I am not much of a breakfast eater. I really wish that I were, but I struggle to find things that are quick, healthy, and filling. But if I am being completely honest, the problem is that I am incredibly lazy first thing in the morning. I just cannot muster the energy to actually make something that is little more grabbing a handful of dry cereal as I am cleaning up my kid’s breakfast dishes. Sad, but true. But recently, I have begun training for a half marathon, and I need to be more thoughtful about what I put into my body and think of food as fuel.
By starting this hearty oatmeal the night before, all I have to do is put some oatmeal into a bowl. Even I can handle that in the morning. When I wake up, my house is perfumed with vanilla and spice. It is a very nice way to start the day. I like to add fresh berries and some almond slices for a little crunch. I do not drink milk, so I use almond milk, but you could add a drizzle of cream if you like.
If I were having house guests or having a brunch, I think that this would be a great thing to serve. You could get the oatmeal started the night before and set up bowls of toppings. Berries, nuts, dried fruits, maple syrup, honey, chocolate chips, coconut, anything you like would be delicious on top of this oatmeal. In the morning, you will have steaming hot oatmeal and all you have to do is grab your toppings and wait for the coffee to brew.
cooking spray
1 cup steel cut oats
1 vanilla bean, split and seeded
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cardamom
1 to 2 cups Almond Breeze almond milk (any flavor is fine, but I like the vanilla Almondmilk Coconutmilk)
raspberries
blueberries
blackberries
Spray the insert of a slow cooker with cooking spray. Add oats, brown sugar, vanilla bean, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom.
Add 3 1/2 cups water.
Cook on LOW for 8 hours.
After 8 hours, add 1 cup almond milk to thin out the oatmeal. Add more to get the consistency that you like. If you enjoy runnier oatmeal add more almond milk.
Spoon oatmeal into a bowl.
Add raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Sprinkle with almond flakes and additional brown sugar if desired. I like to add an extra splash of almond milk before I serve it.
Serve with a steaming cup of coffee and enjoy the rest of your day. This recipe is adapted from Pure Vanilla (which happens to be a great cookbook and one worth having if you love vanilla like I do).
Ingredients
- cooking spray
- 1 cup steel cut oats
- 1 vanilla bean, split and seeded
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon cardamom
- 1 to 2 cups Almond Breeze almond milk (any flavor is fine, but I like the vanilla Almondmilk Coconutmilk)
- raspberries
- blueberries
- blackberries
Instructions
- Spray the insert of a slow cooker with cooking spray. Add oats, brown sugar, vanilla bean, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom. Add 3 1/2 cups water. Cook on LOW for 8 hours.
- After 8 hours, add 1 cup almond milk to thin out the oatmeal. Add more to get the consistency that you like. If you enjoy runnier oatmeal add more almond milk. Spoon oatmeal into a bowl. Add raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Sprinkle with almond flakes and additional brown sugar if desired. I like to add an extra splash of almond milk before I serve it. Serve with a steaming cup of coffee and enjoy the rest of your day.
Disclosure: I am being paid by Blue Diamond Almond Breeze for this post. I am compensated for my time, however all opinions expressed are my own.
I am Bree. I love to cook. Even more than I love to take pictures.
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I just bought some of those same steel cut oats. Then I looked at the cook time and thought, No way in the morning am I watching oatmeal cook that long. I usually eat my old fashioned oats uncooked with Rice Dream and nuts, but my husband thinks that’s like horse food. This might be the perfect solution. The crock pot is my buddy.
Jessica recently posted..Lone Shark takes a bite out of the Sea Lion Bowl
I hope that this works out for you. And yes, that does sort of sound like horse food.
looks like a perfect breakfast!
thank you!
This look delicious! I love oatmeal (although I eat the packet kind). There needs to be such a thing as a slow cooker for one. That I would buy, because having a giant slow cooker and only using it for 1-2 portions is getting tedious
Happy Valentine’s Day! <3
Becca – Cookie Jar Treats recently posted..No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake
I actually bought a small crock-pot just for cooking oats! It is 1 1/2 quarts & only cost $10 on sale.
Score!
This sounds delicious! I love using almond milk in my oatmeal, though I haven’t tried slow cooker oatmeal yet. I love the added vanilla bean
Katie @ Blonde Ambition recently posted..Friday Faves
You will love this, the house smells so good when you wake up.
Mmm, I love almond milk. We have 6 containers of it in my fridge right now (gotta stock up when it’s on sale!) This looks perfectly delicious!
Caroline @ chocolate & carrots recently posted..Whole Wheat Cranberry Orange Cake
Thank you! I stock up too! I really miss having an extra fridge. It doesn’t fit in my new house. I used to have one just for drinks.
I love oatmeal in the morning made with rolled oats since I don’t have the energy to wait one hour for the steel cut oats to cook. What a great idea to cook them overnight in the slow cooker! Can’t wait to try it!
Roxana | Roxana’s Home Baking recently posted..The best homemade dinner rolls (from scratch)
I am so glad that you figured out a way to make them in the morning!
This recipe looks delicious. I love steel cut oats and almond breeze! I need to break out my crockpot and give this recipe a try.
Brittany @ eatingbirdfood recently posted..Blueberry Almond Breeze Smoothie
I hope that you do! You will wake up to the best smelling house.
How many servings will this make?
4-6.
This is absolutely delicious! I made this exactly the way your instructions say, only added zest of 1 orange in addition. This is delicious!!! Thank you for this recipe.
I am so glad, I made this over the weekend and it was a big hit. Love the addition of the orange zest.