5 Methods to Use Up Your Oats That’ll Enhance Your Breakfast and Baking Routines Instantly

For years, I at all times saved a container of oats round the home, tucked into the again of my pantry for chilly-morning breakfasts and the occasional batch of cookies. However most of the time, I might wind up tossing the questionably stale cereal lengthy earlier than I reached the underside of the canister.

I am thriftier with my elements as of late, and extra dedicated to discovering methods to make use of them up. Fortunately, it did not take a lot experimenting to comprehend that, like most complete grains, oats are remarkably versatile. You will mostly discover them rolled—steamed and flattened for oatmeal—or offered because the longer-cooking steel-cut, or Irish, oats, which nonetheless have their fibrous bran connected. In both case, their nutty taste and chewy texture make them a straightforward addition to sweeter preparations, like cookies and breads. However that is simply the tip of the iceberg. From creamier smoothies to savory, satisfying twists on the breakfast staple, listed here are a few of my favourite methods to plow via a tin of oats very quickly in any respect.

Higher-Than-Common Oatmeal

Positive, you possibly can combine some rolled oats with water, stick it within the microwave, and name it breakfast. However you may as well add a couple of further thrives to make your morning meal really shine. Should you’re feeding a crowd, attempt baking your oatmeal—it is a hands-off technique that is straightforward to whip up in huge batches, with no matter elements you’ve available. Suppose sweetly spiced cinnamon-apple, juicy strawberry-almond, or a warming batch of maple-banana.

Going the stovetop route? From bananas Foster–impressed oatmeal to savory variations stirred with ricotta and sage, soy sauce and scallion, or squash and bacon, we have now nice mix-in concepts to shake up your routine.

And OK nice. Should you’re nonetheless dedicated to doubling down on a very good previous common breakfast, this is a unbelievable recipe for ultra-creamy Scottish oatmeal.

Nutty-Candy Batters and Doughs

Let’s be actual: There is a good cause why oatmeal cookies are the poster little one for rolled oats. Our recipe yields thick cookies with a crisp crust and a chewy, moist middle. Higher but, you will want just one bowl to make them occur, which implies they need to most likely be occurring on a regular basis. Should you’re a fan of thick cookies, do not cease on the strictly oatmeal selection—a splash of oats blended into any recipe will assist issues alongside, because the oats will swell and soften because of the moisture within the dough.

However cookies apart, oats can improve an entire vary of batters and doughs. Attempt them in hearty-but-fluffy oatmeal–brown butter pancakes; a tangy, buttermilk-infused banana oatmeal bread; bite-size bitter cream and chocolate chip oatmeal muffins; or these tender and flaky spelt and oat cookies, which get their molasses richness from muscovado sugar.

No-Roll Pie Crust

Should you like a graham cracker crust, it’s best to positively meet its salty-sweet cousin, the oat crumble crust. Throwing rolled oats in a meals processor produces a granulated oat “flour” that we mix with all-purpose wheat flour and a sprinkle of salt earlier than mixing it with creamed butter and brown sugar. Then the dough is calmly baked for a toasty taste and golden-brown hue, earlier than it is processed with a bit extra butter and pressed right into a pie plate. The result’s a pleasantly crisp-crumbly crust with the flavour of an oaty shortbread cookie. Attempt it with this tart-sweet no-churn lime ice cream pie and your thoughts simply could also be blown.

Superior Smoothies

I do know what you are considering: oatmeal, in a smoothie? Yup, it sounds sorta bizarre, however boy, does it work. You’ll be able to add a couple of tablespoons of cooked rolled oats to nearly any smoothie—candy or savory—for an extra-creamy texture. You will be shocked by simply how for much longer it will fill you up, too. Should you want proof, look no additional than The Maine Squeeze, a vibrant, summery mix of recent blueberries, tart lemon, spicy ginger, a contact of honey and milk, and, in fact, oats. However you hardly want a recipe to make an oat smoothie work: The grains pair properly with no matter taste strikes your fancy. Try our professional suggestions for making superior smoothies to get began.

Crunchy Granola and Streusel Galore

Do-it-yourself granola is not only a scrumptious, long-lasting snack—it is a ridiculously straightforward, hands-off course of that may be tailor-made to your tastes with only a few minor tweaks. Merely combine your oats with some favourite grains, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit (unsweetened coconut flakes make an incredible addition); add a binding syrup, like butter-enhanced maple, agave, or honey; and bake all of it in a 300°F oven. Add further binder to make a sliceable tray of chewy granola bars, or preserve issues mild and unfastened for a toss-able granola, like this honey-almond rendition or our coconut- and matzo-spiked Passover take. Should you’re feeling extra experimental, attempt toying with extra savory elements, like citrus zest, chopped herbs, and even chili powder.

Oh, and after you have that granola, you possibly can incorporate it wherever you’d a streusel, from fruit crisps to easy baked apricots to a lightweight and refreshing Greek yogurt panna cotta.

April 2016