This cozy breakfast is full of warm spices like cinnamon, cloves and ginger then drizzled with molasses, brown sugar and chopped pecans. Perfect for busy weekday mornings or a make-ahead dish for lazy weekends!
A riff off my husband’s famous Hermit Bars, this Slow Cooker Gingerbread Oatmeal is full of warm spices including cinnamon, ginger and cloves. While you might think it’s a bit early for gingerbread, we are in the height of hermit season here in our house. In fact, fall is the official hermit season and from the minute the first batch hits the oven and the house fills with molasses and ginger, I know fall has arrived.
Since we can’t eat cookies for breakfast (or can we?), I decided to combine my favorite Bob’s Red Mill steel cut oats with all the flavors I love about Rich’s hermit bars. The result? A warm and cozy Slow Cooker Gingerbread Oatmeal that you’ll be making again and again this holiday season.
This make-ahead slow cooker oatmeal is not only a great time-saver on busy weekday mornings but it’s perfect for putting together when you have visitors in from out of town or are hosting a casual brunch. This breakfast is everything you love about gingerbread minus all the fat and calories. As an added bonus, it’s naturally gluten free.
Your spoon is waiting.
Slow Cooker Gingerbread Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cups water
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup Bob’s Red Mill Organic Steel Cut Oats
- chopped pecans (brown sugar and molasses – optional garnish to serve)
Instructions
- Spray the slow cooker insert with cooking spray.
- Add all ingredients to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Cook overnight on low for 8 hours.
- In the morning, stir oatmeal with a fork to loosen the steel cut oats and make sure everything is fully incorporated.
- Serve warm with chopped pecans and additional brown sugar and molasses to taste.
Notes
Nutrition
For more easy morning meals, check out my Healthy Breakfast Ideas board on Pinterest!
These came out perfectly! Definitely not runny and I loved the spices because they gave it flavor without adding a ton of sugar. My 16mo loves them too
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Brooke! Let me know if you try any other recipes of mine!
Unfortunately, these came out a soggy sloppy mess. They didn’t taste of ginger bread either. That being said I was not happy waking to that. But my daughter, who is 6 ate some.
I followed the directions perfectly, everything the same. So I don’t know what happened. This is definitely a one star.
Oh no Lola -I’m so sorry these didn’t turn out for you! To answer your question, yes they are supposed to be soup at first because the oats absorb the liquid as it cooks. Out of curiosity – did you quick cooking steel cut oats? Because this isn’t meant for quick cooking but the standard long cooking. Would love to help you figure out what went wrong because my boys literally devoured these!!
Is it supposed to be soupy when you add it all together at first?
I hope it turns out, I have followed every step. It smells delicious though.
NEED to try this asap! My mother in law just gave me some steel cut oats and I’ve been debating what to do with them. I love your tips on how to keep it from not burning in the slow cooker!
I hope you try these girl!!!!
I tried this gingerbread oatmeal- used slow cooker overnight. It was runny and overly spicy. I followed the recipe except I substituted rice milk for regular milk. Not sure what happened.
Hi Katherine – I’m afraid rice milk is not a great replacement as it’s much thinner and not as creamy/fatty as regular milk. As for the spice level, we found it to be ideal but of course that is a matter of preference so next time you can always just season it to taste. My kids had four bowls of it so that’s how I knew the recipe was a keeper for us but I totally understand not everyone likes spices as strong. :)
Okay, I just found my next week of breakfastss right here! It’s pouring rain here, I need comfort and cozy breakfasts for this chilly weather!
You would love this girl! Asher had 3 bowls haha!
Can I just IV this oatmeal in my veins? Because I totally would! I love love pumpkin recipes on the fall but gingersnap/molasses/snickernoodle treats might have an edge over the pumpkin! Can’t wait to make this breakfast!
haha Oatmeal IV Coming your way!
Cookies in a bowl for breakfast?? Count me in Liz — for a double serving! :) I know I’m sheltered living in sunny California where it never snows, but… I get cold and lose my circulation easily. As in walking down the freezer aisle while looking at ice cream. It’s absurd! But this looks like just the breakfast for my cold fingers and my tummy!
Oh my gosh that is so funny!! My Berkeley relatives always come to michigan in the winter to experience a real “christmas” haha!!
Oh yum, I love gingerbread! This sounds so wonderful on those cold morning coming up. The one and only time I made slow cooker oatmeal it burned and stuck horribly to my crock pot :/ I think mine runs super hot or something. I like the idea of putting the bowl inside the insert, that sounds like it would help to keep it from burning.
You know I think some do run hotter than others!!!! We usually do well with ours but I have heard that some run hot. Either way this is also good just cooked on the stove!
I use my “keep warm” setting for overnight oatmeal and it comes out great!
What a great idea!!
I still need to make Rich’s Hermit Bars! It’s a MUST this year! I bet this oatmeal is fantastic!!
Girl you MUST make them!!
This looks so delicious! Never had gingerbread oatmeal, it’s such a great idea :) Thanks for the tip about the slow cooker. If I want this quickly, can I just cook it on the stove? would it taste the same?
Oh man it was so good! And yes you can absolutely make on stove top!! We have done it both ways and both taste great!!
I love the idea of slow cooker steel cut oats – I can only imagine waking up to the smell of this after letting it cook all night – heavenly!!
It smelled SO good Sam!!
Do you think I could substitute coconut nectar for the molasses (I know there will be a taste difference) and almond milk for the regular milk?
You absolutely could but yes, it won’t taste quite like gingerbread. :)
This sounds like a real winner. Since we already enjoy gingerbread overnight oats, it makes sense to have a warm version for winter.
I hope you love this one Susan!! I Think you will!
What a perfect fall breakfast! Now I know what I’ll be making for our guests this weekend ;)
I hope you love it Leah!! :)
Such a comforting bowl of oats! Bob’s Red Mill is my favorite oats brand as well :)
Mine too!! They are truly a great company!