Banana Cream Pie Overnight Oatmeal

Banana Cream Pie is one of my favorite desserts...but only when it's made correctly (aka homemade). I hate when people just whip up Jell-O banana pudding and stick it on top of a store-bought crust, and then squirt some canned whipped cream on top. It's absolutely insulting!

I've wanted to create a banana cream pie oatmeal for a while now, but I wasn't quite sure how to go about it. Would it just be a regular banana oatmeal with extra vanilla extract? Would I top it with something (banana soft serve? coconut whipped cream? soy yogurt?) to resemble the "cream?"

But then I got THIS idea. And it's PERFECT. Banana Cream Pie should be cold, anyway, NOT hot! Plus, I like to think of overnight refrigerator oatmeal more like "oatmeal pudding," and pudding is exactly what I wanted this oatmeal to resemble!

Loaded PB&J Oatmeal

Perhaps I've been so successful as a vegetarian because my favorite sandwich is PB&J. In fact, one of my favorite restaurants/coffee shops in town offers this divine, gourmet PB&J. It uses natural peanut butter, homemade mixed berry jam, sliced bananas, and homemade granola, all between locally made bakery bread...and then it's grilled.

DROOOOOOL. When people ask how I can be a vegetarian, I think of sandwiches like that: so simple and obvious and perfect. I don't need faux meats and Boca burgers. Often, it's the simplest ingredients that satisfy me!

In addition to eating PB&J sandwiches like it's my job, I also use it in my oatmeal frequently. This version, loaded with toppings that remind me of this gourmet panini, may have just become one of my top ten favorite porridges. :)

Loaded PB&J Oatmeal

by The Oatmeal Artist

Prep Time: 2 min

Cook Time: 5 min

6051291

Ingredients (serves 1)

• 1 cup milk of choice, or water
• 1/2 cup rolled oats (I use Country Choice Organic)
• 1 ripe banana
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp jam or fruit spread
• 1 tbsp peanut butter (increase if you want)
• pinch of salt
• 5 or so fresh strawberries (or another berry)
• handful of granola
• handful of nuts of choice

Instructions

1. Bring milk (I use an equal mixture of almond milk and water) to a boil, add oats, and reduce heat to medium.
2. Mash up a ripe banana and add to the oatmeal. Or, you can do what I did: mash 1/2 the banana and add to the oatmeal, and slice the rest later on top.
3. Once more of the liquid has absorbed, add vanilla extract, a tiny pinch of salt, cinnamon, and jelly. Stir.
4. When you're pleased with the consistency of the oatmeal, transfer to a bowl. Drop globs on peanut butter on top and swirl it in. Add sliced strawberries (and bananas), granola, and peanuts. Add a splash of milk and dig in!

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**You can also find hundreds of other oatmeal recipes (as well as tons of other meatless recipes) on my Pinterest account!  You can also like The Oatmeal Artist on Facebook. Thanks!

Salted Brownie Baked Oatmeal

Mmkay. How could anyone see the name of this recipe and NOT be tempted?!

I suppose I owe you that much. It's been over a WEEK since I've posted a recipe. First, I didn't have any of the right ingredients to make a new recipe. Then, I spent the weekend camping with my parents at my grandmother's farm. Then, I was so stressed out with work that I didn't have time to take pictures in the morning. Finally, yesterday I planned to make this recipe and blog it before work...only to wake up an hour late and have to settle for TOAST. :(

Banana Bread Oatmeal

I realized the strangest thing this morning: I have never posted a recipe for banana bread oatmeal.

Which is absolutely bizarre if you consider a) how easy it is, b) how it was one of the first oatmeals I ever created, and c) that Quaker Instant Banana Bread Oatmeal packets were my very first experiences with porridge.

Orange Blackberry Oatmeal

Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the possibilities. I have so many ideas to share with the world, and it feels like there simply isn't enough time to do it all.

This morning in particular was tormenting! I spent nearly ten minutes trying to decide what to make. Ultimately, I decided on this orange-blackberry combo--and I'm glad I did! It was the perfect way to wake up my sleepy Sunday self.

Peach Cobbler Baked Oatmeal

What's your all-time favorite dessert?

I think this is one of the hardest questions to answer. I've never had a bad dessert before. Pretty much every dessert I eat brings a smile to my face and makes me feel like there's nothing else I'd rather be eating. However, if I had to choose, I think it would be peach cobbler. Peaches are my favorite fruit, and I think this dessert is one that truly lets the fruit shine.

Triple Berry and Banana Oatmeal

It occurred to me last night after I posted my Fuzzy Navel Oatmeal recipe that I never actually told you guys about my summer job. Hmm...

I'm teaching at a college preparatory program for low-income and/or racial minority students. Many of them are ESL (English as a Second Language) students who have come to America from Africa (particularly Ethiopia and Eritrea).

My college education drilled it into me that low-income students would be far behind because they lacked essential background knowledge, and I prepared for this job with that in mind. Umm...I could not have been more wrong! These are some of the brightest, most inspiring students I have yet to work with (not that I have been a teacher that long, but...)!

I introduced myself on the first day by admitting my love for oatmeal. Nearly every day since then, a few of my students tease me at the start of every lesson by asking me what I had in my oatmeal that morning.

This recipe is dedicated to them. :) It's a special one, and I call it "special" because it's extremely unlikely that I will ever be in possession of blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries all at the same time again. I've had this recipe in mind for a long time, but I procrastinated because I knew it would be a financial investment! If you like berries, though, it's quite a treat! I imagine that I could play around with jams and frozen fruit if I didn't have all the berries fresh on hand....

Triple Berry and Banana Oatmeal

by The Oatmeal Artist

Prep Time: 2 min

Cook Time: 5 min

6051280

Ingredients (serves 1)

• 1 cup milk of choice, or water
• 1/2 cup rolled oats (I use Country Choice Organic)
• 1/2 a banana
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• pinch of salt
• 5 fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
• 1/2 cup mix of blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, or whatever berry you have!

Instructions

1. Bring milk (I use an equal mixture of almond milk and water) to a boil, add oats, and reduce heat to medium. I also add a spoonful of milled flax at the same time as my oats.
2. Mash up a ripe banana and add to the oatmeal. Stir.
3. Once more of the liquid has absorbed, add vanilla extract, cinnamon, and a tiny pinch of salt. Stir.
4. When you're pleased with the consistency of the oatmeal, add half of the fruits and stir gently. Transfer to a bowl and top with the rest of the fruit. Serve with another splash of your milk of choice and any other additional toppings (shredded coconut, nuts, etc.).

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**You can also find hundreds of other oatmeal recipes (as well as tons of other meatless recipes) on my Pinterest account!  You can also like The Oatmeal Artist on Facebook. Thanks!

Fuzzy Navel Oatmeal

Ahem. I better be careful posting all these cocktail oatmeal recipes, or people will get the wrong idea about me!

But to be honest, the orange-peach combo is truly divine. Truly. And the oatmeal version is even better--no hangover included!

Strawberry Mojito Oatmeal

Who thought of combining lime with mint?

They deserve an award.

Also, who discovered oatmeal? They deserve a BILLION awards.