Oatmeal is my go-to breakfast grain but after making a big batch of barley recently I figured it was time to think outside of the bowl. If you’ve never cooked barley before, I urge you to make an extra batch and save some for my Black Bean and Barley Salad while you’re at it.
Time Saving Tip: Prepare a large batch of barley in your rice cooker and walk away! Use throughout the week sprinkled in soups, salads and more.
We love using whole hull-less barley but any barley will work. As always, this recipe is more of a method than a strict rule book so get creative. Are you a pecan family? Use those instead of walnuts. No dried cherrieson hand? Add raisins. Sick of apples? Go bananas!
No matter how you top your breakfast barley, a warm, cozy and healthy breakfast will keep you and your family energized for hours.
Your spoon is waiting.
- Serves: 4
- Serving size: 1 cup
- Calories: 384
- Fat: 8.6 g
- Saturated fat: .8 g
- Unsaturated fat: 7.8 g
- Trans fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 70.4 g
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 7 mg
- Fiber: 15.9 g
- Protein: 9.1 g
- Cholesterol: 0

- 2 cups cooked barley (I used Bob’s Red Mill whole hull-less barley)
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- pinch salt (if you didn’t salt barley during cooking process)
- 2 medium apples – diced
- ¼ cup walnuts – chopped
- ¼ cup dried cherries
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- milk to serve – optional
- Combine all ingredients in a medium sauce pot heated over medium heat.
- Stir frequently until warmed through, about 2-3 minutes.
- Pour into four bowls and serve with milk if desired.










{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Mmmmmm I love all of those add ins
Me too.. I love adding lots of different toppings.
I’ve always had barley as just a side or an addition to soups – never for breakfast! Definitely going to have to give this one a go!
Same here, Peggy!! It was so good at breakfast – I love the added chewy texture.
I’ve never had barley this way before. Recently saw a risotto recipe using barley. Love how creative people get with ingredients! Very nice
This is a great switch from oatmeal! I’ll have to switch up my mornings with this!
what a great idea! I have a big bag of barley and I’ve been struggling to find uses for it.
It was so good and such a nice change from oatmeal. Much chewier!!
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