Holiday Oatmeal – Barefeet in the Kitchen

Holiday Oatmeal is filled with fresh apples, dried fruits, nuts, creamy oats, and brown sugar to create a deliciously filling hot breakfast. Less than 15 minutes from start to finish and a piping hot, warm, and creamy breakfast can be on your table.

This breakfast is a great way to start a fun day of cooking and eating during the holidays or any other day of the year. Thanksgiving or Christmas, holiday morning or not, it’s a delicious way to start the day year-round.

This oatmeal requires minimal fuss and it will keep the family full until the main eating event of the day. Over the years, this has become a tradition for our Thanksgiving breakfast.

Oatmeal with Fruit

We’ve been making our oatmeal recipes with fruit for about as long as I can remember and we’ve been making this particular fruit-filled oatmeal for over 10 years now. Holiday Oatmeal is a huge favorite with both the adults and the kids in our home.

Every guest we’ve ever served this to has requested the recipe. With plenty of fresh apples, sliced bananas, dried fruits, and nuts, cooked into creamy oats with a bit of brown sugar, this is a memorable oatmeal for everyone.

You can make this (and most other oatmeal recipes) with milk or with water and the oatmeal turns out great both ways. When I make oatmeal with water, I top each bowl with a pat of butter when I’m serving it.

Whenever we have an abundance of fruit in the kitchen, it’s a sure bet that some of it will make its way into our oatmeal in the morning. Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal is solid proof of that and my boys love that one too.

My own favorite quick breakfast year-round is Blueberries and Cream, but classic Peach Oatmeal and Peach Baked Oatmeal trump that when peaches are in season.

Kitchen Tip: I use this saucepan to make this recipe.

Holiday Oatmeal

You’ll need the following ingredients for this recipe:

• old fashioned oats
• milk or water
• apples
• dried cranberries
• chopped pecans
• kosher salt
• sliced bananas
• light brown sugar

To make the oatmeal, combine the oats, milk, apples, cranberries, pecans, and salt in a medium-size saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer.

Cook, stirring frequently until the oatmeal has thickened. This should take about 10-12 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the bananas. Scoop into bowls and top with a tablespoon or so of brown sugar. 

Check out all of our Oatmeal Recipes! This time of year, Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal is another favorite, as are Slow Cooker Cranberry Almond Oatmeal, and

For more great ways to start the day, these Microwave Egg and Vegetable Sandwiches and these Rise and Shine Breakfast Burritos are both terrific on-the-go options.

Brunch Eggs are a great way to feed a crowd and make sure everyone has some protein on their plate too.

originally published 11/20/12 – recipe notes and photos updated 10/28/24