How to make brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal

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This easy maple brown sugar oatmeal recipe is simple and delicious. So much better than packets and a family favorite breakfast recipe. Made with quick oats, maple syrup, brown sugar and toasted pecans.

Breakfast is my FAVORITE meal of the day. With 100+ Sweet and Savory Breakfast Ideas on the site, you are sure to find a dish that fuels you for the day!

How to make brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal

Recipe Features:

  • Quick and Easy: This quick and easy breakfast recipe takes less than 10 minutes!
  • 5-Ingredient Recipe: The base is only 5 pantry staple ingredients.
  • Easy to Customize: You can customize this recipe easily to fit your tastes by substituting ingredients or adding mix-in’s!

Did anyone else grow up on individually packaged oatmeal? My mom would always buy a variety box and I would fight my sisters for the Quaker Instant Maple and Brown Sugar packets.

To this day it is one of my favorite flavors. However, we’ve moved on from the instant packs. Making homemade maple brown sugar oatmeal is super simple. All you need is quick oats, water, a dash of brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, and ten minutes of your time.

That’s right, I said TEN MINUTES. That is all you need for this easy breakfast recipe. It is filling, family approved, and perfect for busy weekday mornings.

How to make brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal

Maple & Brown Sugar Oatmeal Ingredients

This oatmeal with maple and brown sugar is speedy to make thanks to the quick oats. One minute of cooking in the boiling water and you are ready to go. We love to top ours with fresh blueberries, pecans, almonds, and even peanut butter!

  • Oats: I use quick oats. See notes below for maple brown sugar oatmeal with old fashioned oats.
  • Water: While water works best for us, you can always substitute this with milk for a more creamy finished dish.
  • Brown Sugar: The star of the show. Light brown or dark brown sugar works in this easy breakfast recipe.
  • Maple Syrup: Grab pure maple syrup and not the processed pancake topping (which I still absolutely love, just not for this recipe).
  • Cinnamon- Optional, but a tasty way to spice things up.

How to make brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal

How to make Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal:

Making this recipe is simple, quick, and tasty. Not surprisingly, all of the items required by my ten year old when he is starving in the mornings. We love how easy it is to customize and add in toppings.

  1. Bring water to a boil in a small pan.
  2. Stir in your oats and cook for 1 minute.
  3. Remove from the heat and stir in brown sugar, maple syrup, and cinnamon.
  4. Serve immediately.

How to make brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal

Tips for this Cinnamon Brown Sugar Oatmeal Recipe

What is the difference between Old Fashioned Oatmeal and Quick Cooking Oats?

All oats begin as groats, or kernels of grain that are later processed into different varieties. Meaning that they each provide the same health benefits. What makes each oat variety different is the way they are processed.
Old Fashioned Oatmeal – This version of oatmeal is flat and flaky in appearance and often referred to as rolled oats. They typically take five minutes to cook and tend to soak up more water than quick cooking oats. Old fashioned is the variety I reach for when making granola, cookies, or muffins.
Quick Cooking Oats – Quick cooking oatmeal are rolled oats that have been coarsely chopped. By breaking them down into smaller pieces, you have a quicker cooking oatmeal with a slightly finer texture.

Can you switch old fashioned oats for quick oats in this recipe?

Yes. You definitely can. However, I suggest adding slightly more water and cooking for 5 minutes instead of 1.

Healthy alternatives to sugar in oatmeal:

While this recipe calls for brown sugar, I know that many of you are on the hunt for more healthy alternatives.
Maple Syrup
Ripe Mashed Bananas
Honey
Agave
Dates
Coconut Sugar

What can I add to oatmeal?

Sometimes you need a little extra to help with either filling you up or flavor. Here are our go-to oatmeal mix-in’s for our morning oats:
Fresh fruit of any kind. Banana’s, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries. A handful of any of these will go a long way.
Nuts: Toasted pecans, walnuts, or walnuts give a little added protein as well as a nice texture.
Dried Fruit: We have dried banana chips, mangos, and blueberries in our pantry almost always. These are a great way to add in some extra nutrition.
Nut Butters: A spoonful of nut butter goes a long way in flavor and protein. Try peanut butter with chopped bananas.

How to make brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal

More Oatmeal Recipes to Try:

  • The BEST Baked Oatmeal
  • Coconut Spice Oatmeal
  • Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
  • Carrot Cake Oatmeal
  • Overnight Oats
  • Raspberry Overnight Oats

More Filling Breakfast Ideas:

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How to make brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal


Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

This maple brown sugar oatmeal recipe is simple and delicious. So much better than packets and a family favorite breakfast recipe!

  • 1-1/4 cup water
  • 3/4 cup quick cooking oats
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • Bring water to a boil in a small pan.

  • Stir in your oats and continue to cook for one minute. 

  • Remove from the heat and stir in sugar, syrup, and cinnamon. 

  • Serve immediately. 

Serving: 2people | Calories: 166kcal

How to make brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal

Reader Interactions

Is cinnamon and brown sugar oatmeal good for you?

Brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal is a great idea for a healthy and filling breakfast that tastes delicious and is quick to make. And it is vegan too. This oatmeal comes with banana, to give you the energy for the whole day, and has flaxseeds.

Is it OK to put brown sugar in oatmeal?

Oatmeal's long-time compadre is a no-go if you're trying to clean up your diet. Brown sugar adds zero nutritional value—just lots of empty calories that will ratchet up your blood sugar. If you need to add a sweetener besides fresh fruit, opt for a natural one like maple syrup or honey.

Is putting cinnamon in oatmeal healthy?

Is Cinnamon Oatmeal Healthy? Yes! Eating cinnamon and oats in the morning is a great way start to your day. Oatmeal is heart-healthy, rich in carbohydrates to boost your energy for the day.

How many calories are in oatmeal with brown sugar and cinnamon?

Per Packet: 170 calories; 0.5 g sat fat (3% DV); 230 mg sodium (10% DV); 10 g total sugars. 100% whole grain oats.