Wholefood Soulfood Kitchen

  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » All Recipes » Breakfast

    Honey Oatmeal

    Published: Mar 15, 2023 by Katie

    Jump to Recipe How-To-Photos Watch the Video

    Make this super simple honey oatmeal with your eyes closed! A perfect under 10-minute breakfast or snack that is both comforting and sustaining.

    Full of creaminess and warming notes from the cinnamon, this oatmeal recipe will soon be your go-to breakfast.

    honey oatmeal in a bowl topped with fresh fruit and granola. next to it some fresh fruit and honey.

    A bowl of steaming oatmeal makes a wonderful breakfast or mid-afternoon snack. I love how this recipe can form the base for many tasty toppings and add-ins.

    The best thing is that it's straightforward and requires only a few essential ingredients. You can quickly whip up a batch in the morning, and it will keep you satisfied until your next meal.

    If you’ve tried my Applesauce Oatmeal or fall-flavored Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal, then this recipe will be a cinch for you to make.

    For more oatmeal recipes check out Overnight Oats with Water, Almond Milk Overnight Oats or No-Yogurt Overnight Oats.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients & substitution notes
    • How to make honey oatmeal
    • Top tips
    • Variations
    • Optional add-ins
    • Toppings
    • Pairing
    • Make ahead options
    • Storage
    • FAQ
    • Related
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why you'll love this recipe

    • Great for meal prep: You can make up a batch and reheat portions as needed
    • Easy to prepare: you'll only need a few simple ingredients
    • Customizable: You can customize the recipe to suit your taste preferences by adding different toppings, such as fresh fruit, nuts, or seeds. You can also adjust the sweetness level by adding more or less honey.
    • Budget-friendly: Oatmeal is an affordable and budget-friendly ingredient, and it can be purchased in bulk. Honey is also relatively inexpensive and can be purchased in large quantities.
    • Comforting and delicious: Oatmeal is a comforting and satisfying breakfast option, and the addition of honey adds a touch of sweetness that makes it delicious and enjoyable to eat.

    Ingredients & substitution notes

    all ingredients needed to make honey oatmeal.
    • Oats: Old fashioned rolled oats; large flaked. Don't use quick oats or steel-cut oats.
    • Honey: Choose organic and raw, if possible, without any additives.
    • Milk: Choose your favorite plant-based milk like almond milk, oat milk, macadamia or rice milk. Alternatively, you could also use regular cow's milk.
    • Salt: Balances out the sweet and creamy flavors.
    • Cinnamon: Adds warmth and depth.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    How to make honey oatmeal

    large flaked oats, water, milk, honey and spices in a small saucepan.

    STEP 1: Add the oats, water, cinnamon and salt to a small saucepan.

    honey oatmeal in a small saucepan.

    STEP 2: Bring the ingredients to a gentle simmer for 3-5 minutes. Add the milk and honey to the saucepan and cook the oatmeal for an additional 5 minutes on low heat.

    Top tips

    • Simmer oats in water first: I prefer cooking oats in water first and adding the milk later. This will prevent the from being goopy.
    • Toppings: Get creative with the toppings and change them up with the seasons.
    • Adjust sweetness: to your preference. Add more honey or sweetener of choice for a sweeter oatmeal.
    • Adjust texture: Increase or lower the amount of liquid to your liking. If you prefer a runnier consistency then add a little more milk or water. If you prefer a thicker texture, cook a couple of mintues longer.
    honey oatmeal in a bowl topped with fresh fruit and honey.

    Variations

    • Gluten-Free: Make sure to use certified gluten-free oats.
    • Dairy-Free/ Vegan: using a plant based milk and maple syrup or agave nectar instead of honey is an easy way to switch to vegan.
    • Savory: If you can wrap your head around this one – swap out the honey for a little salt and add veggies and spices.

    Optional add-ins

    • Vanilla Extract: gives a lovely dreamy flavor profile to your oats.
    • Other Spices: try other spices such as cardamom or pumpkin spice.
    • Chocolate: Stir in a spoonful or cocoa powder or raw cacao for a decadent breakfast that tastes like dessert!
    • Protein Powder: Give this oatmeal a little protein boost by adding a tablespoon of your favorite protein powder.

    Toppings

    • Fresh Fruit – sliced, grated or diced. My favorite fruits to top this with are berries and bananas. But also tropical fruits like mango, pineapple, oranges and lychees are delicious with honey oatmeal.
    • Yogurt: plain or flavored, both are a treat with this dish. Choose vegan yogurt to make it dairy-free.
    • Nuts and Seeds: I love pecans, walnuts and roasted almonds. Try my Chocolate Walnuts and turn this breakfast into a special treat.
    • Coconut Flakes – roast them for a little toasty taste.
    • Granola: homemade such as this Applesauce Granola or store bought. Granola adds a lovely crunch and texture to your creamy oats.
    • Peanut Butter or Roasted Almond Butter. Adds a lovely nutty taste as well as extra protein and healthy fats.
    • Caramel Sauce: Try this homemade Peanut Butter Caramel as a delicious drizzle for your oatmeal.

    Pairing

    These are my favorite dishes to serve with this oatmeal:

    • chocolate chips hot chocolate topped with marshmallows and sprinkles.
      Chocolate Chips Hot Chocolate (without cocoa powder)
    • honey being added to a glass of lemon ginger turmeric tea.
      Lemon Ginger Turmeric Tea
    • serving glass filled with ice and french press cold brew and milk being poured on top.
      French Press Cold Brew
    • 1 mug of peanut butter coffee on a wooden plate, another cup of peanut butter coffee in the background.
      Peanut Butter Coffee

    Make ahead options

    You can make a batch of oatmeal ahead of your week and then heat up portions as you need them.

