Gingerbread Oatmeal | Kara Lydon

This gingerbread oatmeal is a perfect cozy breakfast for the holidays! Made on the stovetop with quick steel cut oats, cinnamon, ginger, and molasses for a delightful (but not too sweet!) gingerbread taste.

Why I Love This Recipe

I love gingerbread during the holiday season. I just can’t get enough of those delicious warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and ginger this time of year. 

I also adore oatmeal and find that it’s a perfectly satisfying and cozy breakfast. Plus, it’s so easy and quick to make. This Gingerbread Oatmeal is no exception.

Ready is less than 15 minutes, this oatmeal is sure to give you all the wintery, holiday, cozy feels. Its sweet and spicy flavor profile reminds me of fresh gingerbread cookies but in a creamy, breakfast form. Think warm winter spices and a perfect balance of spicy ginger and sweet molasses.

It’s also got juuuust the right amount of flavor and sweetness – enough that you notice and enjoy it but not too much that it overpowers the dish and you can’t even finish the bowl! 

It’s both hearty and filling, and I like to top it off with yogurt and/or chopped pecans to make it even more satiating. 

If you love gingerbread as much as I do and dig make-ahead breakfasts, I suggest you also check out my Gingerbread Baked Oatmeal!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Notes on Ingredients

unsweetened almond milk: I use almond milk for its mild, neutral taste when cooking and baking, but you can use any type of regular dairy or non-dairy alternative in this recipe.

quick steel cut oats: I use quick steel cut oats in this recipe but you can also use any type of oats – steel cut are my favorite for their creamy texture but you can use regular steel cut oats or rolled oats too. Steel cut oats will take about 30 minutes to cook.

cinnamon: the perfect warm, cozy flavor 

ginger: mildly spicy yet sweet

allspice: slightly earthy, bitter, and fruity 

ground cloves: adds a subtly sweet flavor and warmth

nutmeg: provides a nutty, slightly sweet and woody flavor

salt: flavor enhancer

vanilla extract: adds a touch of sweetness

molasses: contributes to the classic gingerbread flavor! You can always add more molasses if you like your oatmeal sweeter

brown sugar: sweetens up the oatmeal. Feel free to substitute with coconut sugar or maple syrup depending on what you have on hand

Equipment You’ll Need (affiliate links – if you make a purchase I receive a small commission)

Medium pot

How to Make Gingerbread Oatmeal

Heat milk. Pour milk in medium pot and bring to a boil.
Stir in oats. Once the milk has boiled, lower heat to medium-low and stir in oats. Cook until mixture begins to thicken, about 3-4 minutes.
Add spices and other ingredients. Stir in cinnamon, ginger, allspice, ground cloves, nutmeg, salt, vanilla, molasses, and brown sugar, until combined with oats.
Cook oats. Continue cooking until oats reach desired texture, about 7-10 minutes.
Top off and enjoy! Top with pecans, yogurt, or other desired toppings and enjoy!

Expert Tips

Quick steel oats can be replaced with regular steel cut oats or even old-fashioned oats if you prefer. Note that cooking times may vary. Regular steel cut oats will take about 30 minutes to cook.
Oats are naturally gluten-free but may contain traces of gluten from cross-contamination in the manufacturing facility. Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if you have a gluten allergy.

Recipe FAQs

How do you sweeten oatmeal without sugar?

Oatmeal can be sweetened with maple syrup, honey, extracts, spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, nut butters, fresh fruit, and in this case molasses! 

Why is my oatmeal not creamy?

Be sure to stir your oatmeal often as its cooking and don’t keep the heat too high. If the heat is too high, the oatmeal will thicken up quickly and burn, sticking to the bottom of the pot.

If you find that your oatmeal is too watery, chances are you added too much liquid or aren’t letting it cook long enough

I find that bringing the liquid to a boil first, then adding the oats and lowering the heat helps achieve a creamy consistency. 

What’s the difference between quick oats and old-fashioned oats?

Quick oats are very similar to old-fashioned oats but are cut into smaller pieces to allow them to cook faster. Feel free to use any type of oats you have on hand in this recipe but note that cooking times may vary, and you may want to add more or less almond milk accordingly.

Storage and Preparation

Gingerbread Oatmeal leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.

To reheat leftovers, heat in the microwave for 60-90 seconds with a splash of almond milk (or milk of preference).

Recipes That Pair Well

Air Fryer Eggs

Pomegranate Smoothie

Asparagus Leek Quiche

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Smoothie

Veggie Egg Bites

For more gingerbread inspiration, check out my other recipes below! 

Gingerbread Pancakes

Gingerbread Baked Oatmeal

Gingerbread Granola Bars

Gingerbread Bread Pudding with Eggnog Sauce

Raw Vegan Gingerbread Truffles

No Bake Mini Gingerbread Cheesecakes

If you like this recipe, please be sure to comment and give it a 5 star rating below. If you make it, share it on Instagram and tag me @karalydonrd and I’ll re-share it with my followers! If you want to save this recipe for later, be sure to pin it on Pinterest!

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