Crunchy Caramelized Banana Nut Oatmeal

I'm always looking for ways to spice up my morning oatmeal dishes and adding caramelized bananas is an absolute game changer! If you haven't tried them yet these soft and sweet banana slices feel like sweet marshmallows in your mouth and I add them to my toast, or oats whenever possible... they are SO. DANG. GOOD. 

Mixing in chia seeds will provide your breakfast with added protein and fiber helping you feel fuller for longer and aiding in digestion. Adding extra walnuts and pumpkin seeds on top is a great way to get in some healthy fats and antioxidants, making it a complete breakfast.  

Give it a try and leave a comment below to let me know how it turned out!

OATMEAL INGREDIENTS: 

1/4 cup rolled oats (most oatmeal should be naturally gluten free but it’s important to check the label because not all are)

~1 cup water 

1 Tbs. chia seeds

~1/2 cup canned coconut milk

Few sprinkles of pink Himalayan salt

FOR THE CARAMELIZED BANANAS:

1 ripe banana cut into thick slices

1-2 Tbs. coconut oil

1/2 Tbs. coconut sugar

Generous sprinkle of cinnamon

OPTIONAL TOPPINGS: 

Walnuts/pecans

Pumpkin seeds/sunflower seeds

Dried cranberries

Dried coconut chips

Drizzle of maple syrup

Almond milk 

HOW TO:

Cook oats on the stove top according to package instructions (usually 1/4 cup oats with 1 cup boiling water)

Stir in chia seeds and pink salt and stir until it reaches desired thickness. I like mine pretty thick and gooey at this stage.

Meanwhile in a pan heat coconut oil & add slices of banana along with coconut sugar and as much cinnamon as you like. Let simmer for about 1 min, then flip the slices or stir them around to caramelize them completely. 

Add coconut milk to the pan with the oatmeal (you can use less or more than specified above) until your desired texture is reached. Here I like to make my oats nice and creamy but still a tad bit liquidy.

Serve the oatmeal in a bowl and top with the warm, caramelized banana slices. Add any nuts and seeds, coconut flakes, a drizzle of maple syrup and an extra splash of almond milk.