Slow Cooker Steel-Cut Oats

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 cups 2% milk
• 1½ cups gluten-free steel-cut oats
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)
• ¼ teaspoon kosher or sea salt
• 3 cups chopped fresh or frozen fruit or ¾ cups chopped dried fruit
• ⅓ cup seeds or nuts of choice, tahini, or nut butter

Instructions

1. 1Coat the inside of a 4- to 7-quart slow cooker with the olive oil, brushing it evenly across the bottom and sides. Apply an additional layer of cooking spray to prevent sticking.
2. 2Add 4 1/2 cups of water, the milk, steel-cut oats, applesauce, vanilla extract, cinnamon, salt, and cardamom to the greased slow cooker. Stir the mixture thoroughly to combine all the ingredients.
3. 3Secure the lid and cook on the low setting for 7 to 8 hours, or on high for 4 hours. The oats are ready when they are tender but retain a slight chew.
4. 4Give the cooked oats a vigorous stir. Fold in your chosen chopped fruit, nuts, seeds, or nut butter right before serving.
5. 5Switch the slow cooker to the warm setting or turn it off completely as soon as the cooking time finishes to prevent the bottom layer from burning or forming a hard crust.
6. 6If using a large slow cooker, you can double the ingredient quantities to prepare a larger batch for the week.
7. 7Divide any leftover oatmeal into individual airtight containers and freeze them for up to 4 months.
8. 8Reheat the frozen oatmeal portions directly in the microwave for a fast morning meal.

Nutrition

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