Give your comforting breakfast a festive spin with this cranberry oatmeal recipe. Fresh cranberries cook down with a touch of cinnamon for a bowl of oats that is perfect for the holidays or a cold winter day.
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I could most definitely eat oats for breakfast every day and not tire of this wholesome ingredient. (Especially these 9+ Recipes to Upgrade Your Morning Bowl of Oatmeal!).
In the form of a warm bowl of oatmeal or baked oats to granola or oat waffles, there are just so many delicious ways to enjoy it.
But you really can't beat classic oatmeal and I love experimenting with all sorts of different flavors (like brown sugar cinnamon or chocolate).
And lately, I've been making this cranberry version on repeat and once you try it, you might too! It's:
- Ready in Minutes- Ready in about 10 minutes start to finish (and even less time if you use my microwave method), it's the type of breakfast you can pull together, even on a busy morning (as are cakey air fryer oats).
- Satisfying- Cozy, hearty and filling, oatmeal contains fiber and nutrients and is absolutely delicious paired with cranberries. (Which is part of what makes cranberry crisp so scrumptious as well).
- Festive- If you're looking for a breakfast recipe that is perfect for the holidays, let it be this. Cranberries and cinnamon are classic holiday flavors and as a bonus, your house will smell ah-mazing as it cooks!
So let's cozy up and make a warm bowl of cranberry porridge!
The Ingredients
- Old Fashioned Rolled Oats- I like to use large flake old fashioned oats as they have great texture but don't have an overly long cook time. This recipe can be adapted for any type of oats, though, and I have included specific directions below. If you need the recipe to be gluten free, ensure that you use certified gluten-free oats.
- Water (plus Milk: optional)- For creamier oatmeal, you can use half water and half regular milk (or plant-based). Milk is more prone to boiling over, though, so take extra caution.
- Orange Juice- I love the combination of orange and cranberry (I use orange juice in my cranberry sauce as well). If you don't have any or prefer to leave it out, you can use additional water instead.
- Cranberries- Fresh or frozen cranberries will work in this recipe. If using frozen, I recommend thawing them first so that they better cook down and soften. (Use any extras for any of these 5+ of the Best Ways to Use Fresh Cranberries!).
- Maple Syrup- Another sweetener such as honey or brown sugar can be substituted.
- Cinnamon- For warmth and flavor. Adding a pinch of nutmeg too would not be a bad idea.
- Salt- A little salt brings all of the flavors together. Whenever I make oatmeal, I always add a pinch of salt and find it makes a big difference but if needed, it can be omitted.
The Method
1. Boil Water. In a medium saucepan, bring water (+ milk if using), orange juice and cranberries to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. Add Oats. To the boiling water, add the oats, cinnamon and maple syrup and give it a good stir. Reduce the heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle simmer and prevent it from boiling over.
3. Simmer. Simmer the mixture for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until the oats are soft and have nearly reached your desired thickness. Keep a close eye on it as homemade oatmeal can boil over.
Remove the pot from the heat, cover with a lid and allow to rest for 2 minutes to give the liquid a chance to be a bit more absorbed.
4. Serve. Adjust the sweetness by adding additional maple syrup to your bowl of oatmeal, if needed.
Want to make them in the microwave?
Combine all of the ingredients into a medium microwave-safe bowl (make sure there is lots of room as the oats will expand a bit and will make a mess if they boil over).
Heat on high for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Stir and microwave for an additional 45 seconds.
Stir, let stand for 1 minute, stir again and enjoy.
*Note that the cranberries don't get quite as soft and jammy with this method.
Adapting to Different Types of Oats
This oatmeal recipe is versatile and can be easily adapted to various types of oats to suit your preference (or to use whatever you have on hand). Here's how to make it with steel cut oats or quick oats:
Steel-Cut Oats:
- Replace the ½ cup of large flake oats with ¼ cup of steel-cut oats and cook for 20-25 minutes. *Do not try the microwave method with these.
