Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal

This is a warm, sweet, spicy bowl of autumn comfort.

My friend Russ made a wish the other day … he was wishing for a Pumpkin Raisin Oatmeal. Well, I can’t let a wish like that go by without granting it! (Did you know I have wish-granting powers? Yes, I am a virtual food fairy ♥)

This makes an Ann-size portion (if you know me, you know that I am small and I eat very small portions!), but I used easy proportions so you can easily scale it up to your own portion size — or to make oatmeal for a crowd! Just use equal portions of oatmeal, water, milk, and pumpkin puree, then add your spices and mix-ins to taste

This pumpkin-infused oatmeal goes oh so well with a cup of Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte.

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal

• 1/4 cup quick cooking oats
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup milk (Any kind. I used 1%, but soy, almond or coconut milk would work fine too.)
• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (if you don’t have any, here’s a recipe)
• 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• dash of salt

• brown sugar (or your choice of sweetener), to taste

Options for Mix-ins:

• A teaspoon of peanut butter or almond butter (or maybe Nutella?)
• Sliced almonds, chopped walnuts or pecans — I highly recommend toasting your nuts before adding them. They are SO much better when toasted!
• Raisins, dried cranberries, chopped dates or chopped, dried apricots
• Chopped apple
• Chocolate or white chocolate chips?

Directions:

1. Put all ingredients in a bowl except for the brown sugar and stir to mix. (If you are using chopped apples as a mix-in and you want them cooked, you may want to add them at the beginning. Cooking time will be a little longer if you include apples.)
2. Microwave on high for about 2 minutes or until the oatmeal is done to your liking.
3. Sweeten to taste and add your choice of mix-ins. I added a small spoonful of peanut butter and sliced almonds this morning.

This recipe was shared at Favorite Breakfast Recipes and Gooseberry Patch Comfort Foods.