I am a coffee shop junkie. There is nowhere I like working better than the Starbucks just down the road from my house. The smell of strong coffee in the air, the hum of the milk frother, and people streaming in and out for their daily caffeine fix is the perfect combo of scent, sound, and activity to keep me energized but focused on the task at hand.
No matter what I order to sip on, I almost always snag a cup of Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal to devour, complete with all three topping choices, of course. The oatmeal is aptly named as it truly is…perfect! Perfectly sweet, perfectly creamy, perfectly filling. I just love it. Doesn’t matter if I’m there in the morning or afternoon – it’s perfect brain fuel any time of day.
I don’t get down to the coffee shop to work as much these days, now that I have my sweet snowman at home, so if I want my Starbucks oatmeal fix on the regular I’ve got to make it at home. Good thing Copycat Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal is a CINCH to make!
Copycat Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal is my third and final recipe utilizing Fisher Nuts (see my Crunchy Quinoa Granola and Mini Pumpkin Sticky Buns for more #ThinkFisher recipes!) and comes at a perfect time as February is American Heart Health Month. This recipe is HIGH on heart-healthiness!
Cholesterol-lowering, heart-healthy old fashioned oatmeal is naturally sweetened with fresh banana and brown sugar, then mixed with omega-3 fatty acid-rich flaxseed meal, and topped with a tasty trio of Fisher nuts including chopped walnuts, pecans, and sliced almonds, which are great sources of mono- and poly- unsaturated fats (that’s the good kind of fat for your ticker, y’all.)
Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal wouldn’t be complete without a flourish of dried fruit so I sprinkled on their signature combo of dried cherries, cranberries and blueberries then added a sliced banana for extra heft and health. I usually snag one from the fruit basket at my Starbucks and it felt right to do the same thing at home.
The next time you find yourself Starbucks-less – try this heart-healthy, perfect oatmeal at home for breakfast, or as fuel for an afternoon of work!
Start by adding 1/2 cup each water and milk to a saucepan. You can use whatever milk you’ve got on hand – I used unsweetened vanilla almond breeze. Next add 1/2 sliced banana (we’ll use the other half in a sec.) Not sure why I felt the need to bare hand these!
Finally add 1/2 cup certified gluten-free old fashioned oats – not quick cooking or instant oats, which are just old fashioned oats that have been chopped up to cook faster.
Turn the heat to medium then start stirring when the liquid begins to bubble, mashing the banana as it cooks to help melt it into the oatmeal. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes, or until nearly all the liquid has been absorbed.
FYI:Â the oatmeal will thicken slightly as it cools, so make sure there’s a little bit of liquid left!
Take the pan off the heat then stir in 1 Tablespoon brown sugar (or more or less depending on how sweet you like your oatmeal,) 1 Tablespoon gluten-free ground flaxseed meal and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
Topping time! Starbucks’ nut packet (ummm) comes with a combination of chopped walnuts, pecans, and sliced almonds, but you can use whatever you’ve got on hand. You’ll need 3 Tablespoons nuts total.
The content of Starbuck’s dried fruit packet is always changing I feel, so I went for a combo of 2 teaspoons each dried cherries, dried blueberries, and dried cranberries. Again, feel free to use whatever dried fruit you’ve got on hand!
Sprinkle the nuts, dried fruit and remaining banana slices on top of the hot oatmeal, pour yourself a cup of hot coffee, then dive in!
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Copycat Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal
Description
Gluten-free Copycat Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal tastes just like the real thing, yet is easily made at home!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup certified gluten-free old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup milk (I used almond milk)
- 1 banana, sliced and divided
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar (or more or less)
- 1 Tablespoon gluten-free ground flaxseed (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 Tablespoon each pecans, walnuts, sliced almonds (or whatever you have on hand)
- 2 teaspoons each dried cherries, dried blueberries, dried cranberries (or whatever you have on hand)
Directions
- Combine oats, water, milk, and half the banana slices in a saucepan over medium heat. Once bubbling, stir and cook until oats are creamy and have nearly absorbed all the liquid, about 5 minutes, using the back of a wooden spoon or spatula to mash banana slices as they cook.
- Remove pan from heat then stir in brown sugar, flaxseed meal, and vanilla. Scrape into a bowl then top with remaining banana slices, nuts, and dried fruit.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
I literally licked this bowl clean – it was so deliciously perfect! At Starbucks you can pick and choose between brown sugar, nuts, and dried fruit toppings to add to your oatmeal, so feel free to do the same here. Don’t like dried fruit? Don’t add it. Want to cut down on sugar? Nix it! Totally your call. Enjoy!
More Oatmeal and Starbucks Copycat recipes!
Cherry-Almond Cookie Dough Oatmeal
Tracy 02.28.2014
I love your recipes! You have a way with healthful foods that make them taste sublime. I featured you in my Friday faves, not that anyone reads it, but I thought I’d let you know all the same.
