DIY Instant Oatmeal Jars with Dehydrated Fruit Recipes

23. May 2022

Ya know what I like to eat best for breakfast? Not oats. Like any red-blooded Mid-westerner, I want eggs, bacon, sausage, and biscuits slathered in sausage gravy, if you’ve got ‘em. And speaking of bacon, you either like it or you’re wrong. But, alas, being a person who isn’t made of time most mornings, and who may not be a young as she used to be, I can’t eat that way every morning. I need something that is healthier, will save me time, and will make me the coolest kid I know, simultaneously. Well, let me tell ya, nothing screams “cool” like oatmeal. Just ask Bert (the Muppet, not Reynolds).

The first half of this blog post has instructions on dehydrating your own healthy fruit and choosing oatmeal jar ingredients. The second half has 25+ Instant Oatmeal Jar recipes. You can download and print the oatmeal recipes and adjust them to your own personal preferences.

  

I am specifically thinking of the modern marvel and wonder that is the make-ahead instant oatmeal jar. You grab. You add a splash of whatever. You microwave, and BOOM. Breakfast in 90 seconds flat. That might seem like a big “so what” to some, but my ever so patient husband* takes AT LEAST 20 minutes to make a bowl of oatmeal for himself. Now, granted, the finished product would feed Jethro Bodine, but that’s beside the point. The point is that most normal humans just need something hot, tasty, and now now now.

* { My Husband’s Superior (he claims) Go-To Oatmeal Bowl: Heat quick oats with Raisins, cranberries, cinnamon in water (ugh). After cooked, a tablespoon of coconut oil, raw honey, flax meal, bee pollen, fresh sliced strawberries, blueberries, & walnuts }

So you may ask “You’re aware that there is a fine Quaker gentleman who has done all this legwork already, right?” Yes, but have you looked at how much added sugar, sodium, and whatnot are in most of those little packets? “You know, other folks make healthier, more high end instant oat cups”. That is also true, but, similar to not being made of time, I am also not made of money. I do for myself if feasibly possible (and the end result doesn’t taste like it came off the bottom of a boot).

So, let’s do an overview of all the ingredients of DIY Instant Oatmeal, shall we?

 

1. Oats

To make these instant oatmeal jars you will need quick oats or 1-minute oats. Do not use regular, old fashioned, or steel-cut oats. These varieties will take longer to cook, which would defeat one of the main points of this task. Quick oats are practically the same, just made to cook faster (think parboiled vs regular rice). 

2. Spices and Add-ins Such as Seeds, Nuts, Protein Powders

The next step to construct your instant oatmeal jars is deciding what delicious flavors will fill them. Any number of dried spices will work wonderfully and make your jars super tasty! Try cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, cardamom, and even turmeric. For a great morning pick-me-up or post-workout treat, add a scoop of your favorite Protein Powder. This can be unflavored or flavored to accent the other ingredients in your jars (think Peaches & Cream ala vanilla protein powder). Add your favorite nuts and/or seeds for a great protein boost too! Try walnuts, slivered almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, walnuts, pepitas, shelled sunflower seeds, and chia or flax seeds. Special shout-out to chia seeds! They are crazy nutritious, loaded with antioxidants, and are high in fiber and omega-3 fats. This makes them a great teammate of oats for exemplary heart health. Plus, if you ever accidentally add too much liquid to your oatmeal, chia seeds will absorb it…and then you will absorb the oatmeal. The circle of life!

3. Fruit

You could stop there with added goodies for your oats, but why would you want to? We still have a cornucopia of fruit options to choose from. There are no bad options when it comes to fruit in your pre-constructed oatmeal bowls! They will need to be dehydrated to last on a shelf though. There are plenty of dried fruits you can buy at the store. They often contain extra sugars or additives to keep them preserved forever. You may also use freeze-dried fruit instead of dehydrated. If you are lucky enough to have your own freeze dryer, please note that I am insanely jealous! And also note that this post is just about dehydrated fruit, but I hope to cover freeze drying at a later date.

You can leave the skin on apples for an extra nutritional boost. I recommend using organic fruit if you leave skins on.

