Oatmeal with Coconut Milk

This dairy free oatmeal is made with coconut milk, which gives it just a hint of tropical flavor and makes it extra creamy.

It is also super quick and easy to make, especially if you have a microwave.

Types of Oats

There are three types of oats you can use to make oatmeal.

Steel cut oats

Steal cut oats are oat groats that have been roughly chopped. They cook more quickly than whole oat groats and result in a hearty, creamy porridge.

Old-fashioned oats or Rolled Oats

Old-fashioned oats, or rolled oats, are made by steaming oat groats and rolling them into flakes.

They have a short cooking time, 5 minutes, and they only require 2 cups water for every cup oats.

Quick oats or Instant oats

Quick oats, or instant oats, but they are steamed longer and rolled more thinly than old-fashioned oats.

They require 2 cups water for 1 cup oats, but they only take 1 minute to cook.

Cooking oatmeal

There are two ways to make oatmeal. On the stove or in the microwave.

I find that making oats on the stove creates a more sticky starchy oatmeal. So, I much prefer and highly recommend making oats in the microwave.

But, if you don’t have a microwave, or prefer to make oats on the stove, here are the instructions for that.

STOVETOP COOKING INSTRUCTIONS

The ingredients are exactly the same as in the recipe.

1. Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan. Then reduce the heat to low and pour in the oats. 
2. Allow them to cook until they thicken and absorb all the liquid, stirring frequently. It will take about 5 minutes.

Oatmeal Ideas

You can add many things to oatmeal to make it tastier.

Growing up my Mom put peanut better in mine because that’s how she liked it growing up, and it’s still one of my favorite ways to eat oatmeal.

My brother on the other hand puts in bananas, nuts, and chocolate.

Here are some classic additions you can add to your recipe to spice it up.

Maple Brown Sugar

• 1 teaspoon dark brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
• Pinch of cinnamon

Cinnamon and Brown Sugar

• 1 and ½ teaspoon brown sugar plus additional to taste
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon

Banana Nut

• 1/2 banana, sliced
• 2 tablespoons walnuts
• Pinch of cinnamon

Strawberry & Cream

• 1/2 cup sliced strawberries
• 1 tablespoon dairy free half and half
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

Blueberries & Cream

• 1/3 cup blueberries
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon dairy free half and half
• 2 teaspoons honey

Chocolate Peanut Butter

• 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
• 2 teaspoons chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoons roasted peanuts