We are continuing to have the strangest weather over here in Southeastern PA. The end of January is usually bitter cold and snowy, but this year we are experiencing temperatures in the 50s and tons of rain. I haven’t seen the sun in three days, but thankfully that is supposed to change by tomorrow. I don’t know about you, but whenever it’s dark and damp outside I find myself craving warming, hearty meals. These Crock-Pot Maple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats are nutritious, warming, and SO easy.
It takes less than five minutes to get all of your ingredients into the Crock-Pot and then the oats cook overnight until they are nice and fluffy. The recipe is rather simple so that you can add whatever toppings you prefer. The oats are cooked in coconut or almond milk that is mixed with a little bit of pure maple syrup and ground cinnamon to naturally sweeten and pump up the flavor. I like to top mine with raisins, dried cranberries, walnuts, and a little extra maple syrup, but you can get as fancy as you like with your toppings. This recipe makes six large servings and keeps very well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, which makes it a great recipe for meal-prepping. I have been eating it for breakfast for the past three days and it heats up very well in the microwave. If you give this recipe a try, let me know by leaving a comment!
A NOTE ABOUT OATS: Oatmeal IS naturally gluten free, which is why I list my oatmeal recipes as gluten free. However, if you are following a gluten free diet due to celiac disease or a gluten intolerance, it is important to read the labels of your oats and choose a CERTIFIED gluten free variety (I like Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Steel Cut Oats). This means that they were grown, shipped, and processed in a manner that takes special precautions to avoid cross-contamination.
Active Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 7 hours
Serves: 6
Ingredients: 2 cups steel cut oats (certified gluten free, if desired) 4 cups boxed coconut milk (or almond milk)* 1/2 cup pure maple syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt
for serving: raisins, dried cranberries, walnuts, additional pure maple syrup
Directions: Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker and cook for 7 hours on low. Top Crock-Pot Maple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats with preferred toppings.
*if you prefer creamier oats, increase amount of coconut milk to 4 1/2 cups.
Nutrition Information per serving (without toppings):
Calories: 297 Fat: 6g Carbs: 55g Protein: 7g Sodium: 111mg Sugar: 19g
*Nutrition information is based on the products I used personally in this recipe. Different products may yield slightly different information.
