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Bananas Foster Oatmeal turns a classic dessert into a healthy breakfast with steel cut oats and caramelized bananas in 20 minutes! It’s sweetened with a touch of maple syrup and flavored with a hint of vanilla and cinnamon.

Bananas Foster Oats 1

Ok, I confess. I made this recipe a long time ago. (Actually, I made it recently too, but that’s because I make it all the time. I took these pictures when I made this a really long time ago.)

At the time I felt like I had just posted a whole slew of oatmeal recipes, and lest you all see me for the oatmeal junkie I am, I was planning to withhold my Bananas Foster Oatmeal recipe for a few weeks in hopes that you wouldn’t catch on to my oatmeal addiction. (And yes, now I’ve gone and blown my cover.)

Anyway, a few weeks turned into a few months and I completely forgot about posting it. At least until I craved it again. If you enjoy bananas and oatmeal, I highly recommend this take on healthy Bananas Foster!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • It makes just one perfect serving! This healthy Bananas Foster is great if you’re in the mood for a sweet breakfast or if you want a healthier dessert.
  • Adjust it easily. This Bananas Foster Oatmeal is easy to scale up if you’re feeding more people.
  • Special diet friendly. This is gluten free (make sure to check the label of your oatmeal to make sure it’s certified gluten free if you have a gluten sensitivity or allergy), naturally sweetened, and easy to make vegan.

Easy Bananas Foster Oatmeal Recipe

The ingredients are explained in this section. For the full recipe (including ingredient amounts), please see the recipe card below.

Ingredients in Bananas Foster Oats

  • Steel cut oats – also called Irish oats, steel cut oats are a less-processed version of rolled oats; this recipe was developed using steel cut oats, which need more liquid to cook than other types of oats, and also take a little longer to cook
  • Banana – some of the banana goes into the oats to act as a natural sweetener, and we caramelize some of the banana to top the oatmeal with
  • Plain unsweetened milk – you can use any type of plain, unsweetened milk you like here; I usually use whole milk (cow’s milk), but you can keep this recipe vegan by using plant-based milk
  • Water – steel cut oats need a little more liquid to cook than regular oats, so we add a little water too
  • Salt – so the oatmeal isn’t bland
  • Cinnamon – cinnamon is a delicious pairing with banana; if you want, you can bump up the cinnamon to 1/4 teaspoon
  • Coconut oil – this is to caramelize the banana slices; or you can use clarified butter
  • Vanilla extract – for flavor and aroma
  • Water – we need a splash of water to cook the caramelized banana to help release all the delicious caramelized bits from the skillet
  • Chopped walnuts – nuts are an optional topping; you can omit them, or go with whatever your favorite type of nut is (I also love pecans here!)
  • Pure maple syrup – along with banana, maple is the natural sweetener we use for this oatmeal; you can omit it or use any sweetener you like (honey is also delicious in this recipe)

How to Make Bananas Foster Oatmeal

Step 1: Cook the Oats:

Combine the oats, 1/3 of the sliced banana, water, milk, salt, and cinnamon in a small saucepan. Cook on medium-low heat for about 12 to 15 minutes (whisking frequently), until it reaches your desired consistency.

Step 2: Caramelize the Banana:

Add the coconut oil to a small nonstick skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add the remaining banana slices and cook until they start to brown slightly (do not stir them). Flip the bananas, add the vanilla and 1 tablespoon water, and cook 30 seconds.

Step 3: Finishing Touches:

Top the oatmeal with the bananas, walnuts, and maple syrup.

Tips for Making Bananas Foster Oatmeal

  • Use steel-cut oats. This recipe was developed using steel cut oats. They need more liquid to cook an they take longer to make than other types of oats. If you want to use another type of oats (such as old-fashioned rolled oats or instant oats), you will have to adjust the amount of liquid and the cooking time.
  • The perfect banana. You know how when you’re making banana bread, the more brown the better? That’s not how it is for this recipe. If you try to caramelize a brown banana, it’ll just turn to mush. For this recipe, a yellow banana (with just one or two brown spots) works best.
  • Customize it to suit your tastes. You can use any type of sweetener you like. Swap out the nuts, or omit them if you prefer. Also, feel free to add more cinnamon if you want.

More Oatmeal Recipes to Make

Bananas Foster Oats 2

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Bananas Foster Oatmeal Recipe

Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Yields: 1 serving
Bananas Foster Oatmeal turns a classic dessert into a healthy breakfast with steel cut oats and caramelized bananas in 20 minutes! It’s sweetened with a touch of maple syrup and flavored with a hint of vanilla and cinnamon.

