This is what I’ve been eating for breakfast every morning for the past month. It’s total comfort food and makes me feel amazing, even after a night of little sleep. I don’t know about you, but when I find something that I love, I have to have it every. single. day. until I’m sick of it and then I’m onto the next thing for a while. It’s a good thing I have this blog or I’d probably eat the same 3 meals on rotation! This wouldn’t surprise my mom. As a child, I used to only want to wear one outfit over and over. My poor mom had the challenging task to convince me to put on a different outfit before school each day. I remember one of those outfits fondly – a neon pink and green spandex short and tank outfit. Probably with a snap bracelet. Who wouldn’t want to wear that every day? I knew what I was doing back in the 80’s, let me tell you!
Now that I have a newborn, I’ve found myself with short “window of opportunities” for personal tasks (shower! eat! get crap done!). I have to move more efficiently then ever and I’m doing most things in half the time. This probably explains why I left the house wearing 1 earring the other day (“new fashion trend?” is what the cashier asked me). After I feed Adriana in the morning, I’m ready to chew my own arm off (unless I have some of my favourite breakfast cookies on hand!). So, rather than raiding the fridge and digging into my dark chocolate macaroon torte at 8am (yup, that happened), I came up with this hot oatmeal that only requires a quick zap of heat. It’s virtually instant! And I’m not talking about those powdery instant oatmeal packets I used to eat in highschool and university. This is real deal oatmeal at a fraction of the time, but you’d never know it. And it’s been working so well for my new routine that I knew I had to share it, as simple as it is. Everyone can appreciate an almost-instant breakfast, right?
The magic of this breakfast starts with making vegan overnight oats before bed. I live off of vegan overnight oats (and smoothies) all summer long, but it’s cold and snowy outside and I want something piping hot! My solution? I started making my vegan overnight oats before bed as usual, but now in the morning I throw the soaked oat mixture into a pot and heat it up for a couple minutes. That’s all it takes! Since we’re already soaking the oats and chia seeds overnight, the work is done for you as you sleep. Now all we have to do is heat it up for a minute or two. Then I scoop it into a bowl and throw on some toppings. In 5 minutes flat, I have an incredibly satisfying, nourishing bowl of oatmeal ready to start my day. It looks like a fancy bowl of oatmeal fit for a crunchy breakfast cafe. And that makes me very happy.
My favourite toppings are…
soaked raw almonds
pepita seeds (you can soak those too)
dried cranberries or dried cherries
raw or toasted almond butter (just a drizzle so it doesn’t overpower)
cinnamon + ground ginger + allspice (lots of cinnamon and just a tiny sprinkle of the last two – try it!!)
toasted flaked coconut
Keep these toppings close by so you can just throw them on like nobody’s biz-nas. Oh and sometimes I will put a pat of coconut oil or vegan butter on top when I want to crank up the comfort another level. This is a breakfast that makes those wintry cold days just a bit more bearable.
Serve with tea or coffee and get COZY!
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5-Minute Oatmeal Power Bowl
Yield
1 bowl
Soak time
overnight
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
My favourite bowl of hot oatmeal, ready in less than 5 minutes! Soaking the oatmeal mixture overnight cuts down the cook time the morning of—all you have to do is heat it on the stove for a minute or two. Don't forget to mix the ingredients the night before. For a fall twist, add a pinch of cinnamon, ground ginger, and allspice on top of each bowl. Total fall comfort food!
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana, mashed (the riper/spottier the better)
- 2 heaping tablespoons chia seeds
- 1/3 cup rolled oats (use certified gluten-free if necessary)
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2/3 cup (160 mL) almond milk
- 1/3 cup (90 mL) water
- 1 tablespoon ground flax (optional, see note)
For Garnish:
- Soaked almonds
- Pepita seeds
- Hemp hearts
- Cinnamon
- Toasted coconut
- Nut butter
- Spices (cinnamon, ginger, allspice)
Directions
- The night before: Grab a medium bowl and mash the banana until smooth. Now stir in the chia, oats, cinnamon, milk, and water until combined. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- In the morning: Scoop the oat mixture into a medium pot. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat immediately to medium-low, and stir frequently until heated throughout and thickened. At the end of cooking, stir in flax, if using.
- Pour oats into bowl. Garnish with your desired toppings. Get cozy!
Tip:
- The ground flax is optional because it creates a bit of a strange texture (almost like a flax egg) in this oatmeal. I don't mind it, but some people might. If you think you will, just leave it out or sprinkle some ground flax on top instead.
- I love topping my oats with spices—a pinch of cinnamon, ground ginger, and allspice create my perfectly spiced bowl.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
Happy breakfast-ing this fall!
You guys are awesome! I got word that The Oh She Glows Cookbook has made it into the FINAL round of voting in Good Reads Choice Awards! I would love your support (last time I have to ask, thank goodness!!). Thanks for helping us get this far. You can vote here.
