Recipe: Slow Cooker Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal

updated Jan 21, 2020
christmas
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Credit: Joe Lingeman

Thanks to a buttery cinnamon-sugar drizzle and cream cheese icing swirl, this slow cooker oatmeal tastes just like a cinnamon roll.

Serves8

Prep5 minutes

Cook7 hours to 8 hours

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(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

If there was ever a time to get excited about oatmeal for breakfast, it’s now. This version is special. Cooked low and slow overnight, this warming bowl is finished off with a buttery brown sugar-cinnamon drizzle and a cream cheese icing swirl. Together, these toppings make for indulgent bowls of oats blissfully reminiscent of all the best parts of a cinnamon roll. It’s impressive enough to serve to the whole family for a special Christmas morning breakfast, yet easy enough to pull off any time.

(Image credit: The Kitchn)

A Festive Low-Prep Breakfast for a Crowd

Focus your effort on the toppings, which we all know are the best parts of any cinnamon roll. The creamy oats are a breeze to pull together and require minimal prep. The slow cooker means that the oats cook during the night and make plenty for a crowd. Come morning, all that’s left to do is stir together the buttery cinnamon-sugar drizzle and mix up the cream cheese icing.

Slow Cooker Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal

Thanks to a buttery cinnamon-sugar drizzle and cream cheese icing swirl, this slow cooker oatmeal tastes just like a cinnamon roll.

Prep time 5 minutes

Cook time 7 hours to 8 hours

Serves 8

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

For the oatmeal:

  • Cooking spray, coconut oil, or olive oil

  • 2 cups

    steel cut oats

  • 1/4 cup

    packed light or dark brown sugar

  • 1 teaspoon

    ground cinnamon

  • 1/4 teaspoon

    salt

  • 8 cups

    water

For serving:

  • 1/2 cup

    packed light or dark brown sugar

  • 2 tablespoons

    ground cinnamon

  • 6 tablespoons

    unsalted butter, melted

  • 2 ounces

    cream cheese, at room temperature

  • 1/2 cup

    powdered sugar

  • 1 tablespoon

    whole milk

  • 1 teaspoon

    vanilla extract

  • 1 cup

    whole milk, for serving (optional)

Instructions

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Make the oatmeal:

  1. Generously coat the bottom and sides of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray, olive oil, or coconut oil. Add the oats, sugar, cinnamon, and salt, and stir to combine. Pour in the water.

  2. Cover and cook on the LOW setting until the oats are tender, 7 to 8 hours.

For serving:

  1. Stir together the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Pour in the melted butter and stir until the mixture is well combined and runny; set aside.

  2. Place the cream cheese in a medium bowl. Beat with an electric hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Reduce the speed to low, gradually add the powdered sugar, and beat until combined, about 1 minute. Add the milk and vanilla and mix on low speed until smooth and creamy, about 15 seconds.

  3. Give the oatmeal a good stir in the slow cooker, then spoon into bowls and pour in a splash of milk. Finish with a cinnamon-sugar drizzle and swirl of cream cheese icing.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in a covered container for up to 4 days.