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Ingredients
 

Instructions
 

  • Combine the oats, 1/3 of the sliced banana, water, milk, salt, and cinnamon in a small saucepan. Cook on medium-low heat for about 12 to 15 minutes (whisking frequently), until it reaches your desired consistency.
  • Add the coconut oil to a small nonstick skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add the remaining banana slices and cook until they start to brown slightly (do not stir them). Flip the bananas, add the vanilla and 1 tablespoon water, and cook 30 seconds.
  • Top the oatmeal with the bananas, walnuts, and maple syrup.

Notes

  • Use steel-cut oats. This recipe was developed using steel cut oats. They need more liquid to cook an they take longer to make than other types of oats. If you want to use another type of oats (such as old-fashioned rolled oats or instant oats), you will have to adjust the amount of liquid and the cooking time.
  • The perfect banana. You know how when you’re making banana bread, the more brown the better? That’s not how it is for this recipe. If you try to caramelize a brown banana, it’ll just turn to mush. For this recipe, a yellow banana (with just one or two brown spots) works best.
  • To Keep This Vegan: Use plant-based milk, coconut oil to caramelize the banana, and maple syrup (or agave nectar) as the sweetener. 

Nutrition

Calories: 479kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 343mg | Potassium: 672mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 276IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 199mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximate.

Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Bananas Foster Oatmeal, Bananas Foster Oatmeal Recipe, Healthy Bananas Foster

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Faith, author of An Edible Mosaic.
About Faith

I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind this blog. I love finding the human connection through something we all do every day: eat! Food is a common ground that we can all relate to, and our tables tell a story. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had.

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23 Comments

  1. Noya - gluttonandstudent says:

    Holy yum! This looks so good. If I had the time and resources to do so, this would be high on the list of recipes I have to try.

  2. Ok, I’ll take some oatmeal now! I ate so much oatmeal when I was a kid that it really hasn’t had much appeal to me as an adult – but mom never made it like this!

  3. I love your oats obsession! I’m kind of obsessed too and never get tired of seeing new variations so please don’t spare us any of your creations! These look so good! I still need to make your almond joy oats. mmm

  4. Wow! This is one delicious way to start the day or have a sweet, healthy treat anytime. Cannot wait to try it…it sounds delicious:)

  5. i’m thinking that oats must be one of the most versatile breakfast foods ever–there are so many possibilities! this is one i haven’t seen before today and really like. all you’re missing is a dash of rum. :)

  6. YUM! Warmed fruit (especially caramelized bananas)are so yummy. Hope you’re having a great weekend

  7. Tanantha @ I Just Love My Apron says:

    are you back from the trip Faith? I’m sorry I’ve been MIA-ed here. I wanna go on a vacation so bad…

    Anyway, oatmeal junkie? that sounds cool, tho. It makes me think of you every time I think of oatmeal! This oatmeal bowl looks scrumptius with the caramelized banana. Thanks for the tip of cutting banana!

  8. Angie's Recipes says:

    This looks tasty and I would love some for the breakfast!

  9. This looks so creamy and delicious; I will send the recipe to my daughter, she has been on an oats kick lately and she loves bananas!

  10. A Canadian Foodie says:

    Only you could make this dish look SO good, Faith. YUM!!
    :)
    valerie
    (and thanks for the advice on the thicker banana cut)

  11. This is perfect for breakfast! I hope you are having a great time!

  12. Cara Craves... says:

    Mmmm!
    I love dessert inspired breakfasts.

  13. Now that’s one sexy bowl of oats. Who knew oats could be sexy? Needless to say, I’d down this proudly in record time, and then try to go after my kiddies’ bowls :-P

  14. Maria @ Scandifoodie says:

    Yum, this is my kind of food!

  15. This banana oats is delicious and wonderful way to start the day.

  16. Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook says:

    Looks amazing! Would go over big in my house!

  17. Steve @ HPD says:

    No rum? Oh yeah, it’s breakfast … well, it’s five o’clock somewhere! Cheers!

  18. Definitely sounds like a great topping for oats. It’s definitely healthier than traditional bananas foster :)

  19. Ohh yum! I have oatmeal every morning, but I don’t make it until I get to work because I leave myself so little time in the morning LOL. This looks like a great weekend project for me!

  20. Jenn L @ Peas and Crayons says:

    ive never had bananas in my oats! ooh great idea!!!

  21. I bet the flavor in that is amazing!

  22. Yummy-oh! That looks divilishly good. I just ate porrideg for lunch, but had no bananas with it…

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  23. That is one fine bowl of oats! I am going to have to make this recipe before the weather gets too warm for oats. Hey, a girl can be hopeful, right?? :) Hope your trip is going well!

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