Name: Make Ahead Oatmeal Cups
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 3 h 40 min
Yield: 12 cups
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 8 cups water; 2 cups steel cut oats; butter for greasing; Blueberries, Almonds, Coconut flakes; Cinnamon, Honey, Apple, Walnut; Brown sugar, Pumpkin Pie Spice, diced jarred pears, raisins

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Make ahead oatmeal cups are a great way to manage the chaos of back to school. Prepare these on Sunday for a quick and easy breakfast everyday of the week! It’s so easy to customize each one to the tastes of your family, and it’s a real time-saver in the mornings!

Looking for back to school lunches? Check out my quick and easy lunches made with simple leftovers that are probably sitting in your fridge!

Watch How to Make Frozen Oatmeal Cups Below!

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If you are looking for a more leisurely breakfast or brunch over the weekend, try my Flakey Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze or my Pumpkin Spice Waffles

How-To Make My Make Ahead Oatmeal Cups

Step 1: Make the Oatmeal

For make-ahead oatmeal cups, I find steel cut oats are the best way to go. I find they re-heat better the next day, than the old fashioned oats.

To prepare the oats, add 8 cups of water to a large dutch oven.

Then as soon as the water begins to boil, add the oats.

Simmer for 20-30 minutes until the oats begin to thicken and water starts to evaporate. I like to leave a little bit of water in the pot for added moisture since we are freezing them to reheat later. Otherwise, without the water you’ll find the oats will be a bit too dry when reheated.

When the oatmeal is done, lightly grease a jumbo-sized muffin tin with butter. This will help the oatmeal cups pop out easily once they are frozen.

I think the jumbo-sized muffin tin is a bit better for larger breakfast portions but for smaller toddler portions you could certainly use a standard-sized muffin tin.

Tip: For even portions, use an ice cream scoop. I add two scoops per muffin well.

Does Oatmeal Freeze well?

Yes, oatmeal freezes beautifully! Be sure to allow the oatmeal to cool before placing in the freezer. This cuts down on freezer burn and watery oatmeal when defrosted.

Step 2: Add Toppings

Now, add your preferred oatmeal toppings. You can use a mix of different variations and tailor each oatmeal cup to your family’s tastes so everyone is happy!

Topping ideas for Oatmeal Cups:

apples
walnuts
cinnamon
brown sugar
pumpkin pie spice
pear
raisins
blueberries
shredded coconut
sliced almonds

Step 3: Freeze and Store the Oatmeal Cups

To freeze, cover the muffin tin with foil and place in the freezer until solid.

Once the oatmeal is frozen, it’s best to remove them from the muffin tin and store them in a freezer-safe container for easy reheating.

To remove each “frozen oatmeal cup” from the tin, place the tin in a 9×13 casserole dish filled with warm water just for a few minutes.

This loosens the oatmeal cups from the tin for easy removing. You may need to use a thin knife to pop them out.

Then, transfer them into a freezer-safe container, lined with wax paper. You can even label the container so the kids can grab their own oatmeal creation!

Store your oatmeal cups in the freezer until you are ready to serve.

How Long Does Oatmeal Last in the Freezer?

For the best quality, freeze the oatmeal and eat within six months. It will still be safe to eat past that time-frame, but may not be as flavorful.

Step 4: Reheat Oatmeal and Serve

Reheating is a piece of cake, and if you have older kids, they can probably do this by all themselves.

Place one oatmeal cup into a bowl. Add a few tablespoons of water to loosen the oatmeal. You can use less water if you prefer a thicker oatmeal. Pop it in the microwave until hot and fluff with a fork.

To serve, simply bring the bowls to the table and set out a few extra toppings to finish off the oatmeal.

I like to serve butter, brown sugar, warm milk and honey so everyone can add what they like best. I hope you enjoy this recipe and it brings some sanity to your back to school mornings!

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