So, I’ve told you my story about going to Portland, Oregon and eating steel-cut oatmeal at a hotel that we stayed at. Ever since, I’ve been hooked on steel-cut oatmeal. The oatmeal is so rich and hearty, it’s so delicious. When you make steel-cut oatmeal on the stove, it can be a bit time consuming. I’ve since learned that the oats can be cooked in a slow-cooker overnight, and BAM! You’ve got breakfast ready to eat when you wake up!
The other cool thing about our Apple and Cranberry Oatmeal In A Jar, is that it makes a great gift! It’s so easy to put together. Kids can even get in the kitchen and easily help measure out the ingredients to put into the jar. You then give it to someone such as your dinner host/hostess for Thanksgiving (they’ve cooked all day for a big holiday; they don’t want to cook they next day when they’ve got all that shopping to do), or you could give this as a teacher gift. You could even be a little selfish and keep it all to yourself to use for later; that’s okay too!
So the process is simple: Assemble the dry ingredients into a clean jar. Decorate the outside of the jar as you like (get the kids involved with this part too). Provide the instructions on how to make the oatmeal and attach them to the jar. Give the completed jar to whomever you wish. See, easy!
Jar Ingredients:
1- 15 oz jar with lid (or a little larger to have a little extra room at the top)
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
1 cup steel-cut oats
½ cup freeze dried apples, chopped
¼ cup dried cranberries
Ingredients to be added when ready to cook:
2 cups water
2 cups milk*
*For a dairy-free version, omit the milk and use 4 cups of water.
For the presentation aspect of the jar, I like to assemble the ingredients in this order:
Brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt go into the jar first.
Next, spoon in the layer of oats.
Then, the freeze-dried apples go on top of the oats.
Last, but not least, add in the cranberries.
Top with the jar lid.
To cook the oatmeal: Combine all of the jar ingredients with 2 cups water and 2 cups milk in a slow-cooker. Cook on low for 5-7 hours or on high for 2 and ½ hours. Stir halfway through cook time.
Click on the picture below for the recipe to attach to the jar for your gift!
- Jar Ingredients:
- 1-15oz jar (or a little larger for a little extra room) with lid
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup steel-cut oats
- ½ cup freeze dried apples, chopped
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- Ingredients to be added when ready to cook:
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups milk*
- *For a dairy-free version, omit the milk and use 4 cups of water.
- Jar Ingredients:
- -15oz jar (or a little larger for a little extra room) with lid
- /3 cup brown sugar
- tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- cup steel-cut oats
- ½ cup freeze dried apples, chopped
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- Ingredients to be added when ready to cook:
- cups water
- cups milk*
- *For a dairy-free version, omit the milk and use 4 cups of water.
