Warming Vanilla Chai Latte Oatmeal

Start your day the right way with a big bowl of this warming Vanilla Chai Latte oatmeal. This bowl is full of warming spices, comforting oats, sweet notes of vanilla and a little kick of caffeine – before you’ve even thought about toppings! Nothing says winter to me more than a big bowl of hot oats, cooked to perfection, on a cold morning.

These oats add an extra kick to your morning in the form of one slightly unusual addition: freshly brewed coffee. Adding a little caffeine and a grown up taste – perfect for those darker mornings before getting out in the cold! Use the remnants of your morning coffee or brew extra!

You can make these oats in a saucepan on the stove or in the microwave, just do what works best for you. I recommend using rolled oats, as they give the best texture. Also, when using spices, I buy pre-ground but feel free to grind your own using a pestle and mortar! You want a low fat, easily vegan, breakfast that keeps you going. This is the answer.

Toppings

These oats are a great start to the day, and depending on the toppings you add, can be a low fat kick-start to your morning. Although some peanut butter and chocolate give it a real feel-good vibe to start the day. That said, these are the toppings that I think really elevate these oats from a quick and easy breakfast to something that feels a little bit more glamorous:

– Chocolate Chips (Dark or milk work well!)
– Maple Syrup: A dash of maple syrup ups the sweetness without adding too much extra sugar
– Nuts: Walnuts and pecans work especially well with these oats, but pistachios, hazelnuts and almonds would all be dreamy too!
– Fruit: Pictured I’ve used frozen berries, but bananas, apples, pears, or any other berries work incredibly well. For a real treat, caramelise your fruit before adding to the bowl!
– Nut Butter: Peanut, almond, cashew – any you like! All add a little extra protein and fat to really keep you full until lunchtime!

Now, obviously, I don’t think oats are a purely breakfast thing, I think they make a great snack or meal at any time of day. Use this Chai Latte Oatmeal recipe as your base and play with toppings and extras to really make it your own!

To reduce the fat content, use different milk or sub with water and to make extra luxurious you could replace about 1/2 cup with heavy cream instead!

Leftovers?

If you end up with any leftovers, transform them into these Leftover Oatmeal Muffins, or alternatively, if just looking for more things to do with the oats in the cupboard, check out these Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Vanilla Chai Latte Oatmeal

Makes: 2 Servings
Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 5 Minutes
Total Time: 10 Minutes

Ingredients

– 1 Cup Oats (rolled/old fashioned)
– 2 Cup Milk (use any you like)
– 2 Tbsp Freshly Brewed Coffee
– 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
– Optional: 1 Tbsp Maple Syrup
– 1/4 Tsp Ground Ginger
– 1/4 Tsp Ground Cloves
– 1/2 Tsp Ground Cardamom
– 1/2 Tsp Ground Nutmeg
– 1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon

To top (Optional):
– Maple Syrup, Nut Butter, Chocolate, Berries, Bananas, Apples, Walnuts, Pecans, Honey, Maple Syrup

Method

1. Add the spices to the coffee in a small mug or ramekin (I use the remnants of my morning coffee) and stir.
2. In a saucepan, combine the oats, water, milk, vanilla, maple syrup (if using) and the coffee mixture. Stir on a medium heat until cooked – about 5 minutes. Add more milk if you like the texture a little more runny.
3. Divide into bowls and serve with toppings of choice, alongside more coffee if you’re anything like me!