    Storage

    • To store: Keep your oatmeal in the fridge up to 3 days in an airtight container.
    • To reheat: When reheating your oats, consider you may need to add in a little extra liquid. You can reheat them in the microwave or on top of the stove. Remember to heat them gently and to not let them burn at the base.

    FAQ

    How much honey should I put in my oatmeal?

    Depends on how sweet you like it. Start with 1 tablespoon and work your way up.

    Are there any alternative sweeteners I can use instead of honey in my oatmeal?

    Yes, you can use maple syrup or agave nectar successfully. If you want you can also use brown sugar.

    Why is my oatmeal sticky and goopy?

    I find that cooking your oats in a mix of water AND milk gives them this suuuper sticky texture. I prefer letting them simmer in water first and adding the milk towards the end of the cooking process. 

    Can I make this in a microwave?

    Yes, but you’ll probably need less liquid (around 1 cup) and you will need to heat and stir in increments.

    Related

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    • barley porridge in a cereal bowl topped with fresh fruit, granola and maple syrup. Next to it some flours, black coffee and fruits.
      Barley Porridge
    • millet porridge in a bowl topped with fresh fruit. next to it fresh pomegranate, maple syrup and grapes.
      Millet Porridge

    📖 Recipe

    honey oatmeal in a bowl topped with fresh fruit and granola. next to it some fresh fruit and honey.

    Creamy Honey Oatmeal

    Author: Katie
    Honey oatmeal is an easy and tasty way to start your day. A bowl of this creamy goodness will keep you going for most of the morning!
    If you love this recipe as much as we do, click on the 5-stars below!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 8 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: International
    Servings: 2
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup (80 g) large flaked oats
    • 1 ½ cup (345 ml) water
    • ½ cup (115 ml) milk of choice *see notes
    • 2 tablespoon honey
    • tiny pinch of salt
    • dash of cinnamon
    You can find detailed step-by step-photos above the recipe card.

    Instructions

    • Add oats, water, salt and cinnamon to a small saucepan.
      ¾ cup large flaked oats, 1 ½ cup water, tiny pinch of salt, dash of cinnamon
    • Bring to a gentle simmer and let simmer for about 3-5 minutes or until most of the water is absorbed.
    • Add milk and honey and let simmer on low for another 3-5 minutes.
      ½ cup milk of choice
    • Take oatmeal off the heat and let stand for 5 minutes. The oats will continue to thicken.
    • Taste and adjust texture and sweetness. Add more milk for a thinner texture, leave to simmer a little longer for a thicker texture.

    Video

    Notes

    • Milk of choice: I love unsweetened oat milk but you can also almond milk, soy milk or regular whole milk.
    • Simmer oats in water first: I prefer cooking oats in water first and adding the milk later. This will prevent the from being goopy.
    • Toppings: Get creative with the toppings and change them up with the seasons.
    • Gluten-free oats are readily available.
    • Dairy-free/ vegan: using maple syrup instead of honey and a plant based milk is an easy way to switch to vegan.
    • To store: Keep your oatmeal in the fridge up to 3 days in an airtight container.
     
    Nutritional values calculated without any toppings.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1. | Calories: 211kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 40mg | Potassium: 150mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 123IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 109mg | Iron: 2mg
    All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates.
    Tried this recipe?Leave a rating and comment telling us how you liked it! Or tag @wholefoodsoulfood__kitchen on Instagram so we can admire your creations!

    More Breakfast

    • Birds eye view of yogurt overnight oats in a bowl topped with fresh strawberries, raspberries and grapes. Sprinkled with lemon zest.
      Overnight Oats with Yogurt and Chia Seeds
    • Avocado bagel on a white maple board topped with cream cheese, avocado slices, rocket and sprouts.
      Avocado Bagels
    • Birdseye view of a bowl filled with Greek yogurt, vanilla almond granola and fresh raspberries and blueberries.
      Vanilla Almond Granola
    • Stack of banana spinach pancakes topped with blueberries and raspberries.
      Banana Spinach Pancakes

    Comments

      5 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Marcie says

      June 01, 2025 at 3:35 pm

      How much honey do you recommend adding?

      Reply
      • Katie Roux says

        June 02, 2025 at 11:25 am

        Hi Marcie, you'll find the exact amount is in the recipe card

        Reply
    Katie Roux in front of a food stall.

    Hi, and welcome to WSK!

    If you're curious about what drives my love for all things food just hit the link below and let's get to know each other better!

    More about me →

    MUST-TRY

    • stack of waffles on plates topped with fresh fruits and maple syrup.
      Waffles without Milk
    • french toast topped with fresh berries and maple syrup.
      French Toast (Without Milk)
    • overheat view of large bowl of overnight oats without yogurt, topped with fresh kiwi pieces, pomegrante seeds, fresh raspberries, nuts and coconut flakes.
      Easy Overnight Oats Without Yogurt
    • big jar of muddled strawberries at the bottom, followed by overnight oats with water and fresh strawberries and blueberries and nuts on top.
      Overnight Oats With Water (No Milk)

    SPRING

    • bowl of cucumber pico de gallo with some nachos next to it.
      Cucumber Pico de Gallo
    • Falafel platter on a white marble background.
      Falafel Platter
    • cashew crunch salad on a plate, next to it some roasted cashews and a napkin.
      Cashew Crunch Salad
    • vegan walnut pesto in a jar, next to it a spoon full of pesto.
      Vegan Walnut Pesto (5 min)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    More

    • About
    • Contact
    • Portfolio

    Policies

    • Privacy policy
    • California Privacy Rights
    • Terms of Use
    • Accessibility policy

    Follow & Contact

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Youtube

    @2025 - Wholefood Soulfood Kitchen. All Rights Reserved.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.