Simple Gingerbread Oatmeal Recipe - A Red Spatula (2024)

There is nothing quite like a simple creamy bowl of oatmeal on cold mornings. If you are looking to mix up the flavors a bit, how about trying this Simple Gingerbread Oatmeal Recipe? It is loaded with the warming spices and flavors you expect from gingerbread, making it the perfect bowl to start your day.

While this is a perfect breakfast any morning, it is especially lovely for Christmas morning. Gingerbread is the flavor of the holiday season.

I grew up eating oatmeal almost every day in my childhood home, and it still remains one of my favorite things for breakfast as an adult.

You might say I have a little bit of an obsession with oatmeal, check out a few other recipes I have published:

• Brown sugar oatmeal- I love this creamy oatmeal recipe.
• Cinnamon spice oatmeal- this is another bowl loaded with warming spices.
• Cranberry oatmeal- I love this recipe for using leftover cranberry sauce.
• Blueberry oatmeal- this bright fresh oatmeal is a tasty recipe with a pop of flavor.

What makes this gingerbread oatmeal so good?

Whole grains make the perfect partner with the warm spices of gingerbread. There is nothing quite like the molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc mixed with creamy oatmeal.

This oatmeal is simple to make. Even on a busy morning, this oatmeal can easily be made and served quickly. It is can be cooked in under 10 minutes. The best part? Most of this hands-off cooking as well. It only requires about 2 minutes of prep time.

Warming spices are comforting spices. There is something so homey about the smell and taste of these spices.

Ingredients

• Oats- My favorite oats to use regular oatmeal (old-fashioned oats). I don't really like quick-cooking oats as they turn to mush quickly.
• Salt- it only takes a touch, but it makes a world of difference. It helps to enhance the sweetness and flavor.
• Milk- I like to use almond milk, but you can use any milk you prefer. Coconut milk adds a great flavor to this oatmeal too.
• Maple syrup- you can use any sweetener your like, but I love pure maple syrup with this gingerbread oatmeal. It is a lighter sweetener too than refined sugars, which will give it just the right amount of sweetness
• Molasses- this recipe doesn't call for much, but with the strong flavor of molasses, it doesn't take much. It adds so much extra flavor.
• Spices- I used ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.
• Butter- it won't take much, but it adds another dimension to this delicious oatmeal.
• Toppings- optional. Nuts, chia seeds, crushed gingerbread cookies, etc.

How to make

If this is your first time making homemade oatmeal, don't worry, I will teach you everything you need to know! You will be an oatmeal-making pro in no time.

Heat liquids- For my oatmeal recipes, I always use a mixture of milk and water for my liquid. Bring this to a low boil over medium-high heat.

Dry ingredients- Add in the rolled oats, spices, and molasses and lower to medium-low heat. Cook this for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Sweeten the oatmeal- Stir in the maple syrup and continue to cook for another couple of minutes.

Toppings- That is it! the homemade oatmeal recipe is done! Top with a touch of butter, a little splash of milk, and whatever else you want.

See Also

Onion Bhaji Recipe | Easy Plain Flour Method | Hint Of Helen15 Easy Homemade Baby Food Recipes Your Little One Will LoveClassic Low-FODMAP Chicken Pot Pie Recipe; Gluten-free, Dairy-freeChristmas Recipes For the Last Minute Panic People: Butter Tarts

Tips and tricks for making the perfect oatmeal

• Temperature, while you are cooking the oatmeal, is important. Too hot and the oatmeal will burn or cook too quickly and the oats will be underdone. Too low and the oats will cook too long, turning them to mush. Medium heat is what is needed for cooking.
• If you are making this a plant-based breakfast, be sure to use plant-based milk and butter.
• There are plenty of ways to add extra protein to your bowl of oatmeal. Protein powder is a really easy way, and we like vanilla protein powder with this recipe. You can top it with nuts, chia seeds, a spoonful of Greek yogurt, a spoonful of nut butter, etc. Almond butter is a really delicious addition.
• For a fun little kick to topping your oatmeal, crush up some gingerbread cookies and sprinkle them on top.
• Orange and gingerbread are a classic flavor combo. Another way to add dimension to this oatmeal is to add 2 tablespoons of orange zest while the oatmeal is cooking. Or you can also add candies and orange zest to the top when you are serving.
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract can be added during cooking time to enhance the flavors. Or you can add ½ teaspoon pure vanilla at the end of cooking time as well

Can this be made with steel-cut oats?

Yes, it can be! Just know the cooking time is a little longer than with regular oats. The time will be changed from about 5 minutes to 20 minutes.

With a longer cooking time, you will also need more liquid. Plan on adding about 1 cup of water and a little extra milk- about ½ cup.

What is in gingerbread spice?

Gingerbread spices can be made up of a lot of different spices- cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, ground cloves, and cardamom. You will note in this recipe I use cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.

What can I sweeten my oatmeal with besides sugar?

As noted above, I use a combination of maple syrup and molasses in this recipe. You can also use fresh fruit or dried fruits to add a naturally sweet flavor.

Can oatmeal be frozen?

It sure can and in a really easy way. Read this post I wrote all about freezing oatmeal.

How do you reheat oatmeal?

This is also very simple and I have a post detailing how to reheat oatmeal as well.

I promise this is a cozy food the whole family will love. Whether you are serving this as a festive holiday breakfast or just a warming meal on a cold morning, this gingerbread oatmeal satisfies you.

Oatmeal vs Cream of Wheat

If you are wondering what the difference is between oatmeal and Cream of Wheat. The answer is simple, click this post to read all about it!

• Breakfast
• Oats