 

Preparing the Fruit

We covered dehydrating a few years back in a post about making Homemade Italian Seasoning Blends by dehydrating your own herbs. It is quite easy to do with fruit, too. Simply take the fruit of your choice and wash thoroughly (you don’t want dehydrated dirt). Remove the core, seeds, and any leaves. As for the skin, it is up to you if you want to remove that or not. You will find many nutrients in apple peelings, although it would be best to only use Organic fruit. Leaving skins on fruit will increase the time to dehydrate a little. But for me, it’s not worth the time it would take to remove the peels! I’ll go with the easier prep method which also adds extra nutrients to the final product as well ;)

Slice fruit uniformly in 1/4” thick or less slices. If they’re too thin, they’ll dry out too much. If too thick, they will take much longer to dehydrate (or not fully dehydrate). Dab sliced fruit with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. To prevent oxidation (browning) in certain fruits, like apples and pears, you can pre-treat them with citric acid. Otherwise, they will turn brown. This, however, may not be an issue for you at all. It isn’t an issue for me if I’m dehydrating fruit solely for oatmeal jars or even snacking. Dried fruits that oxidize and turn brown are safe to eat. Some folks just find brown fruit to be unsightly to look at! Note, some fruit like pineapple or citrus do not need additional citric acid added to them. 

My Excalibur Dehydrator also has tips on using fruit juice or honey dips for fresh produce. Fruit juice would add some extra anti-oxidants to your dried fruit. It may also add another taste (and extra sugars). Examples to use would be citrus juices like pineapple, lemon, or lime. You could also use cranberry, grape, or blueberry juice to add extra flavor or color to the dried fruit. Simply mix 1 cup of fruit juice with 1 cup of lukewarm water to soak fruit in for 10 minutes. Then remove the fruit, blot off excess moisture, and add to your dehydrator. You can use the fruit juice for a few batches and also drink the leftovers instead of discarding it. Total win!!!

Using a honey dip would make fruit much sweeter and increase the calories. I think using a honey dip on fruit would be a good way to add extra natural sweetener to a shelf-stable oatmeal jar. For a honey dip, combine 1/2 cup sugar with 1 1/2 cup of boiling water. Cool to lukewarm, then mix in 1/2 cup raw honey. Soak fruit for 3-5 minutes, then drain well and add to your dryer trays.

 

I pre-treated my mangoes with citric acid to help prevent oxidation (browning) of the final dried fruit.

 

Dehydrating the Fruit (Dehydrator, Oven, Sun/Solar Methods)

Now on to drying your fruit! My Excalibur Dehydrator recommends 135 degrees F to dehydrate fruit. Consult your own dehydrator manual for temperature and drying time per specific fruit.  The drying time will also depend on the fruit’s moisture content and air humidity. Properly slicing the fruit (not more than 1/4” thick) and spreading slices evenly in single layers will lead to success!

I like to check the progress of my fruit every few hours and rotate trays part way through the process. Remove any fully dried pieces of fruit throughout the process. Sometimes fruit will take much less time to dry than my dehydrator even recommends. The goal is to have fruit that is pliable or leathery to the touch. Some fruit, like bananas, may be leathery or crisp. Strawberries will be leathery and sticky. For apples, I like to tear a slice in half and squeeze to see if there is any moisture inside. If I see any moisture droplets, I leave it in the dehydrator longer.

If you aren't sure if the fruit is completely dried, do a "squeeze" check. Cut a piece of fruit in half and squeeze it. If you see any glistening or moisture droplets, it isn't finished dehydrating yet. Put it back in the dehydrator or oven to finish drying.

 

If you don’t have a dehydrator, you can use your oven instead. But until you get used to this procedure, PLEASE keep an eye on the progress of your fruit as it dries. Fruit can go from “drying well” to “completely fried” faster than you might think. Personal experience speaking here. For oven dehydrating, preheat to 200 degrees F and bake on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Flip fruit once every 2 hours until dried.

