It's time for oats, friends! There is something oh-so-satisfying about sitting down to a hearty bowl of oats for breakfast, no matter how much of a "boring breakfast" reputation they might have. Warm and nutty with a hint of sweetness - you can't go wrong in my book.
With this recipe, I'm giving oats a bit of a facelift by toasting them gently to bring out that nutty flavor. Then we add some coconut cream, my new favorite vanilla extract, a touch of maple syrup, and some chia seeds for a little bonus nutrition. Here's to the new normal of satisfying and healthy breakfasts!
Take a close-up peek at these beauties, toasted just to that perfect level of golden brown to ensure you're getting the absolute best flavor possible out of those little oats!
If you haven't noticed - I'm a pretty big believer in vanilla. I've always loved the intoxicating flavor of those exotic beans, and am endlessly trying new types of vanilla in search of the best ways to bring that flavor into my creations. I was pretty darn excited to try this Vanilla Bean "Crush" from Sonoma Syrup, and couldn't be happier that it lived up to my expectations. The combination of an extract made from the highest quality beans and vanilla bean seeds makes for the best tasting vanilla extract I've gotten my hands on yet.
Thankfully, these oats come together in almost no time at all. While they do require two dishes to make, one of them hardly gets dirty and you don't have to stir the oats while they cook. That means, you can toast the oats then mix them in with the liquid and totally abandon them for five minutes while you make some coffee or wake the kids. This is my kind of warm weekday breakfast.
Topping the oats off with some fresh berries and a hearty sprinkling of my lightly sweetened toasted coconut chips makes for a simple breakfast that feels like something special. Go ahead, treat yo' self!
This recipe will make breakfast for two, but can easily be halved or doubled depending how many folks you'd like to feed!
Toasted Vanilla Coconut Oats
1 cup water
1/2 cup coconut cream
2 Tbsp maple syrup
pinch sea salt
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp chia seeds (optional)
Toasted Coconut and Berries for topping
- Combine water, coconut cream, maple syrup, and salt in a pot, and place over medium-high heat to boil.
- Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat. Once it's hot, add the oats and let them toast for a few minutes. If they start to brown before the water/coconut milk is boiling, pull them off the heat.
- Once the liquid is boiling, add the oats and the vanilla. Remove the pot from the heat, cover, and let sit for 5 minutes.
- Give the oats a good stir, and add a little extra coconut cream if you like creamier oats. Also stir in the chia seeds.
- Top the oatmeal with berries and toasted coconut, and serve.
Disclaimer: I have received free product or money from businesses highlighted in this article - which helps me keep this blog alive. I take great pride in the advice I share here on Toot Sweet, and would never recommend a product to you that I'm not over-the-moon excited about, or that I wouldn't purchase for use in my own kitchen.