For maple cinnamon oatmeal, simmer 1 cup of rolled oats in 2 cups of milk or water with a pinch of salt and some cinnamon for about 5 minutes. Take it off the heat, stir in maple syrup, and let it sit a minute or two to thicken. That's breakfast for two in about 15 minutes.
The syrup goes in at the end so you can taste as you go. Then a little more goes on top, because that's the good part.
What you need
- 2 cups milk, water or a mix of the two
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, plus more for the top
- Toppings, such as sliced banana, chopped apple or toasted nuts (optional)
How to make it
- In a medium saucepan, bring the liquid and the salt to a boil over medium heat.
- Stir in the oats and cinnamon. Turn the heat down to medium-low so the pot simmers gently.
- Cook, stirring now and then, until the oats are soft and creamy, about 5 minutes.
- Take the pan off the heat and stir in the maple syrup. Let it sit for 1 to 2 minutes to thicken.
- Spoon into two bowls. Add your toppings and finish with a drizzle of maple syrup.
Which syrup to use
Go with Amber. It's warm and smooth with caramel notes, and it's the one that goes on everything, a bowl of oats included. If you like a deeper, more robust maple taste, try Dark. The bundle gets you one tin of each, so you can find your favorite. Whichever you pour, make it pure maple syrup instead of pancake syrup.
Tips
- Pick your liquid. Water makes a lighter bowl. Milk makes it creamier. A mix lands in between.
- Watch the milk. Milk foams up fast as it comes to a boil. Stay close, and turn the heat down at the first bubbles.
- Stir now and then. It keeps the oats from sticking to the bottom of the pan, especially when you cook with milk.
- Fix the texture. Oatmeal keeps thickening as it sits. Stir in a splash of milk to loosen it, or cook it a minute longer if you like it thick.
- Using other oats? Quick oats and steel-cut oats cook in very different times, so follow the directions on the package.
- Save the leftovers. Get them into the fridge within 2 hours, or 1 hour if it's above 90°F, and eat them within 3 to 4 days. Cold oatmeal sets firm. Reheat it with a splash of milk, stirring until smooth and steaming.
Make it your own
Top your bowl with sliced banana, chopped apple, a spoonful of yogurt, or a handful of maple granola for crunch. Toasted pecans or walnuts work well too. Want more spice? Add a pinch of nutmeg along with the cinnamon.
For a nuttier bowl, toast the dry oats first. Melt 1 teaspoon of butter in the saucepan over medium heat, add the oats and stir for 2 to 3 minutes, until they smell toasty. Pour in the liquid, salt and cinnamon, bring it to a boil, then turn the heat down and simmer as usual.
