Banana Oatmeal

Banana Oatmeal: when two morning staples come together to create a powerhouse of a breakfast. This oatmeal recipe is easy, healthy, and best of all, tastes like banana bread in a bowl!

You thought I was kidding when I said this banana oatmeal tastes like banana bread in a bowl? You know me better than that, I can’t create just any ‘ol oatmeal recipe (this Monster Cookie Oatmeal is a great example). No, I set out to create a recipe which would both satisfy hunger, but more importantly, curb that ever-present banana bread craving too. 

Don’t tell me you haven’t experienced a constant craving for banana bread…I’m the only one?

The beautiful thing about this banana oatmeal recipe is that it’s leaps and bounds healthier than banana bread (well, at least most of them, my olive oil banana bread is pretty darn healthy). This banana oatmeal is 100% naturally sweetened with maple syrup and bananas, full of whole grains and fiber, and can easily be modified to be vegan, if needed. 

How to make oatmeal with almond milk 

I prefer to use non-dairy milk in my oatmeal for a couple of reasons. First off, almond, cashew or oat milk adds a silky, creaminess that you simply can’t get from milk (unless you use half-and-half or cream). I also find it adds more flavor. Especially if you seek out a vanilla-flavored option. 

Using almond milk as opposed to regular milk doesn’t change the cooking process, if anything, it makes it easier. With regular milk there’s a risk of scalding the milk should the pan be set on too high of heat. That risk is largely decreased with non-dairy milk. 

So how do you make oatmeal with almond milk? Like you would any oatmeal. 

Combine milk, oats, sweetener and flavorings in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring mixture to a boil, cook a couple of minutes, remove from heat, cover and let stand. 

How to make banana oatmeal

The process for making banana oatmeal is similar to that mentioned above, with just a few changes. 

The key steps to making banana oatmeal are:

1. Mash 1 banana (I prefer a very ripe, speckled banana for this).
2. Slice 1 banana (I prefer a firm, non-speckled banana for this).
3. Make a “banana caramel” in a saucepan by cooking together butter, maple syrup and mashed banana. 
4. Add milk, oats and spices to “caramel” mixture. 
5. Bring oat mixture to a boil and cook for a couple of minutes. 
6. Add a splash of water and vanilla, remove from heat, cover and let stand (this helps the oats adequately absorb the liquid). 
7. Combine butter and maple syrup in a skillet until bubbling. 
8. Add sliced bananas to bubbling butter mixture and cook until caramelized. 
9. Serve oatmeal with caramelized bananas, toasted pecans and additional maple syrup. 

Make this banana oatmeal vegan

This oatmeal already calls for non-dairy milk, so we’ve got that already covered. However, it does call for butter (because flavor). However, you can easily use vegan butter or even olive oil in place of the butter. 

Make sure to tag me @ZESTFULKITCHEN ON INSTAGRAM or comment below if you make this banana bread oatmeal!

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