Name: 5 Minute Cold Oatmeal with Berries
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup old fashioned oats; 1 cup berries (chopped); 1 1/2 cups milk (your favorite); 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup (optional)

Recipe

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Make this cold oatmeal recipe in 5 minutes without having to wait overnight! Perfect base to top with fruit and toppings.

When you want a bowl of cold oatmeal fast but forgot to prep them overnight, this simple recipe comes to the rescue!

In just a couple of minutes, you’ll be able to enjoy a hearty breakfast topped with your favorite toppings or berries.

cold oatmeal with berries in a white bowl

Fastest Cold Oatmeal Recipe

Did you know you don’t have to cook oatmeal to enjoy it? That’s right! Oats can be enjoyed just like cereal and milk: in a bowl and with a spoon!

In 3 minutes, you can enjoy all the benefits of oats without having to cook a thing!

The trick to enjoying oats cold is to be generous with the fruit. After a few minutes, the oats take on the texture of muesli, which is a traditional German way of eating oats cold that have been minimally soaked or simply with milk in a bowl.

If overnight oats recipes are what you’re looking for, check out Banana Overnight Oats, or Strawberry Overnight Oats.

What You Need

This cold oatmeal recipe is not only the fastest but also the easiest! And that means you can make this fabulous breakfast with simply oats (old fashioned or instant with both work), berries milk and a touch of honey or maple syrup if you prefer your bowl a little sweeter.

How to Make Cold Oatmeal – FAST!

Making this cold oatmeal is as fast as mixing everything together in a bowl! And unlike overnight oats, there’s no need to wait!

Make the base
Divide the oats among the bowls and add ½ a cup or more of diced berries.
Stir in the Milk
You’re almost there. Add the milk, stir, and wait 5 minutes for the oats to soften.
Enjoy!
Drizzle with honey or maple syrup, and enjoy!

The Texture of Cold Oatmeal

Cold oatmeal has a similar texture to muesli. They are thick and full of texture, and yet the quick soak has made them softer and doesn’t feel like you’re eating oatmeal flakes.

Is Cold Oatmeal Raw?

In theory, yes. There is no cooking involved when you make cold oatmeal. The oats soften when they are hydrated with the milk giving them a semi-cooked texture.

Can You Eat Oats Raw?

Yes! There is no need to cook oats in order to enjoy them for breakfast! Cooking and heating them up is a matter of preference. The oats soften when they are hydrated with the milk giving them a semi-cooked texture.

Best toppings for Cold Oatmeal

You can customize this cold oatmeal with your favorite toppings for more flavor and extra nutrition! These are some delicious and easy ideas:

Fresh fruit (sliced banana, chopped apples, cubed peaches, etc.)
Coconut flakes
Mini chocolate chips
Nuts
Sprinkles
Dried fruit
Cinnamon

5 Minute Cold Oatmeal with Berries

Servings: 2

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

Make this cold oatmeal recipe in 5 minutes without having to wait overnight! Perfect base to top with fruit and toppings.

5 from 9 votes

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Ingredients

1 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup berries, chopped
1 ½ cups milk, your favorite
2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup, optional

Instructions

Divide the oat among the bowls. Top each bowl with half of the fruit and half of the milk.
With a spoon, stir to combine the mixture, and let it sit for 5 minutes to soak up the liquid and soften. If you can wait ten, they'll soften up some more.
Drizzle with honey if you want, and enjoy.