Introducing the best creamy vanilla oatmeal recipe. This healthy oatmeal recipe is rich, flavorful, creamy and packed with protein.
It’s also naturally sweetened with ripe bananas and packs in tons of micronutrients.
I might be a little biased, but this is truly the best breakfast oatmeal recipe out there!
Creamy Vanilla Oatmeal Ingredients
- Rolled oats and quick oats: I like to mix them both to make my oatmeal, somehow the texture just turns out better.
- Banana: To naturally sweeten the oatmeal.
- Hemp seeds: Hemp seeds are so good for you and pack a lot of micronutrients into this sweet vanilla oatmeal bowl as well as healthy fats. If you don’t have hemp seeds on hand, replace them with the same amount of chia seeds or ground flaxseeds.
- Sun butter: Almond butter, peanut butter and sunflower butter all pair really well with this oatmeal bowl. If you have a nut allergy, sunflower butter or tahini would be a great substitute.
- Cashew milk: I love the flavor and rich body of cashew milk (recipe linked here). But any creamy plant milk, such as cashew, macadamia or oat milk will work. You can even use water if you would like to keep the calories lower, although the oatmeal won’t be as creamy.
- Salt and cinnamon: The salt helps bring out the flavors in the oatmeal and the cinnamon adds a cozy warmth to this bowl.
- Vanilla extract: If you have it on hand, vanilla bean paste tastes even better.
How to Make this Creamy Oatmeal Bowl
Keep in mind that the full recipe with measurements are in the recipe card below.
- Start by mashing the banana into a pulp in a medium pot. Then add in the rest of the oatmeal ingredients, place on medium-high heat, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, stir the oats and turn down the heat down to medium-low. Let the oatmeal cook away for 5-6 minutes. The longer you let the oatmeal cook, the creamier and softer it’ll be.
- During this time, you can prepare whatever toppings you’d like to use. Make sure that as you’re preparing your toppings, you’re also occasionally stirring the oatmeal and adding additional water as needed. Otherwise the oats will stick to the bottom of the pan!
- At this point the oatmeal should be done. Pour the oatmeal into a bowl, top with a drizzle of honey, extra sunflower butter and hemp seeds. I like to also add a splash of cold cashew milk!
FAQ’s on Oatmeal
Rolled vs. Quick Oats etc…
- What is the healthiest type of oatmeal? Technically, there is no “healthier” oatmeal. Both rolled oats and quick oats have the exact same nutrition profile. The only difference is in steel cut oats vs. rolled oats. Steel cut oats have a ton more fiber (since the husk is still on the grain) and slightly higher nutrients in them. However, this does not necessarily mean that they are healthier than rolled oats. Many people tend to have more difficulty digesting steel cut oats rather than old fashioned rolled oats.
- Is it okay to eat oatmeal everyday? Absolutely! Oatmeal is one of the healthiest foods you can start your day with. It’s packed with protein, slow-releasing carbs (no insulin spike), tons of minerals and vitamins. Not to mention a few key nutrients that play a role in preventing heart disease and other chronic illnesses!
- Is instant oatmeal as good for you as regular oatmeal? Yep! There is virtually no difference in the nutrition of quick/instant oatmeal vs. old fashioned rolled oats. Quick oats are basically just rolled oats that have been steam-cooked and rolled a second time so they’ll cook fast. So if you’re wondering which is better, instant or rolled oats – go with what you prefer. I personally like a mix of both, as they give oatmeal both a slight chewy and creaminess that you can’t get without mixing them!
Making Oatmeal Less Boring!
- How do you make oatmeal less bland? First, make sure that you’re adding vanilla, salt and cinnamon into your oatmeal – at least 1/8 tsp. Secondly, instead of using water, opt for a creamy milk. And lastly, make sure to cook in a dollop of peanut or any nut butter of choice in the oatmeal. This helps naturally add creaminess and tons of nutty flavor to the oatmeal!
- Does oatmeal taste better with milk or water? If you’re looking to make your oatmeal extra creamy, use milk, specifically a high-fat content milk like cashew, almond or cow’s milk. Bottom line, never cook the oatmeal in just water, it doesn’t taste great.
- How do you sweeten oatmeal naturally? There are so many ways to sweeten your oatmeal without sugar. Mashed banana makes a great sweetener and adds in tons of flavor – think banana bread oatmeal! Applesauce, mashed dates, mashed dried figs and date syrup are also all great options.
- What can I add to oatmeal for flavor? Mashed banana, cinnamon, salt, vanilla extract, flavored protein powder, peanut butter, almond butter, plant milks, coffee powder, matcha powder…there are endless options that will add so much flavor to oatmeal.
More Healthy Oatmeal Recipes
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The Best Creamy Vanilla Oatmeal
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 bowl 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: American
Description
Introducing the best creamy vanilla oatmeal recipe. This healthy oatmeal is naturally sweetened, rich and creamy!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 small ripe banana
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup quick oats
- 1 tbsp sunflower butter (or any nut butter of choice)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp ceylon cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup cashew milk
- Honey, sunflower butter and hemp seeds for topping
Instructions
- Start by mashing the banana into a pulp in a medium pot. Then add in the rest of the oatmeal ingredients, place on medium-high heat, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, stir the oats and turn down the heat down to medium-low. Let the oatmeal cook away for 5-6 minutes. The longer you let the oatmeal cook, the creamier and softer it’ll be.
- During this time, you can prepare whatever toppings you’d like to use. Make sure that as you’re preparing your toppings, you’re also occasionally stirring the oatmeal and adding additional water as needed. Otherwise the oats will stick to the bottom of the pan!
- At this point the oatmeal should be done. Pour the oatmeal into a bowl, top with a drizzle of honey, extra sunflower butter and hemp seeds. I like to also add a splash of cold cashew milk!
Notes
- Snickerdoodle: Mix together coconut sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on top of the cooked oatmeal. Then pour over a dash of creamy cold cashew milk. Perfect snickerdoodle inspired oatmeal.
- Simple is best: Keep it simple and top the oatmeal bowl with a drizzle of honey (or maple syrup) and an extra dollop of sunflower butter.
- Chocoholic: Add on chocolate chips or a square of vegan chocolate, a dollop of nut butter (I like sunflower butter) along with a drizzle of date syrup.
- Summer berries: To make the berry mixture, add in frozen blueberries into a pot, along with 1 tbsp of coconut sugar, a pinch of salt and 3 tbsp of water. Heat this on the stove until the water begins to boil. Once boiling, give the berries a stir and turn down the heat to low. Cover the pot and let the berries continue to cook for 5-6 minutes until they’re super soft and jammy. You can slightly crush the berries with a potato masher or fork to make them even more ‘jam-like’. Then spoon this jammy mixture on top of the oatmeal and finish with a drizzle of honey and sprinkle of hemp seeds.
I just made the lemon poppyseed version you posted on your feed this morning and it is absolutely perfect!! So light and refreshing!
So happy to hear that Melissa, thanks for sharing!!