June 09, 2019

10 Summertime Mason Jar Oatmeal Recipes (ready to eat in 15 minutes!)



In the summertime, I love to sit on my front porch steps, sipping my coffee and eating my breakfast. But it's hot and sticky outside in the summer here in Michigan. Years ago, when I was losing weight and became obsessed with oatmeal, I started making cold oats for the summer. They are super easy to make and there are infinite variations.

I make these in a mason jar and put a lid on it--a typical mason jar is the perfect size, and you can put a lid on it in order to shake up the ingredients. Easy peasy!

There are tons of recipes out there for "overnight oats", where you soak the oatmeal overnight in the refrigerator; I'm too forgetful to do that the night before, so I choose to thicken it with chia seeds instead, and then you only need about 10-15 minutes to allow it to thicken.

The "base" is made with:
40 grams (a scant half-cup) of old fashioned oats
4 fluid ounces (1/2 cup) of milk (I like to use whole dairy milk)
13 grams (1 Tbsp) of chia seeds

Then you simply add whatever you'd like to that base! (See notes at bottom of post.) I am writing amounts for each ingredient, but feel free to eyeball it or to add more or less of what you'd like.

Here are a few of my favorite "Summertime Oatmeal" recipes...

(Here is a printer-friendly version with all of the varieties!)


Almond Joy Summertime Oatmeal (my very favorite!)



40 grams (a scant half-cup) old fashioned oatmeal
1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces) milk (I use whole fat dairy milk)
13 grams (1 Tbsp) chia seeds
1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
1 Tbsp. shredded coconut
1 teaspoon mini chocolate chips
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon sliced almonds (optional)
A few drops of imitation coconut extract (roughly 1/8 teaspoon)
A few drops of pure or imitation almond extract (a little less than the coconut extract)

Combine everything in a mason jar and seal it with the lid. Then shake it up until it's well-combined and set it in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes (you can even leave it in there overnight, if you'd like).



Chocolate Peanut Butter Summertime Oatmeal (in a peanut butter bowl)


For this one, I like to do something that I call a "peanut butter jar" to serve the oatmeal in. Before doing anything else, take about a tablespoon of peanut butter (I like to use Smucker's Natural Creamy Peanut Butter, where the only ingredients are peanuts and salt), and then using the back of a spoon, spread the peanut butter into a thin layer along the bottom and all the way up the sides of the jar. You're basically lining the inside of the jar with a thin layer of peanut butter. Set the jar in the freezer while you combine the other ingredients in a separate bowl.


1 to 1-1/2 Tbsp. peanut butter (used as listed above)
40 grams (a scant half-cup) old fashioned oatmeal
1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces) milk (I use whole fat dairy milk)
13 grams (1 Tbsp) chia seeds
2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon mini chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients (except for the peanut butter, which should be waiting in the freezer) and then pour the ingredients into the peanut butter-lined mason jar (the short time in the freezer will have allowed the peanut butter to firm up a little). Place the lid on the jar and set it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes until thickened. To eat, scrape a little of the peanut butter off the side of the jar as you scoop out the oatmeal.



Cinnamon Raisin Cookie Summertime Oatmeal

40 grams (a scant half-cup) old fashioned oatmeal
1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces) milk (I use whole fat dairy milk)
13 grams (a scant Tbsp) chia seeds
2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 Tbsp. raisins
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (depending on how much you like)

Combine all ingredients in a mason jar with a lid and shake to combine. Set in refrigerator for 15 minutes until thickened.



Tart Cherry Chocolate Chip Summertime Oatmeal


40 grams (a scant half-cup) old fashioned oatmeal
1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces) milk (I use whole fat dairy milk)
13 grams (a scant Tbsp) chia seeds
2 teaspoons tart cherry juice concentrate (I use this kind)
1 teaspoon sugar
3-4 chopped unsweetened frozen cherries (I use the sweet variety)
2 teaspoons mini chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients in a mason jar with a lid and shake to combine. Set in refrigerator for 15 minutes until thickened.



