Basic Overnight Oatmeal Slow Cooker Recipe
We've hit September, which means school is back in session and it's early mornings and kids who need to be fed something (hopefully) substantial before leaving the house.
I've gotten a few emails about overnight oatmeal, and I've been experimenting. Because of the way the Internet is, I've figured out a VERY BASIC overnight oatmeal --- the oats can be either regular rolled OR "fancy" steel cut, and the oats are cooked in water, not milk.
If you want to change-up the water for cow's milk, or almond milk, or hemp, soy, coconut, lactaid, fairy, or unicorn milk: go for it!
but water works, too!
The Ingredients:
serves 4-6
Rolled Oat Overnight Slow Cooker Recipe
For "Regular" Oatmeal, the ratio in a slow cooker to cook is 1:2 -- one part oatmeal, 2 parts cooking liquid. I add a bit more liquid (an extra 1/2 cup) for moisture because that is what I like.
2 cups rolled old-fashioned oats (NOT quick cook) (I use certified gluten free oats)
4 cups water or milk (or liquid equivalent)
(1/2 cup of cream, milk, etc. to stir in after cooking)
Steel Cut Oats Overnight Slow Cooker Recipe
For "Steel Cut" Oatmeal, the ratio in a slow cooker to cook is 1:3 -- one part oatmeal, 3 parts cooking liquid. 1 cup steel cut oatmeal (I use certified gluten free)
3 cups water or milk
(1/2 cup of cream, milk, etc. to stir in after cooking)
The Directions.
Use a 4 or a 6 quart slow cooker and an OVEN-SAFE dish (pyrex, corningware, anything you'd toss into the panggangan or dishwasher without thinking twice).
Put a cup or so of water into the bottom of your crockpot.
Smear a tiny bit of butter (or use cooking spray) on the oven-safe dish.
Combine the oats and cooking liquid.
Place the dish into the crockpot with the water.
Cover, and cook on low for 7 hours. (this is when you sleep!!)
IN THE MORNING, YOU WILL HAVE:
Creamy, bland, tasteless oatmeal. You can add stuff at the table: honey, sliced fruit, brown sugar, etc.
OR, you can get fancy and do mixing and cook overnight with the mixings.
Kid Friendly Overnight Oatmeal
(this is how my three children like their oatmeal)
2 cups rolled oats
4 1/2 cups water (many times I mix half milk, half water)
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice mix (1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/8 nutmeg, 1/8 cloves)
2 small granny smith apples, diced (I leave on the skin because I'm terribly lazy)
In the morning they sprinkle on a bit more cinnamon and they like sliced bananas, too. What they'd REALLY like is for me to let them add brown sugar, but I don't.
because I'm terribly mean, too.
The Verdict.
The rolled oats disappear and become porridge-like. There is no longer a chew to the oats --- my kids like this a lot because it's the most similar to the little packets of sugar-laden oatmeal.
This is a very easy way to get a hot breakfast on a busy morning.
I played around with the timing for those who don't have a programmable slow cooker, and if you do low for 7 hours you will be just fine. If you sleep longer (I'm jealous), it'll just get a bit dried out on the edges, but you can easily fix that by stirring in some milk.
Enjoy!!