If you want to conserve resources and use mother nature, you may also harness the sun to dry your fruit. While it’s not safe to dry vegetables or meat with the sun, it’s safe for fruit because of their high acid and sugar content. Sun drying may prove to be a little tricker depending on where you live, of course. You will need a hot, dry, breezy day for best results. Higher temperatures are better! The temperature needs to be at least 86 degrees Fahrenheit. It will also take several days to dry fruit outside. So it will be more time consuming overall than oven or dehydrator methods. Unfortunately, weather can be unpredictable and uncontrollable as well. This makes it a riskier option for sun drying fruit. If you want to pursue sun drying fruit, checkout this University of Georgia Preserving Food pamphlet for additional info which also includes tips for Solar Drying.

 

 

Storing Dehydrated Fruit

After the fruit is done drying, let it cool 30 to 60 minutes before storing it in tightly sealed jars or containers. If the fruit is still warm, it can sweat and build up moisture which you do not want! Of course leaving the fruit out to cool too long will also put it at risk of allowing moisture to re-enter the fruit. There is a process called “Conditioning” fruits. If your pieces are of different sizes, remaining moisture may not have been properly distributed. The conditioning process is used to equalize moisture to reduce the risk of mold. To condition, loosely pack the cooled fruit in a jar and seal for 7 to 10 days. Any excess moisture in some pieces will be absorbed by drier pieces of fruit. Shake the jar daily to separate slices and check for moisture content. If you see any condensation in the jar, the fruit needs to be dehydrated more. Or, if you are a tad bit lazy like me, just eat any of those pieces instead of firing up the dehydrator for a handful of not-quite-dry-enough-slices. Winning! 

If you're storing dried foods for a length of time, you may want to look into longterm food storage methods. This would entail adding oxygen absorbers to jars or vacuum sealing jars. Mylar bags can be vacuum sealed with oxygen absorbers too. 

 

Our Instant Oatmeal recipes are single servings designed to fit in 8 oz half-pint jars. You can double the recipe to fit in a 16oz pint jar. Or you can do a single serving in the larger 16oz pint jar, add liquid, & cook the jarred oatmeal in the microwave.

 

Making Your Oatmeal Jars

We’ve hem-hawed enough; let’s get these bad boys made! You’ll need 8 oz half pint jam jars for these recipes. Or you can store a double batch in 16 oz pint jars. With both options, you will dump the contents of the jars into a bowl later for eating. Or you can make a single batch in the larger 16 oz pint jar, add the liquid, and heat the full jar up in the microwave for eating. Prep as many as you think you or your family will eat in a month. Pro-tip: make a couple more than that number. I find that when I run out, the thought “Why didn’t you prepare just a couple more, ya goof?” flashes through by brain.

 

  

The “Basic” Ingredient Mix

• 1/2 cup of quick oats or 1-minute oats. (Avoid regular, old fashioned, and steel-cut oats since they take longer to cook)
• 1/4 cup of the dried fruit of your choice. Mix n’ match. Try flavor combos.
• 1 to 2 tablespoons of your dried nuts, seeds and spices. Make it a good mix. I personally wouldn’t recommend using a full tablespoon of cinnamon or cardamom, but if that floats your boat…
• Add an optional scoop of your favorite Protein Powder for added health benefits. My personal favorite brand is Garden of Life, especially their Green Superfood Powder
• Add some chocolate chips, peanut butter powder, or cocoa, if you want to go really crazy.
• Add dry sweeteners like sugar or powdered honey. Alternatively, add liquid sweeteners when you go to cook and eat the oatmeal.

 

Once the jars are completed, add a canning lid and ring on top and you’re all set. Decorate your oatmeal varieties with Custom Kraft Apothecary Bakery Labels or Watercolor Baked Goods Labels. Store in your cereal cabinet or pantry until you need a quick and delicious breakfast in an instant. Jars should probably be used within a couple months of prepping. 

 

Cooking the Oatmeal

To eat, dump the half-pint jar contents into a bowl, and add 2/3 cup water or milk (or milk substitutes like almond or oat milk).  If you made a double batch in the 16 oz pint, double the liquid used. Then microwave for a minute and a half and you’re good to go. Or, if you’re made of time, add boiling water to the oatmeal and let it sit for 15 minutes or so to thicken. Stir in a dab of organic coconut oil or flax meal for extra nutrition. If you didn’t add dry sweeteners to the jars, add a spoon of raw honey or real maple syrup. This will take your oatmeal experience to the next level.