Pineapple Upside Down Cake Summertime Oatmeal


40 grams (a scant half-cup) old fashioned oatmeal
1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces) milk (I use whole fat dairy milk)
13 grams (a scant Tbsp) chia seeds
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped pineapple
2-3 maraschino cherries, chopped very small
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients in a mason jar with a lid and shake to combine. Set in refrigerator for 15 minutes until thickened.



Apple Crisp Summertime Oatmeal

40 grams (a scant half-cup) old fashioned oatmeal
1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces) milk (I use whole fat dairy milk)
13 grams (a scant Tbsp) chia seeds
2 teaspoons powdered sugar
1/4 cup finely chopped apple (peeled)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 Tbsp. crunchy granola (optional - here is my recipe for homemade granola)

Combine all ingredients (except granola) in a mason jar with a lid and shake to combine. Set in refrigerator for 15 minutes until thickened. Top with granola just before serving.



Very Berry Summertime Oatmeal

40 grams (a scant half-cup) old fashioned oatmeal
1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces) milk (I use whole fat dairy milk)
13 grams (a scant Tbsp) chia seeds
2 teaspoons honey
1/2 cup mixed berries--blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries* (whatever you like)
A few drops of orange or lemon extract (optional)

*Use fresh or frozen; if using frozen, thaw and pat dry first, or reduce the amount of milk to keep it from being too liquidy.

Combine all ingredients (except berries) in a mason jar with a lid and shake to combine. Set in refrigerator for 15 minutes until thickened. Carefully stir in berries just before serving.



Fruit & Nut Summertime Oatmeal

40 grams (a scant half-cup) old fashioned oatmeal
1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces) milk (I use whole fat dairy milk)
13 grams (a scant Tbsp) chia seeds
2 teaspoons honey or pure maple syurp
2 Tbsp. chopped dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, apricots, peaches, pineapple, etc.)
2 Tbsp. mixed nuts and/or seeds (walnuts, pecans, pistachios, almonds, pepitas (pumpkin seeds), sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, wheat germ
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Combine all but the nuts and seeds in a mason jar with a lid and shake to combine. Set in refrigerator for 15 minutes until thickened. Stir in the nuts and seeds before serving (to maintain crunchiness).



Banana Nut Summertime Oatmeal

40 grams (a scant half-cup) old fashioned oatmeal
1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces) milk (I use whole fat dairy milk)
13 grams (a scant Tbsp) chia seeds
1/4 of a banana, mashed
1 teaspoon honey
1 Tbsp. chopped walnuts
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a mason jar with a lid and shake to combine. Set in refrigerator for 15 minutes until thickened.



Peaches & Cream Summertime Oatmeal


40 grams (a scant half-cup) old fashioned oatmeal
1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces) milk (I use whole fat dairy milk)
13 grams (a scant Tbsp) chia seeds
2 teaspoons honey
1/4 cup peeled very ripe peaches, chopped small
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
dash of cinnamon (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a mason jar with a lid and shake to combine. Set in refrigerator for 15 minutes until thickened.



Notes:

*I like to use whole fat dairy milk, but you could use any sort of milk you'd like.

*I sweeten my oatmeal with different sweeteners, depending on the rest of the ingredients: usually pure maple syrup, brown sugar, white sugar, or honey.

*Feel free to change up the amount of each ingredient (or eliminate altogether) depending on your own tastes.

*I find that 15 minutes is a good amount of time for the chia seeds to thicken the oatmeal, but it may take a little longer than that. When most of the liquid is absorbed, the oatmeal is ready to eat.

*You can use quick-cooking oats instead of the old-fashioned oats, which will make it creamier; personally, I like the chewier old fashioned oats best.


If you come up with other combinations that you enjoy, please feel free to comment here so we can try them, too! :)

2 comments:

  1. Cannot wait to try!! Thank you for sharing. Now my biggest problem will be figuring out how to share it with my 13 month old 😂

    ReplyDelete
  2. I LOVE overnight oats...but forget to make them at night. This is genius! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete

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