Quick Oats:
- Substitute the ½ cup of large flake oats with ½ cup of quick cooking oats and reduce water to ¾ cup. Cook for 3-4 minutes.
Leftovers and Storage
To Store: Allow any leftover cranberry oatmeal to cool slightly and transfer it to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To Freeze: Portion the cooled oatmeal into individual servings in airtight containers, if desired, and freeze for up to 3 months.
To Reheat: Thaw frozen cranberry oats in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat on the stovetop over medium low, stirring often or in the microwave with a bit of extra water until heated through.
Make it Your Own
- Make it Extra Creamy: Replace a half cup of water with a half a cup of milk. Be extra careful as milk has a tendency to boil over!
- Apple Cranberry Oatmeal: Add one diced apple to the pot at the same time as the cranberries and replace the orange juice with apple juice or water. (Or try adding a 2 cups of cranberries to Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal).
- Overnight Oats: Check out these blended overnight cranberry oats instead.
Serving Ideas
Top your bowl of oats with your favorite garnishes. Here are some suggestions:
- Nut or seed butter (like almond butter, peanut butter, pepita butter or macadamia butter)
- Fresh fruit such as berries or chopped apples
- Milk of choice (I prefer cashew, coconut milk or whole milk so that it's extra creamy)
- Greek yogurt
- Chopped nuts (such as almonds, walnuts, or pecans)
- Dried cranberries
- Ground flaxseeds or chia seeds
- Cranberry Sauce
And alongside your bowl of oatmeal, round it out for the perfect breakfast with:
- Eggs: Scrambled eggs, boiled eggs, egg bites or frittata are all great options.
- Meat: Enjoy your oatmeal alongside a strip or two of bacon, sliced ham or breakfast sausage.
- Fruit: Oatmeal is delicious paired with a fresh fruit salad or simple a some berries or a banana.
- Drinks: Such as coffee, tea, Hot Chocolate or a blueberry avocado smoothie.
Tips for the Best Bowl of Oatmeal
- Choose the Right Pot: Use a larger pot than you think you'll need as oatmeal has a tendency to bubble and boil-over.
- Keep a Close Eye: And on that note, to further prevent boil-overs, be sure to reduce the heat, watch your pot and stir frequently.
- Be Cautious with Milk: If you're using milk, be extra vigilant. Milk can easily boil over, so watch it extra closely.
- Give the Cranberries a Head Start: Starting the cranberries in the pot right at the beginning with the water and orange juice give them extra time to cook and get jammy in texture.
- Prevent Lumps: When adding the oats, stir right after adding and occasionally while it cooks.
- Adjust the Consistency: If you prefer thinner oatmeal, increase liquid to 1 and ¼ cup per ½ cup oats (this is my preferred consistency!) and if you prefer your oatmeal thicker, you can reduce liquid to ⅞ cup of water.
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Recipe Card
Cranberry Oatmeal
Ingredients
- ¾ cup water or ½ cup milk + ¼ cup of water
- ¼ cup orange juice or an additional ¼ cup of water
- ½ cup cranberries fresh or frozen
- ½ cup large flake rolled oats
- 1 and ½ teaspoon maple syrup plus additional to taste
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Stovetop
- To a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add the water (and milk), orange juice and cranberries and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, stir in the oats, cinnamon, maple syrup and salt and reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Let the oatmeal simmer for about 5 minutes or until it has nearly reached your desired consistency, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the pan from the heat, cover with a lid and allow to rest for 2 minutes. This gives a chance for the liquid to be a bit more absorbed.
- Transfer into a bowl, top as desired and serve.
Microwave
- Combine all of the ingredients into a medium microwave-safe bowl (make sure there is lots of room as the oats as the oats will expand a bit and will make a mess if they boil over).
- Heat on high for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Stir and microwave for an additional 45 seconds.
- Stir, let stand for 1 minute, stir again and enjoy.
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