Refrigerator Oats

You can also use these jars to make overnight refrigerator oats instead of heating them up. The night before, add 1 cup of cold water or milk plus any desired extra sweeteners. Mix it up, place in the fridge, and eat COLD for breakfast the next morning. I know for the uninitiated this may seem shocking, but give it a whirl. You may be pleasantly surprised (or you may be enraged and disgusted), but you’ll never know until you give it a shot.

 

 

Instant Oatmeal Jar Recipe Ideas

For any of these recipes, you can add dry sweeteners if desired.  Choose white or brown sugar, maple sugar, or even powdered honey. This may not be necessary with all the fruit in the jars. But you can definitely add extras if you like your oatmeal a bit sweeter.  Or, you can add liquid sweeteners when you go to cook and serve your oatmeal. That way you can taste for sweetness before adding the extra sugars. I like to add a spoon of coconut oil to my cooked oatmeal for an extra nutritious boost too. Some of these recipes call for vanilla extract also. You can adjust all recipes to your taste. As long as the ratio of oats to liquid is about the same, it should work out. If you ever end up with runny oatmeal from too much liquid, add some chia seed or flax meal to help absorb some of it.

  

Download the Instant Oatmeal Recipe Sheets

 

Basic Instant Oatmeal Recipe

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup of any dehydrated fruit (or freeze-dried fruit)
• 1-2 Tablespoons of mix-ins (nuts, chia or flax seeds, hemp hearts, cocoa nibs, etc)
• Optional ingredients: protein powders, cocoa, peanut butter powder, spices, granulated sweetener

 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated banana chips (or freeze-dried)
• 1/2 Tablespoon powdered peanut butter
• 1/2 Tablespoon chopped peanuts
• 1 teaspoon chocolate protein powder (or cocoa powder)
• Optional: Sprinkle of coconut flakes, granulated sweetener, cocoa nibs or mini chocolate chips, chia or flax seeds
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup water, milk, or milk substitute. Optional liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup. Optional coconut oil.

 

The Elvis Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated banana chips (or freeze-dried)
• 2 teaspoons powdered peanut butter
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup water, milk, or milk substitute. Add 2 slices of chopped candied bacon, thank you very much! (Note: Since candied bacon only stores for a few days, I would not add this to jars for pantry storage).
• Optional: Drizzle cooked oatmeal with raw honey.

 

Chocolate Strawberry Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated strawberries (or freeze-dried)
• 1 teaspoon chocolate protein powder (or cocoa powder)
• Optional: A sprinkle of cocoa nibs or mini chocolate chips, granulated sweetener, nuts, chia or flax seeds
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup water, milk, or milk substitute. Optional liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup.

  

Peanut Butter Jelly Time Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated strawberries (or freeze-dried)
• 1/2 Tablespoon powdered peanut butter
• 1/2 Tablespoon chopped peanuts
• Optional: Granulated sweetener, chia or flax seeds
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup water, milk, or milk substitute. Optional liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup.

 

Download the Instant Oatmeal Recipe Sheets 

Shop our Custom Watercolor Kitchen & Baked Goods Labels to dress up your homemade kitchen goodies. Customize the text for instant oatmeal jars, cookies, or gifts.

  

Apple Raisin Spice Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated apples (or freeze-dried)
• 1 Tablespoon of chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans
• 1 Tablespoon of Raisins or dates
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• A pinch of nutmeg
• A pinch of all spice
• Optional: Granulated sweetener like maple or brown sugar, chia or flax seeds
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup water, milk, or milk substitute. Optional liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup.

 

Apple, Cinnamon, & Brown Sugar Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated apples (or freeze-dried)
• 1 Tablespoon of chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• Optional: Chia or flax seeds
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup water, milk, or milk substitute.

 

Caramel Apple Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated apples (or freeze-dried)
• 1 Tablespoon of chopped & toasted pecans or walnuts
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• Pinch of sea salt
• Optional: Chia or flax seeds
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup apple cider or milk.

 

Download the Instant Oatmeal Recipe Sheets

Shop our Custom Watercolor Kitchen & Baked Goods Labels to dress up your homemade kitchen goodies. Customize the text for instant oatmeal jars, cookies, or gifts.

