Maple Cinnamon Oatmeal Recipe (Steel Cut Oats) (2024)

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Steel cut oats are easy to cook. It obviously takes longer than instant sugar-laden oatmeal from a packet, but you really just stir it a couple of timesand it practically cooks itself. The texture, flavor and nutritive value of steel cut oats (i.e. real oatmeal) can’t be beat.

Ok, so this is huge, gigantic – a really big deal!… My son ate oatmeal! He’s NEVER been a fan, until he tried steel cut oats lastweek. The boy has good taste! Have you tried steel cut oats? I hope I hope I hope you do after reading this.

We’ve recently been on a mission to reduce the amount of added sugar we eat and we noticed that the instant organic oatmeal that I’ve been consuming for years has sugar listed as the second ingredient, which meant there was ALOT of it. Grrr. I love oatmeal so I knew I needed a substitute. Can I tell you a secret? Last week was the first time I’ve ever tried steel cut oats. And then I made it twice more that week.

My husband told me to hurry up and post the recipe so he knows exactly how to cook steel cut oats– he loved it too! I learned this cooking methodfrom the one and only Alton Brown. Where has this goodness been all my life?

Ingredients for Maple Steel Cut Oats:

1 Tbsp unsalted Butter
1 cup steel cut oats (I used Bob’s Red Mill brand, dry/un-rinsed)
3 cups boiling water
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp maple syrup, plus more totaste
1/4 tsp cinnamon, plus more totaste
2 cups fresh fruit or berries (I used sliced peaches and raspberries)

How to Make the Best Steel Cut Oats (i.e. Breakfast of champions):

1. Set a medium saucepan or dutch oven* over medium heat. Melt in1 Tbsp butterthen add 1 cup oats and toast for 2 min, stirring occasionally. Toasting them will give them a nice nuttiness. *We have been making this in a dutch oven lately because everything just tastes better in a dutch oven!

2. Add 3 cups boiling water then reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook on low for 20 minutes without stirring.

3. Combine 1/2 cup whole milk with 1/2 cup buttermilk. Pour over the oatmeal and add 1/4 tsp salt then stir just until incorporated. Cook another 10 minutes uncovered, stirring gently once or twice – don’t over mix(note: if you’re using a large sauce pan, keep the pan covered the entire time – a larger surface area will cause the steam to escape faster and dry out if left uncovered).

4. Finally,stir in 1/4 tsp cinnamon and 1 Tbsp maple syrup, or to taste. Divide among 4 bowls and top each bowl with about 1/2 cup of fresh fruit (plusa sprinkle of cinnamon and drizzle of maple syrup if desired)

I know exactly what went into this and I used a natural sweetener – maple syrup. I feel awesome about feeding it to my family. Now that’s what I call breakfast! Have I convinced you yet? Now go forth and make steel cut oats for your family 🙂