Keeping a stash of these camping oatmeal jars on hand means you've always got a quick and easy breakfast ready to go in minutes. Try the classic apple, cinnamon, and raisin combination, or mix it up with your favorite dried fruits and seeds.
Recipe at a Glance: Make Ahead Oatmeal
- DETAILS
- Total time: 5 minutes
- Preparation method: No cook; make ahead meal
- HIGHLIGHTS
- An easy breakfast or healthy snack that's ready in less than 5 minutes.
- A great option for a make ahead camping meal or for packing along on your hiking or backpacking adventure.
- Can be easily scaled to make as many portions as you need.
- Customize your camping oatmeal with your favorite mix-ins.
Most of our camping breakfasts are hearty meals, like breakfast burritos, quesadillas, or breakfast hash, which keep us full for hours. But on the days we're packing up, in a hurry, or if we're short on cooler space, these camping oatmeal jars are a dream. All you have to do is add boiling water, give it a stir, and you've got a warm breakfast.
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Ingredients and Substitutions
- Oats--Use quick cooking oats (you may see them labeled as quick oats) for your make ahead oatmeal. The boiling water will soften it without any added heat. Do not use steel cut oats as they require additional cooking.
- Dried fruit--This recipe uses apples and raisins, but feel free to get creative with your dried fruits. Try dried berries, apricots, or crumbled pear chips.
How to Make Camping Oatmeal
1. Combine the oats, sugar, cinnamon, apples, and raisins, and salt in a large bowl.
2. Divide among three jars. Seal and store in a cool dark place.
How to Customize Your Oatmeal Jar
Cinnamon, apple, and raisin are a classic combination, but there are so many other options that you can try. Feel free to mix and match your favorite dried fruits and seeds to create your own unique combination. Here are a few suggestions to try:
- Dried pear, allspice, and dried cherries
- Dried blueberries, shredded coconut, and cardamom
- Dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and cinnamon
Storage and Preparation
Your dried oatmeal jars can be stored in a cool, dark place for up to 3 months before adding water. When you're ready to enjoy them, simply add ¾ to 1 cup of boiling water, depending on how thick you like your oatmeal, give it a good stir, and let it sit for a couple of minutes to thicken up and cool slightly.
Tips and Troubleshooting
- After adding the water, stir the mixture well to ensure all the oats are exposed to the liquid. It will be runny at first, but will thicken after a couple of minutes.
- This oatmeal recipe is suitable for gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan diets.
More Make-Ahead Breakfast Recipes You'll Love
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Recipe
Make-Ahead Oatmeal for Camping
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups quick-cooking oats
- ½ cup dried apple slices crumbled
- ⅓ cup raisins
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon table salt
Instructions
- Combine the oats, apples, raisins, sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl and mix well.
- Divide the oatmeal evenly among three jars (or resealable bags) and seal with a lid.
- Store in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Preparing the oatmeal--Add ¾ to 1 cup of boiling water to your jar of oatmeal. Stir well and let sit for a couple of minutes before eating. It will be runny at first, but will thicken as it sits.
- Dietary--This oatmeal recipe is suitable for gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan diets.
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