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!
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I’ve been making gluten free oats (Bobs Red Mill) on the stovetop and adding sliced banana, flax seed, chia seed, walnuts, cinnamon, and coconut chips then serving with Silk soymilk creamer. SO GOOD!
Angela, I’m relatively new to your blog (I discovered it via several students in my Food Writing class — they’re super fans). I’ve made a few of your recipes over the last month or so, and they’ve been wonderful — from the coconut-avocado pudding to the vegan Caesar salad. You’ve made me explore some new ingredients and techniques, which has been so refreshing. Mostly, I hover in the land of cheese boards and bright, zesty salads. All this to say, this recipe has become my new morning fave. I love how the oats retain their shape (instead of growing mushy), and the chia seeds add so much body. Thanks for all that you offer here. Cheers!
Hi Tenaya, Thank you for your kind words! So happy you are enjoying the recipes so much. Cheers!
I totally had that neon outfit too! LOL! I sit here stuffing my face with leftover candied yam casserole! Hahaha.
Oatmeal is amazing. Thanks for sharing. I too have a newborn…and a toddler. Life is busy and I need all the comfort & energy I can get. I always forget to soak my oats and seeds over night, but you have inspired me! God Bless.
ps: I have been on your site many times and use your recipes all the time. Thank you so much for your blog. (I too have a blog but have not been able to make time to blog…you have inspired me with this too!) I breastfeed my baby and he has a lot of food sensitivities, especially dairy and soy; so my diet has to be very specific. I am so thankful for folks like you who share what you are doing with vegan cooking/baking. You have made my life much better. Some of my friends and family don’t understand, they think I should just put baby on formula. Your blog is so encouraging. Thanks again!
Thank you for your kind words Mandy! All the best with your baby :)
Made this last night for my AM breaky ! Fantastic. I wasn’t even looking for a mid morning snack after the very heavy caseload.
Wondering any other suggestions for the banana – if I have just run out?
Thank you
I would try pureed pear or applesauce :)
Love this recipe! So good and love the flavour and texture. Great breakfast, especially at this time of year. I enjoy your blog as well, thank you!
I love that spoon! Where did you get it?
Hi, Angela!
Like you, I’m a serial (cereal?) oatmeal-eater. I’ve made this for breakfast every day for about a week now, and I’m completely in love! I call it the Big Bowl o’Banana Bread, because it tastes just like a really wholesome, delicious banana bread. Mmmmmm.
Thank you for your recipes and your you-ness. You’ve changed my life. I’m seriously not exaggerating. Your recipes are helping me love food again.
Love from,
Lara
I have this oatmeal as often as I can! It’s THAT yummy.
Just a small amount of toppings? I’m not quite sure how much of each to add.
Looks amazing!! I’m gonna try it :D
This is the best! I love it.
Yum! Trying this tomorrow!
I’m so going to try this.
i mix oatmeal with I cup of egg whites together and sometimes a sweatner or you can use brown sugar flav oatmeal. Micro for under 3 min. It’s filling and good and great protein
Have try nasi goreng (fried rice)? Popular breakfast menu in my country
Hot oatmeal! My favourite! I’ve been having this every morning at work. I actually look forward to work because of this bowl. (is that weird?) Instead of soaking the oats though, I just put the oats, cinnamon, coconut sugar, and chia seeds in a small ziplock, and my toppings in another container. Then i’ll assemble and mix with almond milk and pop it in the microwave for a few minutes. Totally delicious and energizing! Loveee <3
Any alternative option to using banana?
I love this recipe!
Just wondering, do you have to soak the almonds separately?
Can the almonds just soak in with oatmeal, banana, almond milk, etc?
Thank you!
Mary Ellen
Thank you so much for this recipe! I never liked oatmeal, but feel I should be eating it for the health benefits. I’ve been making a simplified version of this (just banana, oats, almond milk and chia) for a few weeks now and I love it!
Wow, that is a fantastic breakfast recipe! Thank you! I didn’t have everything on the list, but I had Bob’s oats, the banana, soy instead of almond milk, and some toasted coconut. Oh and some spices – nutmeg and cinnamon. What a great meal – easy and tasty.
Thank you!