Peanut Butter Cup Steel Cut Oatmeal (in the Instant Pot)
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High fives for a super healthy steel cut oats recipe that makes both kids and parents happy. Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal is a fun twist on steel cut oatmeal and even works well to prep ahead for the freezer.
This easy breakfast feels like a tasty treat, and your body will thank you for this nutritional powerhouse meal. Filled with fiber, iron, and protein, it’ll stick with you all morning long.
Ingredients Needed
Here’s what you’ll need to whip up this recipe:
- Butter – This is for toasting the oats. You can omit this step if you want. If you want to avoid dairy, use coconut oil or avocado oil instead.
- Steel cut oats – Look for gluten-free variety, if needed. Don’t use rolled oats in the Instant Pot. They won’t hold up well in a pressurized environment.
- Liquid – We’ve tested this with water, whole milk, or almond milk, and they all work well. Milk produces a little creamier outcome.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – Or try raw cacao powder for even more health benefits.
- Pure maple syrup – You can substitute brown sugar, if you don’t have any.
- Ground cinnamon
- Pure vanilla extract
- All-natural peanut butter, plus more for serving
- Mini chocolate chips and/or sliced bananas, for topping
Step-by-Step Tutorial
Toast the Steel Cut Oats (Optional)
Toasting the steel cut oats at the get-go isn’t a necessity, but it gives them a nutty flavor that sets them apart from other types of oats. I really like it this way!
If you’d like to toast the oats, set the Instant Pot to “Sauté” and add butter to the pot. When the butter has melted, add the oats and cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes, until fragrant. I LOVE this smell. Press “Cancel” once they are done.
Pressure Cook the Oats
Add the water or milk, cocoa powder, maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla to the pot and stir until well combined. Lock and seal the Instant Pot lid.
Cook the oats at high pressure for 12 minutes. It’s important to allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. After this, you can quickly release the remaining pressure.
When you open the pot, you’ll notice there is excess liquid. Give it a stir to incorporate.
Stir in Peanut Butter & Serve
Add the peanut butter and stir to combine. You can stir in additional milk to reach the desired consistency.
The key to making this breakfast dish a win is how you serve it. Add a dollop of peanut butter and sprinkle some mini chocolate chips and sliced bananas over the top.
How to Freeze Steel Cut Oats
Freeze for Later: Fully cook the oatmeal as directed. Let the oatmeal cool, then divide it evenly among two 6-cup jumbo muffin tins that have been greased (or 12 jumbo silicone muffin liners) to create single-serving portions. Freeze until frozen solid, then pop out the oatmeal portions and transfer them to a gallon-size freezer bag or container. Seal and freeze.
Prepare from Frozen: Place a serving of frozen oatmeal in a microwave-safe bowl. Add about 1/3 cup milk and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until warmed through. Follow step 4.
Recipe FAQs
I am happy to report that it works beautifully to double! No need to change any of the cook times either. It does take a bit longer to come to pressure but other than that, you can double all of the ingredients, follow the cooking instructions, and have twice as many steel-cut oats!
Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add a pinch of salt, and stir in 1 cup of steel cut oats. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pot with a lid, and let the oats cook for about 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once the oats reach your desired tenderness, remove the pot from the heat, let it sit for a few minutes, and then serve with your favorite toppings.
Grease the inside of the crock pot with butter or oil. Add 4 cups oats and 1 cup water with a pinch of salt. Place lid on top and slow cook on Low for 6-8 hours or High for 2-3 hours, until softened. Serve with your favorite toppings.
The common ratio is 1 cup of steel-cut oats to 3 cups of water. Adjust according to your preferred thickness.
Yes, you can substitute part or all of the water with milk for a creamier texture and added flavor.
You can use a natural release for a few minutes before doing a quick release to avoid foaming.
Want More Make Ahead Breakfast Ideas?
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Peanut Butter Cup Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter (optional, for toasting the oats)
- 1 1/2 cups steel cut oats (look for gluten-free variety, if needed)
- 4 1/2 cups water, whole milk, or dairy-free milk (i.e. almond milk)
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder or raw cacao powder
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup (sub: brown sugar)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons all-natural peanut butter (plus more for serving)
- Optional for serving: Mini chocolate chips and/or sliced bananas
Instructions
- Optional: If you’d like to toast the oats, set the 6-quart Instant Pot to “Sauté.” Place the butter in the pot. When the butter has melted, add the oats and cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes, until fragrant. Press “Cancel.”
- Add the water or milk, cocoa powder, maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla to the pot and stir until well combined.
- Lock and seal the lid. Cook at high pressure for 12 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then quick release the remaining pressure. When you open the pot, you’ll notice there is excess liquid. Give it a stir to incorporate. Add the peanut butter and stir to combine.
- Stir in additional milk to reach the desired consistency. Serve topped with an additional scoop of peanut butter and some mini chocolate chips and/or sliced bananas.
Freezer Instructions
Notes/Tips
Nutrition
I used three Premier chocolate peanut butter protein shakes and a half a cup of water and a half a cup of milk to make this and no extra sugar/syrup. It was amazing. So glad I can do it in the instant pot! 6sw
Oooh, that does sound amazing! Thank you for leaving a review with your substitutions.
My kids loved this!