Homemade Oatmeal in a Jar: A breakfast of champions.

Make the most important meal of someone’s day count with this recipe for Homemade Oatmeal in a Jar! Too often, breakfast is a blur - or not even a thought for some - as we get ready to start the day. Yet everyone knows that a good breakfast is important, and this recipe is one of the easiest, healthiest and tastiest ways to do it. With one batch, you can make a week’s worth of portable and delicious breakfasts in a flash. And not only is it handy to have around, its creamy, fruity, and nutty flavors will keep you full among the morning scramble. What I like the most about this homemade gift is that it will also start someone’s day feeling so happy about your thoughtful gesture. Whether it be a sweet gift for a new mom and dad (who can’t even tell what time of the day it is), to a busy friend who always puts everyone else first, this is a great way to say that you care about them as much as they do for others.

This recipe is for a raisin and coconut flavored dish, but if you like to experiment, try swapping the same ratio of these ingredients with other dried fruit, nuts, or seeds.

Homemade Oatmeal in a Jar

Yield: 6 servings

Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

1 1/2  tsp. cinnamon
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. dried skim milk powder
3 c. quick-cooking oats*
1 1/2 c. raisins
1/3 c. shredded dried coconut
6 wide-mouth mason jars with a 2-cup capacity

1) In each jar, layer the following amounts of ingredients in this order:
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. brown sugar
1 tbsp. dried skim milk powder
1/2 c. quick-cooking oats
1/4 c. raisins
1 tbsp. shredded dried coconut
2) Once the layers of ingredients are in place, close the lid and try to avoid shaking if you like the layered effect. For optimal freshness, store in a cool dry place for up to 6 months. When ready to enjoy an individual jar, remove the lid, stir in 1 c. water (or milk) and microwave on high for 2-3 minutes until soft. Alternatively, you can also add 1 c. boiling water, stir, then let sit for 1 minute until soft. Once cooked, eat it straight out of the jar, but be careful of the hot exterior!

* Chef’s Tip: Why choose quick-cooking oats? Quick-cooking oats are oats that have been pressed into thinner pieces so that they will cook faster. This is the ideal kind of ingredient to use for a recipe such as this, as the cooking time should be minimal when preparing it in a jar. However, it’s not the end of the world if you choose other common types of oats, such as old-fashioned or rolled oats. Just know that because they are thicker, they might need more time to cook (which may not be suitable for a jar), or if left under-cooked, will produce a more chewy, harder texture.

Gifting Idea:

Since this homemade food gift is intended to be eaten straight from the jar, a wide-mouth mason jar is best as it has a wide opening to allow easy access with a spoon (imagine how frustrating it would be to attempt to eat this through a tiny opening during one’s groggy, pre-coffee state of mind first thing in the morning!). To decorate, fashion the lid with a paper cover by cutting out a paper circle with a diameter of 6.5″/16 cm, write the cooking instructions on the underside of the paper, then secure with twine. For an added touch, recycle a comic strip for your paper cover, as that way, your gift recipient can read the funnies while eating their breakfast!

There’s no better way to start your day than with a great breakfast made with love