Spiced Pumpkin Oatmeal

October 12, 2023

Its officially October and the past few mornings have been chilly and overcast, which is a fairly drastic change to the typical weather we experience here in the Carolinas. There is something about the drop in temperatures that makes me want to swap out my smoothies for something warm and hearty and this spiced pumpkin oatmeal has been on my mind…

Oatmeal is a wonderful way to start your day. It is a great source of soluble fiber that helps to both lower your blood glucose and cholesterol. It promotes a healthy gut and heart and can reduce the risk of diabetes. Plus, it is delicious and keeps me full all the way to lunch, which is no easy task.

This spiced pumpkin oatmeal is creamy, warmly spiced and just sweet enough to satisfy any early appearances your sweet tooth may make. You are going to love this breakfast.

Let’s get started…

For two servings, you will need 1 – 1 1/4 cups of old fashioned oats (depending on how thick you like your oatmeal), 2 cups of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1/2 cup of pure pumpkin puree, 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon of ground cloves, 1/8 teaspoon of all spice, 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar.

I love old fashioned oats and always have them in my pantry, but this recipe can be made with your favorite oats. If you use steel cut oats or even quick oats, just adjust the cooking time according to the manufacturers directions.

Begin by adding 2 cups of almond milk in a medium sauce pan placed over medium high heat.

Once the almond milk is steaming, whisk in 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon of ground cloves, 1/8 teaspoon of all spice, 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg and 1/8 teaspoon of salt until completely incorporated.

Once this mixture begins to simmer, stir in your oats. If you like your oatmeal on the thicker side, I would add 1 and 1/4 cups of old fashion oats, but if you prefer your oatmeal a bit looser, only add 1 cup of oats.

Bring the mixture to a low boil and cook the oats for about 5 minutes or according to the manufacturers directions. Stir the oats to prevent them from settling to the bottom of the saucepan every 30 seconds or so as they cook to keep everything cooking evenly.

Once the mixture begins to thicken and the oats are tender, turn the heat off and let the oatmeal sit for 2-3 minutes. This will allow the oats to absorb a little bit more of the spiced pumpkin almond milk and set up a bit more.

Now all you need to do is scoop the oatmeal into a few bowls and add your desired garnishes.

I think one of the reasons that some people don’t give oatmeal enough credit is that they don’t add garnishes. Yes, oatmeal is healthy. Yes, it is simple to make, but it does have a uniform texture, which can become boring over time…

… but, if you add a drizzle of heavy cream, some granola or chopped nuts your oatmeal can become quickly much more interesting to your palate.

Today, I am adding a big pinch of vanilla granola and some pistachios, but any nuts, seeds or dried fruit you may have in your pantry will work great. If you don’t like heavy cream, you can add a splash of almond milk or even some greek yogurt to your oatmeal to both cool things off and add a layer of silkiness to the overall experience.

This oatmeal is fantastic! The spices are bold, but not overpowering and the pumpkin and brown sugar take care of those seasonal cravings that hit around this time of year.

If you are making yourself a bowl of spiced pumpkin oatmeal, resist the urge to cut this recipe in half. Make the whole batch, chill the second serving in an airtight container and warm it in the microwave for either tomorrow mornings breakfast or to take care of tonights late night snackish feelings.

Morning or midnight, whenever you decide to enjoy this warmly spiced, pumpkin oatmeal, you are going to love it…

Enjoy!

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