Disclosure: This Build Your Own Oatmeal Bar with Sweet and Savory Oatmeal Toppings is sponsored by Great Day Farms. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Because of sponsors like Great Day Farms I am able to continue to bring you all the content I feature here. See my full disclosure statement here. #EggceptionallyGreat
A build your own oatmeal bar with sweet and savory oatmeal toppings is perfect for a brunch buffet! Tutorial and recipe for Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats below!
See my tutorial for a Build Your Own Oatmeal Bar with Sweet and Savory Oatmeal Toppings, plus the recipe Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats, below or PIN IT for later!
Over the years I’ve shared a lot of cooking tips and tutorials, as well as some party planning inspiration and how to’s on this little blog of mine. After working for YEARS in professional and home kitchens, and learning a lot from all kinds of chefs and amazing home cooks; I feel like it is my responsibility to share all the knowledge I’ve learned with each of you.
I mean, I wouldn’t know how to make a roux and to die for Smoked Turkey and Sausage Gumbo without the mentoring of my grandmother; and this baking hack on how to make cake flour has saved me more times than I can count. But it is the time saving cooking hacks and tips, that have really helped me in the kitchen over the years when I’ve not only needed to get my only family fed in a pinch, but when I am working against the clock getting ready to host a party or event.
Like my secret to delicious two-minute guacamole is to mash fresh, ready to eat avocados with store bought pico de gallo. You get all the benefits and flavor of onion, cilantro, jalapenos and onion from the pico de gallo, but you didn’t have to do any chopping! Score!
And while I have a great tutorial here on Kitchen Concoctions on how to make perfect hard-boiled eggs, recently I’ve been using another time saving hack and have been purchasing Great Day Farms Hard-Boiled Eggs, available in two and six count packages in the deli section at Walmart. Not only have these been a game changer when I want a healthy snack on the go; I’ve used these eggs in a pinch to make a quick lunch, like egg salad sandwiches, or for effortless deviled eggs for parties and other gatherings.
Recently, I invited some of my friends and family over for a play date get together with friends and cousins and set up a build your own oatmeal bar to serve for brunch. Over the years I’ve enthusiastically expressed my love of build your own food bars and have shared many tips and different tutorials too. This oatmeal bar with sweet and savory oatmeal toppings was an easy and pretty effortless way for me to serve a brunch buffet for this recent home gathering.
The day before my get together, I cooked the sausage and bacon, which I reheated right before serving the day of. I also put all the toppings in little serving bowls, which I covered with plastic wrap and set up my serving table. Since I wanted to do sweet and savory oatmeal toppings, I picked up some Great Day Farms Hard-Boiled Eggs from Walmart and sliced them in half and arranged them on an egg serving platter.
Now, normally, cooking rolled oats only takes about five minutes on the stove top, but I wanted to minimize the amount of work I did the morning of my gathering, so I made overnight oats in my slow cooker. Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats is a fantastic make ahead breakfast, as you mix up everything in your slow cooker the night before and the oatmeal is ready in the morning. Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats is even more perfect for an oatmeal bar because the slow cooker will keep the oatmeal warm without needing any extra serving dishes or hot plates.
For my brunch buffet and oatmeal bar, I also included coffee, orange juice and some banana bread, just in case someone didn’t want oatmeal they could eat that with some of the fresh fruit, eggs, sausage, etc.; but all my friends and family LOVED the idea of the build your own oatmeal bar and I’m glad it was a hit!
Below are some of my suggestions both sweet and savory oatmeal toppings. Normally I tend to like my oatmeal sweet, but I’ve been experimenting and trying more savory oatmeal toppings. So, during our get together, I made a bacon and egg savory oatmeal (using the Great Day Farms Hard-Boiled Eggs) and added diced avocado, sliced cherry tomatoes and a sprinkling of everything bagel seasoning to finish it off. Some hot sauce or pepitas would have been great on this too.
Since I love oatmeal so much (I eat it about twice a week), I’m curious, how do you like your oatmeal, sweet or savory? If you want to make your own oatmeal bar for your next brunch buffet, or simply change up your morning breakfast, then try my savory Bacon and Egg Oatmeal!
Sweet Oatmeal Toppings:
- Sweetener – Honey, Maple Syrup, Brown Sugar, Fruit Jam
- Extracts – vanilla, almond
- Spices – Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Pumpkin Pie Spice, Apple Pie Spice
- Fresh fruit – strawberries, blueberries, bananas, raspberries, sauteed apples
- Dried fruit – cranberries, raisins, blueberries, apricots
- Nuts – Pecans, Walnuts, Peanuts
- Seeds – Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds
- Pumpkin puree
- Applesauce
- Yogurt
- Milk
- Mini chocolate chips
- Granola
- Coconut flakes
- Nut butters – peanut butter, almond butter, soy butter (for nut free)
Savory Oatmeal Toppings:
- Great Day Farms Peeled & Ready-to-Eat Hard Boiled Eggs
- Bacon
- Sausage
- Ham
- Spices- Everything Bagel Seasoning, Paprika, Red Chili Flakes, Salt, Black Pepper
- Hot sauce
- Tomatoes
- Avocados
- Roasted vegetables – broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus
- Caramelized onions
- Sauteed or steamed spinach
- Cheese – cheddar, feta, Monterrey jack
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Nuts – Pecans, Walnuts, Peanuts
- Seeds – Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds
- Cooking spray, as needed
- 2 cups steel cut oats
- ¼ cup ground flax seeds, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 cups milk (preferred type – 2% milk, almond milk, coconut milk, etc.)
- 5 cups water
- For serving: desired toppings, see list above
- Spray a 4 to 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
Place steel cut oats, ground flax seeds (if using) and salt in slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Pour milk and water over oats and stir.
- Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours (or overnight) or on high for 3-4 hours; stirring occasionally. Cook until oats are soft and tender, yet are still slightly chewy.
- Stir oats again right before serving and serve topped with desired sweet or savory oatmeal toppings.
*Do not substitute quick cooking, instant or rolled oats
Leftover oats can be stored in the refrigerator (once cooled completely). To reheat, spoon desired amount of oatmeal in a microwave safe bowl. Top with 2-3 tablespoons of additional milk or water. Microwave on high for 1.5-2 minutes or until heated through. Add additional milk and continue to cook, until desired consistency. Alternatively, oats can be reheated in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Stock up on Great Day Farms Hard-Boiled Eggs, for entertaining, snacking on the go or for easy lunches, in the deli section at your local Walmart. Great Day Farms Hard-Boiled Eggs are not only convenient, but they are affordable and right now you can earn $0.25 off of the 2-pack and earn $0.50 off of the 6-pack when you purchase at Walmart!
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