Copycat Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal tastes just like the real thing, yet is easily made at home. Gluten free, wholesome, and quick cooking!
I’m a coffee shop junkie. There’s nowhere I like working better than the Starbucks 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.
If you don’t have a Starbucks nearby — no problem! Copycat Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal is a CINCH to make at home.
Heart-healthy oatmeal is naturally sweetened with fresh banana and brown sugar, then mixed with nourishing ingredients including flaxseed meal, chopped walnuts, pecans, and sliced almonds.
Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal wouldn’t be complete without a flourish of dried fruit so I sprinkle on their signature combo of dried cherries, cranberries, and blueberries, then add sliced banana on top 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. Use whatever milk you have on hand.
Next add 1/2 sliced banana, reserving the other half for topping the oatmeal.
Finally add 1/2 cup certified gluten-free old fashioned oats – not quick cooking or instant oats, which are 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.
- Tip: 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’ oatmeal 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 containes dried cherries, dried blueberries, and dried cranberries, but feel free to use what you’ve got on hand at home.
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!
I’m telling you, this bowl of oatmeal is truly PERFECT. You are going to lick your bowl clean. Enjoy, enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup certified gluten free old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup milk, any kind
- 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
- 2 teaspoons each dried cherries, dried blueberries, dried cranberries
Directions
- Combine oats, water, milk, and half the banana slices in a saucepan over medium heat. Once simmering, 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. Transfer to a bowl then top with remaining banana slices, nuts, and dried fruit.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
Is there a particular brand of oatmeal that you buy? Also, do you have the recipe that can be done in the microwave?
Do you recommend a certain brand of oatmeal. Overtime I try to make oatmeal by using the instructions, say on Quaker, it seems to call for way too much water and ends up being soupy. I would love some help here.
Definitely, Tom! I exclusively use GF Harvest Oats. Great product, great company! http://glutenfreeoats.com/
Hate to be a downer because this looks amazing but what I like about Starbucks Oatmeal is you can put in hot water and let it sit 3 min and be ready. Not sure what mix of oatmeal they have but regardless of how much water you add it’s almost perfect every time. And it doesn’t need boiling to make it happen.
This isn’t the Starbucks Oatmeal. They use half rolled and half steel cut oats. No bananas, no milk, those are all additions. Very deceiving to advertise this as Starbucks oatmeal when it it’s your own creation.
Hi Genny! I mentioned this is a copycat recipe that tastes like the real thing, versus the actual recipe. I think you’ll find the taste comes very close. I hope you enjoy the recipe if you give it a try! :)
Mmmmmm…..yum. This looks totally amazing. I’m just starring at the screen looking at how delicious they look.
Wow ! I’ve been an avid follower for awhile now & I can’t believe I’ve never seen this recipe ! Two questions though .. Can this be made with steel cut oats ? How would I go about incorporating protein powder for that added boost? Cannot wait to try this . Thanks for sharing sub amazing recipes, cannot wait to see all the tasty gluten free ones.
Thanks ! :)
Hey Carly! You could make this with steel cut oats – I’d just follow package directions for how much more milk/water you’d need to add. I’ve never used protein powder in anything except smoothies so I’m not sure how it would affect the taste/consistency. I think a dollop of peanut or almond butter on top would be a tasty way to get some extra protein in!
This is amazing!! I have always just made plain ole quick oats in the microwave. They were OK – but not nearly as creamy and amazing as this!!!!
One question – I found one teaspoon to be a lot for one single bowl – a bit overwhelming. I am guessing it wasn’t a misprint since no one else commented on that? Anyway, I used about 1/2 a teaspoon and that was so much better.
I also keep slivered almonds in my freezer and just dump them from the freezer into the oatmeal – they are perfect and last forever!!
Mmmm, I love starbucks oatmeal and this looks amazing! The perfect breakfast for these chilly march mornings. :) Pinned
Loved this for breakfast this AM! The mashed bananas were genius-so creamy and yummy. I added in a good amount of cinnamon. Delicious!
I have never been a fan of oatmeal (except in cookies) but this was good. I made some for hubby and kids yesterday. They devoured it! Thank you for new ideas!
Just wanted to stop by and say that I made this almost exactly how you did, minus the pecans and flaxseed meal. It was SO GOOD. I have finally found the perfect way to cook oatmeal. Thank you!
Starbucks oatmeal is my go to breakfast out.
Made this oatmeal this morning. It was super yummy! I didn’t have the ground flaxseed – but will pick some up next time I am in the grocery store. Would this oatmeal be okay to make ahead of time and reheat?
So glad! You could reheat it with a splash of milk!