Jamie 02.28.2014
Okay, it never occurred to me to cook banana directly in the oatmeal but I’ll give it a try. I’ve been using the minute oats because I can do it at work (topped with nuts, or a sprinkle of coconut sugar, or best yet a spoon full of cookie butter stirred in…), but this is definitely worth the time on the weekend. Thank you!
Debt girl 02.28.2014
He is so cute and drooley snowman!!!!
This oatmeal does look perfect!
Jamie @ Sometimes Healthy Living Blog 02.28.2014
I absolutely love Starbucks perfect Oatmeal! For lack of a better word, I always wonder how they get it sooo perfect :-).
Can’t wait to try out this recipe!
Misha 02.28.2014
YUM! I absolutely love their oatmeal when traveling :)
If you ever need a coffee shop-fix, http://coffitivity.com/ is a great website! It has different tracks of the sounds you hear in coffee shops -low voices, brewing coffee, etc.
Hope it helps!
Meaghan Voigt 02.28.2014
I LOVE Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal…will be making this tomorrow morning:) …and saving a little cash, too;)
Also, WHERE did you get your super cute measuring scoops?! I’ve been looking for some and just haven’t found the perfect ones!!! Yours are the perfect ones!!
Kristin 03.01.2014
They’re Giada di Laurentiis’ line from Target – just got them on clearance!
Sara 02.28.2014
Yes! I have been searching for healthy breakfast recipes to kick off Nutrition Month where I work and this is perfect. You wouldn’t happen to have nutrition information would you?
Kristin 03.01.2014
I don’t, but recommend Livestrong’s Recipe Calculator Tool if you want that info!
http://www.livestrong.com/recipes/create/
AmberLynn Pappas 02.28.2014
My oldest LOVES oatmeal! I will have to give this a whirl for him because he loves all of the nuts and fruit you’ve added as well. His usual favorite combo is some kind of fresh berry and a trickle of honey. We use steel cut oats and vanilla almond milk to make our oatmeal. I’ve never understood the difference between steel cut and old fashioned. Is there one?
Kristin 03.01.2014
Good question! Steel cut oats are toasted “whole” oat grains that have been chopped up. Old Fashioned Oats are whole oat grains that have been steamed and rolled to cook faster!
Haley @Cupcakes and Sunshine 02.28.2014
HOLY MOLY this looks wonderful! And delicious! And perfect for this chilly February weather. I can’t wait to give it a try! :)
Jackie 02.28.2014
Wow this looks great!
Kara Hoerr @ RD in the Midwest 02.28.2014
I *love* Starbuck’s oatmeal and this look even better! I can’t wait to give this healthy breakfast idea a try! All that’s missing is a little dollop of peanut butter. :)
Elizabeth Bailey 02.28.2014
I have to admit that I’m a quick oats junkie, but you have inspired me to take a few extra minutes to make the good ol’ fashioned oats for a change.
Oh, and it is so much when when the littles get big enough to enjoy the coffee shops too!
Kim | Just For Clicks 02.28.2014
I love the idea of Starbucks oatmeal but nothing beats homemade… and I’m always on the lookout for slightly new ways to make it. Pinning this to try this weekend… with 10+ inches of snow on the way, we will NEED hot breakfasts. :-) Happy Friday.
Elizabeth {Positively Healthy} 02.28.2014
I love oatmeal and I love oatmeal even more when bananas are involved! Can’t wait to give this a try!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness 02.28.2014
I am a total oatmeal addict. I eat it everyday and it’s nice to have a switch up!
I totally haven’t eaten breakfast yet. So…this. Pinned!
Maryea {happy healthy mama} 02.28.2014
Starbucks oatmeal is my go-to breakfast when I’m in the airport as it seems to be one of the healthiest options I can find. I have to admit that I like my own oatmeal so much better that I never thought to copy theirs. :) I’m with you, though, in loving sitting in a coffee shop. Oh, the smells. I wish I could bottle that smell!
Gloria 02.28.2014
I cook mine in the microwave and add the extras after it comes out. I seems to cook it quick and easy . I cook it about 1.5 minutes and let it set about 1 and it is just as creamy.
rush 01.11.2019
How long do you put it in the microwave?
Jessica Rose 02.28.2014
Looks great….I have to admit though there is something rather indulgent about having breakfast out…even though I order things I could have easily made at home!!
Chelsea @ Delipsch 02.28.2014
Oatmeal is my go to breakfast of choice. I have family in town this week, so will definitely be making a big batch of this magic. Thanks for the recipe.
Jessie 02.28.2014
Thanks for this recipe! I sure love me some oatmeal so I’m always looking for different ways to prepare it. Can’t wait to give this a try.