I love porridge. Quick, hot and filling, it’s perfect for winter mornings, especially those spent trekking through the snow. We have dessert porridge recipes that we keep in heavy rotation each winter, stepping our winter breakfasts up a notch.
Because let’s be honest, porridge (or oatmeal if you’re speaking American) can be a little beige on it’s own – lacking interest and at times tasting of wallpaper paste. You can add brown sugar, berry coulis or honey in order to mix it up, but during winter I often take it one step further. Enter stage left dessert porridge.
Each of these porridge recipes starts with a simple base;
- Add 1 cup of water to a pot and bring it up to the boil.
- Add 1/2 cup of porridge oats, any dry ingredients & fruit.
- Turn the heat down to a simmer, stirring regularly.
- Let simmer for a couple of minutes then stir through another 1/2 cup of water.
- Simmer, stirring regularly for another 3-4 minutes.
- Remove from the heat, add any toppings/sweeteners, let cool 1-2 minutes.
I d0n’t usually feel the need for additional milk, except maybe to cool it down. You can make several servings and refrigerate until needed – but I’d only probably keep them in the fridge for a couple of days though. I can’t really see why these couldn’t be made in the microwave as well, I just find that the stove top method makes it uber-creamy.
Carrot Cake Porridge Oatmeal Recipe
1 cup finely grated (or grated normally then finely chopped) carrot
1 TBSP sultanas
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground ginger
2 crushed walnuts
Once off the heat stir through a splash of light agave or golden syrup, and 3 tsps dessicated coconut.
This actually tastes like carrot cake batter (except without the sugar and butter). Absolutely luscious.
Peach Pie Porridge Recipe
1 tsp cinnamon
1 diced peach (or nectarine or apple or pear)
2 crushed walnuts
Once off the heat, stir through a splash of agave or golden syrup, and top with 1 TBSP light cream cheese.
Tutti Frutti Porridge Recipe
4 frozen (1.5cm) cubes mango (about 1/6 of a fresh one)
1 chopped kiwifruit
1/2 small pear cut into small cubes
1/2 tsp ground ginger or a few crushed cubes of crystallised ginger
** This is in pole position for my favourite, the ginger and the citrus makes for a deliciously zingy breakfast, so refreshing. And how often can you say that about porridge?
Black Forest Porridge
1 tsp cocoa
1 TBSP dessicated coconut
Small handful frozen Cherries
And, for those days where you really feel like treating yourself;
Porridge topped with strawberries and cream…
Honestly, any one of these dessert porridge recipes are the loveliest way to start a cold, miserable morning. I’m currently working on a sticky toffee pudding rendition, a jam roly poly and potentially a lemon cheesecake. You just can’t beat a delicious breakfast.
What’s your favourite winter breakfast?
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