 

Tropical Paradise Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated pineapples & mango (or freeze-dried)
• 1 Tablespoon of coconut flakes
• 1/8 teaspoon powdered orange zest
• Optional: Granulated sweetener, chopped macadamia nuts or pecans, chia seeds.
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup water, milk, milk substitute, or orange juice (or a mix of juice & milk). Add 1 teaspoon of coconut oil. Optional liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup.

  

Strawberry Mango Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated strawberries & mango (or freeze-dried)
• 1 Tablespoon of coconut flakes
• 1 teaspoon chia seeds
• Optional: Granulated sweetener
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup water, milk, or milk substitute. Add 1 teaspoon of coconut oil. Optional liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup.

  

Pineapple Upside Down Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated pineapples & cherries (or freeze-dried)
• 1/8 teaspoon powdered orange zest
• Optional: Granulated sweetener like brown sugar, chia or flax seeds.
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup water, milk, or milk substitute. Optional 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract & coconut oil.

  

Pineapple Banana Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated pineapples & bananas (or freeze-dried)
• 1/2 teaspoon powdered orange zest
• Optional: Granulated sweetener, chopped walnuts, pecans or almonds, chia or flax seeds.
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup pineapple juice or orange juice. Optional liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup.

  

Fruitcake Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated pineapples, apples, cherries, apricots, golden raisins, prunes (or freeze-dried)
• 1 Tablespoon chopped & toasted pecans or walnuts
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon powdered orange & lemon zest
• A pinch of nutmeg
• A pinch of ground cloves
• Optional: Add a sprinkle of chopped, candied crystallized ginger
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup water, milk, or milk substitute. Optional 1/2 teaspoon bourbon or rum. This should be plenty sweet with all the fruit, but you may add maple syrup if desired.

 

Download the Instant Oatmeal Recipe Sheets

Shop our Custom Kraft Apothecary Bakery & Kitchen Labels to dress up your homemade kitchen goodies. Customize the text for instant oatmeal jars, cookies, or gifts.

 

Cran-Raisin Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated cranberries & raisins (or freeze-dried)
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• Optional: 1 teaspoon vanilla protein powder, chia seeds
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup water, milk, or milk substitute. Optional liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup. Optional coconut oil. 

 

Lemon Blueberry Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 2 Tablespoons of dehydrated blueberries (or freeze-dried)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla protein powder
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest or crystalized lemon powder
• Optional: Granulated sweetener, chia or flax seeds.
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup water, milk, or milk substitute. Optional liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup. Optional coconut oil.

 

Blueberry Cream Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated blueberries (or freeze-dried)
• 1 Tablespoon of chopped nuts like almonds or pecans
• 1/2 Tablespoon of vanilla protein powder
• Optional: Granulated sweetener, nuts, chia or flax seeds
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup water, milk, or milk substitute. Optional liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup.

 

Blueberry & Banana Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated blueberries & banana chips (or freeze-dried)
• 1 Tablespoon of chopped nuts like almonds or pecans
• 1 teaspoon vanilla protein powder
• Optional: Granulated sweetener, nuts, chia or flax seeds
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup water, milk, or milk substitute. Optional liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup. Add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract instead of vanilla protein powder.

 

Berry Blast Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated strawberries, raspberries, blueberries (or freeze-dried)
• Optional: Granulated sweetener, nuts, chia or flax seeds
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup water, milk, or milk substitute. Optional liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup.

  

Peaches & Cream Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated peaches (or freeze-dried)
• 1 Tablespoon of chopped nuts like almonds or pecans
• 1/2 Tablespoon of vanilla protein powder
• Optional: Granulated sweetener, nuts, chia or flax seeds
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup water, milk, or milk substitute. Optional liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup.

Download the Instant Oatmeal Recipe Sheets

  

Peach & Blueberry Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated peaches & blueberries (or freeze-dried)
• 1 Tablespoon of chopped nuts like almonds or pecans
• 1 teaspoon vanilla protein powder
• Optional: Granulated sweetener like maple or brown sugar, nuts, chia or flax seeds
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup water, milk, or milk substitute. Optional liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup.