I’m the same way! I will eat and wear the same things until I get sick of them and then it’s on to the next thing. Sometimes the routine can be very comforting.
I love your red teapot. I have a similar one, but in green. :)
I enjoy oatmeal, especially in cold weather. I will have to try this.
HI Angela,
you make me so hungry right now. Looks delicious.
Which brand gluten free oats do you recommend? I can see oats that will say “gluten free”, only” wheat free.”
I use Bob’s Red Mill brand :)
I am all for an easier way to get some serious nutrients first thing in the morning! Definitely making a batch of this tonight for breakfast tomorrow :)
Looks so healthy and hearty, love it! Pinned :)
I love this idea and my partner has been looking for ways to cut down on his cooking time in the morning without sacrificing heat. Unfortunately, he really dislikes bananas! Do you have any suggestions for substitutions? Thanks!
I would love to know the answer to this also. A quick and warm breakfast in winter sounds perfect – but bananas are the only food on the planet I truly dislike.
Try applesauce – that’s how I make my overnight oats – oats, applesauce, (dairy-free) yoghurt and/or milk, chia, coconut, cinnamon, vanilla, and frozen berries (usually raspberries). And next time I will heat it up in the morning!!
I think pear would be amazing – just peel it and mash.
what about pumpkin? I’m wanting to try that …
I’m sure that would be great too. I’d probably add a bit of sweetener to make up for the lost sweetness from the banana
I tried pumpkin puree+pumkin pie spice+maple sirup and pear+cardamon, both varieties were delicous:)
nice! thanks for letting us know :)
I heard on CBC recently that sweet potato is even better than pumpkin for pies, so I bet it would be good here too in lieu of bananas…and sweeter than pumpkin.
Angela, what is that brown goodness you dolloped on top?
I keep waiting to get sick of oatmeal–but I don’t. I just love it! This looks so cozy! And congrats on being a finalist on Good Reads. You and your awesome cookbook deserve it! Going to vote now. :)
The day doesn’t feel right unless I start it off with oats, whether sweet, savory, overnight, in muffins or as pancakes. I also enjoy ground flaxseed in my oats!
I am just like you, once I am hooked on a breakfast I will eat it for weeks and weeks! This is a perfect balance for breakfast.
Overnight oats are a life saver on rushed mornings! I also make a carrot cake version with shredded carrots, cinnamon/nutmeg, raisins and walnuts. Now that winter seems to be settling in here in Michigan, I’ve started to heat my oats up for a minute or two in the mornings to take the chill off.
Warm oatmeal is my favorite comfort breakfast too lately – topped with honey, goji and a mix of raw seeds and nuts. Just voted for your book – fingers crossed!
I’ve been so stuck on smoothies lately but now that the weather is getting cold this sounds perfect! Yum!!!
Ordered your cookbook this morning and just voted. I’ve been trying your overnight oats recipes and love them all. This one will be a keeper too!
OmmmNomm! It’s definitely oatmeal weather, and this is a great recipe for us busy in the morning folk. I just had oatmeal for lunch because it makes me happy! I just voted for you again and I hope you win!!! You and your food are awesome!
‘raw or toasted almond butter (just a drizzle so it doesn’t overpower)’
I confess that made me half. My porridge is usually about a quarter almond butter :P
That being said, this looks amazing! I might actually start doing this in the morning to save time. Sometimes I like baking my porridge with the toppings on it already, and I get ready while it’s baking, then gobble it up before leaving the house!
Okay so just a warning, this comment has nothing to do with the oatmeal and everything to do with your reviews on Goodreads…
I am going to spare you the sappy ramblings of how much I adore you but basically, I found myself on goodreads, after I voted for your book again hehe, and I started to read the reviews and oh. my. god. I started crying! Like the overly dramatic person that I am! I was so beyond happy with all of the wonderful things people were saying about you! I have followed your blog for almost a year now and I must say, you have been one of the biggest motivators and inspirations in my life this past year and I cannot thank you enough! Your success and happiness makes me jump with joy! In the most cliché of terms, haha.
Keep inspiring us! Sending lots of warm hugs from Texas,
Sara :)
I also have a newborn so I understand the need for something fast and easy. Did you know that oatmeal is supposed to help increase your breastmilk supply? Good for mama and baby!
I love when recipes like this are posted because it brings all the other oat addicts together for an awesome oat-idea-brainstorm! Love the almond/dried cranberry combo!
Any idea on a sub for the banana? I’m allergic.
I would try pear for a fun twist (peel and mash first). Another commenter suggested applesauce.
Yes!! I’m so glad someone else eats the same thing every day until you get sick of it! I never thought anything of it until I got married and realized my husband wasn’t so thrilled about eating leftovers the very next night or the same meal several days in a row- he thinks I’m crazy, but we’ve learned to compromise and he does drink a green smoothie every weekday now for breakfast :-) How does you hubby feel about it? P.S. Those are some of my favorite oatmeal toppings, too- looks fantastic!