW I'm craving oatmeal!
I'm from the south (Texas, to be exact), and as a child, we had hot oatmeal on a daily basis. Or, I should say, we had oatmeal with our sugar and butter! The more butter the better!
Sweet memories! I'll have to try your delish recipe!! I mean, it's January and 80 degrees, so I'll have to pretend to be cold by turning the AC on!
Karen
Ha! It's not all that cold here either, but that's just a fluke. It'll be cold again soon enough. ~ karen!
Sherry in Alaska
Hey, will you just eat your oatmeal and skip the weather boasting? Warm here too at
+ 2 F and rubbing in your AC problem is not funny. :)
Melissa
Hmmm, did I mention it was 80 degrees yesterday? Now...it's 40. I mean, it's Texas!
Now, excuse me while I go devour some damn oatmeal. Lol
Holly
It seems like it's over 90 more days than it's not during the year in Texas. Having to run the AC in winter and not having cool weather for more than a day or two at a time is a real bummer. Makes the heat the rest of the year that much harder to bear. All of that aside, I love oatmeal any time and this recipe sounds yummy!
Catherine Naulin
Love Oatmeal, and love my spurtle (Lee Valley) Definetely will try this recipe.
Thanks
Karin
I so love the IDEA of overnight oats....and so many people love them. The only time I tried them they tasted gummy and cold. I'm not sure I can get past that memory! Are they really ok cold? I'm sure the gummy part might have been my fault?.
TucsonPatty
Nonono, reheat them!
Nicole
Karen mentioned portions in the fridge... can those individual ones be reheated? And if so, how? Microwave? Do you add milk to them? Or are you supposed to eat them cold?
Nancy W
Eat them however you like them! Hot, cold, milk, yogurt, berries, bacon, whatever...I like it sort of room temp with yogurt and blueberries and brown sugar. I'm going to try this, tomorrow...
Nancy W
Oh, and in the microwave if you want them hot.
Karen
Hi Nicole. I pull them out in the morning and reheat them, yes. Depending on your taste or how thick the oatmeal has become you can add milk or not. I tend to add a splash of Vanilla Almond Milk after I've heated it up. :) ~ karen!
Alena
That sounds like a lot of work. :-P
I make in a small crockpot (also overnight), I put in just the steel-cut oatmeal and water. But I am sure butter or coconut oil would make it even better, I will try that.
Today, I caught a rerun of two episodes of My House Your Money and immediately put aside what I was [supposed to be] doing. In spite of the extremely entitled-feeling kids I always loved the show because of your wisecracks.
TucsonPatty
I love the chewiness of the steel cut oats. I began cooking dried sweetened cranberries (also a red berry btw) with a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg into the oats and it is delish. I love it and haven't had it for a while. Got out of the habit, and thank you for the reminder!