  

Coconut Latte Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated coconut chips
• 1/2 Tablespoon of coffee protein powder
• 1/16 teaspoon cinnamon
• Optional: Granulated sweetener, nuts, chia or flax seeds
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup coconut milk, water, milk or milk substitute. Optional liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup.
• Variation: Instead of adding coffee protein powder, substitute 1/4 cup brewed coffee for part of the milk.

 

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal with Graham Crackers tastes just like a Thanksgiving dessert. Add the crumbled graham crackers AFTER you heat up the oatmeal. This will give you a nice crunch that mimics pie crust.   

 

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated pumpkin puree* (Dehydrate pumpkin puree on parchment paper or paraflexx drying sheets in your dehydrator. When done, tear into tiny pieces)
• 1 Tablespoon of chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla protein powder (or omit & add vanilla extract to cooked oatmeal)
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/16 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/16 teaspoon all spice
• 1/2 graham cracker (will need to break in segments to fit in jar)*
• Optional: Pepita pumpkin seeds, chia or flax seeds
• To serve: *Reserve graham cracker. Add 2/3 cup water, milk, or milk substitute to other ingredients. Add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract if you omitted vanilla protein powder from jar. Cook. Crumble graham cracker on top of cooked oatmeal. Drizzle with maple syrup. May need to add little more liquid to this recipe if the final oatmeal is too thick.

* I dehydrated one 15oz can of pumpkin puree for this recipe. This covered one full paraflexx sheet for my Excaliber dehydrator. I spread it out as evenly as I could, about 1/4” thick. It took about 3 hours to dry on 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Once fully dry, it looked and felt similar to fruit leather, although it was cracked up into sections. Initially I thought I should puree this leather into a pumpkin powder for it to incorporate into the oatmeal. But as a test, I broke the leather up into small pieces instead. Once the oatmeal was cooked, I stirred really well and the pumpkin leather dissolved and incorporated into the oatmeal well. One can of pumpkin puree yielded about a cup of leather chunks. This will yield about four half-pint oatmeal servings.

 

Dehydrating pumpkin puree for pumpkin pie oatmeal.

 

Trail Mix Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup dehydrated cranberries & raisins (or freeze-dried)
• 1/2 Tablespoon of vanilla protein powder
• 1 teaspoon pepita pumpkin seeds
• 1 teaspoon sunflower seeds
• 2 teaspoons of chopped nuts: peanuts, almonds, pecans
• 1 teaspoon cocoa nibs or mini chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon coconut flakes
• Optional: Granulated sweetener, chia or flax seeds.
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup water, milk, or milk substitute. Optional liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup. Optional coconut oil instead of the coconut flakes.

 

Protein Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1-2 Tablespoons protein powder, unflavored or your choice of flavor
• 1-2 Tablespoon of chopped nuts listed from highest to lowest amount of protein: Peanuts, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, Pepita pumpkin seeds, walnuts, or pecans
• 1 teaspoon chia or flax seed
• Optional: Powdered peanut butter or powdered almond butter (if you use an unflavored protein powder)
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup milk or almond milk substitute (avoid water if you want more protein). Optional liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup. Add a spoon of greek yogurt for an extra boost of protein.

 

Spicy Ginger Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup rolled quick oats
• 1/4 cup golden raisins
• 1/2 Tablespoon crystallized ginger
• 1 teaspoon pepita pumpkin seeds
• 1 teaspoon vanilla protein powder
• 1 teaspoon maple or brown sugar
• 1/16 teaspoon ground cardamon
• Optional: Nuts, chia or flax seeds
• To serve: Add 2/3 cup water, milk, or milk substitute. Optional liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup.

 

 

Download the Instant Oatmeal Recipe Sheets

Shop our Custom Kraft Apothecary Bakery & Kitchen Labels to dress up your homemade kitchen goodies. Customize the text for instant oatmeal jars, cookies, or gifts. 

 

Download the Instant Oatmeal Recipe Sheets

Want more Food Dehydration Ideas? Read our blog post on how to Grow and Create Your Own Italian Seasoning Blend by dehydrating your own herbs.

 

Want another easy breakfast recipe? Try our Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Granola Recipe.

 

Shop for Custom Kitchen & Baked Goods Labels

 

 

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