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!
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