Cinnamon Spice Oatmeal with Pumpkin

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Cinnamon spice oatmeal with pumpkin is an easy and delicious breakfast that tastes like the holiday season. It's packed with nutrients like fiber and is part of a healthy breakfast!

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cinnamon spice oatmeal with pumpkin topped with almond butter, vanilla Greek yogurt, and pumpkin seeds.

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Why You'll Love This Cinnamon and Spice Oatmeal Recipe
Equipment
Ingredient Highlights
How to Make Cinnamon Spice Oatmeal with Pumpkin
How to Make Cinnamon Spice Oatmeal in the Microwave
Variations & Substitutions
Pro Tips
Storing, Serving, & Reheating
Recipe FAQ
Other Recipes You May Like
Cinnamon Spice Oatmeal with Pumpkin Recipe

Why You'll Love This Cinnamon and Spice Oatmeal Recipe

If you love the Quaker oats packets of instant oatmeal, you'll love this copycat recipe! It's creamy and packed with warm spices, with a hint of pumpkin, making it the perfect healthy breakfast (especially during the winter months).

While those instant oatmeal packets are delicious, this cinnamon spice oatmeal with pumpkin recipe has less sugar and artificial flavor. It's made with simple ingredients and the recipe makes two bowls of oatmeal, so you have an easy breakfast for those busy work or school mornings!

a bowl of cinnamon spice oatmeal topped with almond butter, pumpkin seeds, and vanilla Greek yogurt with pumpkin seeds around it and another bowl in the background.

Equipment

Medium saucepan - you want enough room for all of the ingredients so nothing spills over. You can also use a large microwave-safe bowl if you want to cook it in the microwave oven!
Rubber spatula - this is the easiest tool to use to stir the oatmeal, especially once it's cooked.

Ingredient Highlights

Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

ingredients to make cinnamon spice oatmeal with pumpkin

Milk of choice - I like using cow's or soy milk to get extra protein, but any milk will work (coconut milk, almond milk, cashew milk, oat milk, etc.)!
Rolled oats (old-fashioned oats) - these are a great source of whole grains. You can use quick oats or steel cut oats, but the cook time may vary.
Pumpkin puree - this adds more fiber and vitamins A and C. Plus it gives it a delicious pumpkin spice flavor!
Pure maple syrup - this gives a natural sweetness to the oatmeal. You can use honey instead if you prefer!
Spices - warm spices like ground cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice really add a tasty flavor to this oatmeal recipe.
Salt - salt enhances the flavors in the oatmeal without making it salty!
Pure vanilla extract - like the salt and spices, vanilla extract rounds out all of the flavors in this recipe.

How to Make Cinnamon Spice Oatmeal with Pumpkin

milk in a saucepan to make cinnamon spice oatmeal with pumpkin

1: Bring milk to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Be careful not to burn by turning the heat too high!

cinnamon spice oatmeal with pumpkin in a saucepan with a rubber spatula

2: Add remaining ingredients and reduce to low heat. Stir until combined.

cinnamon spice oatmeal with pumpkin in a saucepan, cooked

3: Cook uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then remove from heat and let cool for 5-10 minutes. Stir, serve, and enjoy!

How to Make Cinnamon Spice Oatmeal in the Microwave

You can easily make this oatmeal recipe in the microwave oven! Simply combine all of the ingredients in a large microwave-safe bowl and heat on high in 2-minute increments, stirring between each. It may help prevent a mess to cover the oatmeal with plastic wrap or wax paper, as oatmeal tends to rise and bubble over.

Variations & Substitutions

You can omit the pumpkin if you want just classic cinnamon spice!
Any milk will work. I definitely recommend using milk over water to cook the oatmeal, as this gives it a creamier texture (plus some protein if you're using cow's milk, soy milk, or another non-dairy milk with added protein)
Add a Tablespoon of chia seeds for omega 3 fats and extra fiber!
Additional toppings you can put on this cinnamon spice oatmeal recipe:
- Extra drizzle of maple syrup or a little brown sugar
- Maple bourbon pecans
- Almond butter
- Greek yogurt
- Chopped nuts/seeds (almonds, walnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, etc)
- Chopped fresh apples (these would be delicious if added while cooking the oatmeal!)
- Other fresh fruit like chopped pears, peaches, blueberries

two bowls of cinnamon spice oatmeal with pumpkin with pumpkin seeds and cinnamon sticks around them.

Pro Tips

I highly recommend using milk instead of hot water to make oatmeal! Milk gives it such a creamy texture as opposed to plain water. My favorite milks to use are cow's and soy milk for extra protein. You can also use coconut milk, almond milk, cashew milk, or even oat milk!
Old-fashioned oats work best with this recipe, as steel-cut oats may have a different cook time. On the flip side, quick oats or instant oats may also cook differently!
To have this easy breakfast keep you full all morning long, I recommend pairing it with a high quality protein (like Greek yogurt, egg whites, or a veggie frittata) and healthy fats (like natural almond or peanut butter, chopped pecans/walnuts, pumpkin seeds, etc.).

Storing, Serving, & Reheating

STORING: Store any leftover cinnamon spice oatmeal in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can freeze it for up to 1 month too!
SERVING: I love serving this delicious oatmeal with a low sugar vanilla Greek yogurt, natural almond butter, and roasted pumpkin seeds for a healthy balanced breakfast. You can eat it as is or with some maple bourbon pecans sprinkled on top too!
REHEATING: This oatmeal recipe is easy to meal prep and make in advance. While I've definitely enjoyed it cold right out of the frigde the next morning, you can absolutely warm it up in the microwave oven (be sure to use a microwave-safe bowl) or in a small saucepan on the stovetop. Either way, add a splash of milk or two to loosen it up a little bit as oats tend to get sticky after they've cooled!

a bowl of cinnamon spice oatmeal with pumpkin topped with Greek yogurt, almond butter, and pumpkin seeds.

Recipe FAQ

How long does canned pumpkin last in the fridge?

Canned pumpkin should last up to 7 days in the refrigerator if stored in an airtight container. If you need to use up any leftover pumpkin, I love making banana pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pie Greek yogurt dip, and a dirty pumpkin spice chai latte!

Is cinnamon spice oatmeal healthy?

This cinnamon spice oatmeal recipe is healthy! Old-fashioned oats are a great source of whole grains and fiber. This fiber gives us a steady energy, making homemade oatmeal one of my favorite breakfasts. The fiber can also bind to cholesterol in our blood, lower our risk of heart disease!

What spices make oatmeal taste good?

I love using cinnamon to make oatmeal taste good, as well as other warm spices like nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom. Pumpkin pie spice is another easy and great way to make plain oatmeal taste good!

Is it good to put cinnamon in oatmeal?

Absolutely! This cinnamon spice oatmeal is absolutely delicious and the cinnamon gives this healthy oatmeal recipe a delicious, natural flavor.

Other Recipes You May Like

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