Make-ahead oats with fruit and nuts
This healthy dish is a quick and easy breakfast or snack for busy days.
This make-ahead oats recipe is one of my favorites. My husband affectionately calls it “squirrel mix.”
I eat it for breakfast, lunch, or in between. My kids love it too, and I sometimes add a little brown sugar for them.
You can make this over the weekend and put it in the fridge. Then, all you need to do is scoop out a serving and heat it in the microwave for a flavorful and quick breakfast or snack made from high-fiber plant-based ingredients.
You can use any combination of fruit and nuts you like and have on hand. My last batch had raisins, dates, blueberries, apples, pecans, and almonds.
Servings: 8 as a meal, 12 as a snack
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10 to 15 minutes
Total time: 25 to 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 cups rolled oats
- 2 cups dried fruit (such as raisins, pitted dates, or cranberries), chopped if using larger fruits
- 2 cups fresh fruit (such as apples, berries, or figs), diced small
- 2 cups unsalted nuts (such as walnuts, pecans, or almonds), chopped
- 3 cups plant-based milk (such as almond, oat, soy, or coconut)
- 2 cups muesli (optional)
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar (optional)
Directions
- In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients.
- Cook over low heat for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring constantly. Let cool and store in the fridge.
- To serve, scoop a serving into a microwave-safe dish, add a splash of plant-based milk, and heat on high for 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds. Or add the milk and warm in a saucepan over low heat on the stovetop.
Nutrition information (per serving)
- Calories: 413
- Total fat: 21.9 g
- Saturated fat: 2.2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 79 mg
- Total carbohydrate: 52 g
- Dietary fiber: 7 g
- Total sugars: 29 g
- Added sugars: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Potassium: 575 mg
Note: Nutrition information doesn’t include optional muesli. This analysis uses raisins, apples, walnuts, and almond milk. Nutrition values will vary depending on the types of fruits, nuts, and milk you use.