Looking for healthy recipes for breakfast? Elevate your regular hot cereal with this Cherry Oatmeal! A simple, satisfying and easy breakfast that’s a little bit indulgent and full of great flavors, topped with a spoonful of yogurt!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This Cherry Oatmeal recipe is a real treat, especially when you’re focused on healthy eating but want something a little bit special and extra delicious that doesn’t take a lot of time. I’m no dietitian, but it’s also a great source of fiber too!
Eating a hearty, healthy breakfast that looks as good as it tastes is important, right? Next time you go to the grocery store, grab some frozen sweet cherries and give this recipe a try.
- Cherry oatmeal is easy to make (no need to wait for cherry season)
- The recipe calls for sweet, frozen cherries, but if you can only find the sour variety, get those instead (and see tip below about sweetening them up)
- Make this recipe in advance if you’d like. Put the cooked oats and cherries in 16 ounce jars ….a great option for meal prep!
- These flavors are kind of cherry pie-like, except on your oatmeal
- I am a HUGE fan of anything that tastes like cherry pie for breakfast, and this recipe is a keeper! 🙂
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the full recipe, list of instructions and ingredients for Cherry Oatmeal, please scroll to the recipe card below.
- Oatmeal: Old-fashioned oats are best with their chewy texture, while somehow being perfectly fluffy too
- Almonds: Thin sliced almonds for crunch
- Cherries: Frozen sweet & tart cherries, defrosted, you can also use fresh cherries if you like
- Yogurt: Totally optional, but so, so good.
- Honey, Butter, Cinnamon, Lemon: Flavorings that make all the difference!
Step-by-Step Instructions
For the full list of instructions, please scroll to the recipe card below.
- Make the cherry compote by gently cooking the defrosted cherries in a small saucepan with the honey, cinnamon, lemon juice and butter. Let this cool in a large bowl while you make the oatmeal.
- Cook your oat mixture (four servings) by following the package directions on your box or bag
- Divide oatmeal into four bowls (or 16-ounce mason jars if you do meal plans ahead for the week)
- Top with the warm cherry compote
- Add a yogurt drizzle and sliced almonds for crunch
- Enjoy!
Tips For Making This Recipe
- Use whatever type of oatmeal you like, and prepare it according to the package directions. Old fashioned oats are preferred over quick cooking oats for this recipe.
- The cherry compote will last in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
- Try this recipe with other hot cereals, like eight grain or quinoa.
- If you want the cherry compote to be sweeter, add more honey while the mixture is still warm and stir gently to combine
- Use pure vanilla extract instead of almond extract, if you’d like
- Use almond milk yogurt if you want to make the recipe non-dairy
- Go over the top and drizzle some maple syrup on top of the oatmeal too!
- Meal prep this cherry oatmeal recipe into 4 serving containers for the week and you’ll spend less time in the kitchen!
- Add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a pinch of salt to your oats when they’re cooking for extra flavor.
- Add a splash of milk to the oatmeal instead of the yogurt
Serving Ideas
- Who says the cherry compote can’t be used on anything else? Try it on yogurt, vanilla ice cream, pancakes and waffles. Amazing.
- Add a drizzle of peanut butter to the oats if you’re looking for extra protien.
- How about serving a big bowl of the Cherry Oatmeal family style with other breakfast items? Bacon or sausage of course, plus a Zucchini Potato Fritatta or this smaller veggie-packed fritatta.
- You could put out a small fruit and cheese platter too, found in this recipe for Fresh Figs, Three Ways.
- There’s also this cold and delicious Pineapple Smoothie that would be great with a bowl of oatmeal, and if you don’t like pineapple, then how about a nice mug of this amazing and not too sweet Hot Chocolate without dairy?
Frequently Asked Questions
You can make both the day before, but heat and assemble them separately.
You can! Try blueberries, strawberries or raspberries for a tasty variation.
In a well-sealed container, preferably with a lid. Try using small glass mason jars, like Ball.
Try brown sugar instead!
Sure! Use a teaspoon of vanilla extract instead!
More Recipes:
Dark Cherry Smoothies: These are absolutely delicious!
Boozy Fresh Cherry Blackbottom Milkshakes: Wonderful! Booze optional!
Goat Cheese Toast with Cranberry Compote: So tasty, and so easy!
Baked Chicken with Cherry Tomatoes: So yummy and fresh!
Mini Caramel Apple Pies: Really delicious with store-bought shortcuts!
Carrots with Almonds: A pretty and tasty side dish
If you’ve made this Cherry Oatmeal or any recipe on Studio Delicious, leave a 5 star rating and tell me all about it in the comments below!
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Cherry Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon butter
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 10-12 ounce cherries Organic, frozen
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 4 cups oatmeal Cooked according to package directions
- 4 tablespoons Vanilla yogurt for serving
- 4 tablespoons Sliced almonds for serving
Instructions
- Make Oatmeal according to the package directions.
- For the cherries, melt the butter in a medium-sized saucepan, then add the honey, cinnamon, lemon juice and the bag of frozen cherries.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, and let it simmer for 6-10 minutes until it has a syrupy consistency and the frozen cherries have become soft and released their juices.
- Remove from heat and add the almond extract, stirring to combine. Cool the mixture for about 10 minutes, then divide the cherry compote on top of the hot prepared oatmeal or other grains.
- Top with a heaping spoonful of vanilla yogurt and a sprinkle of sliced almonds.
Notes
- Use whatever type of Oatmeal you like, and prepare it according to the package directions.
- This recipe is for 4 servings, but you can flex this amount up or down.
- The Cherry compote keeps well when covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
- Eight grain hot cereal is a really delicious option instead of oatmeal if you like.
- If you want a sweeter cherry compote, add more honey while the mixture is still warm.
- You can substitute pure vanilla extract for almond extract if you like.
- Add a pinch of salt to the cherry compote if desired, to round out the flavors
Nutrition
- Super important to read the whole recipe before you begin
- Pay attention to the ingredient list and photos for the recipe
- If possible, prep your ingredients a little before you start
- Always use a sharp knife for safety
- Use the size of pan called for in the recipe
- For savory recipes, taste and season as you go
- Buy fresh, organic ingredients, locally sourced whenever possible
Below is the original text from 2018, this recipe and instructions were updated January, 2022.
That’s what we are going to do here, folks – make a cherry compote. But what is it?
The dictonary confirms that a “compote” is in fact whole fruits that are cooked in water and sugar and seasonings and can be served warm or cold. You can compote many kinds of fruit, but I think berries are the easiest and also the most versatile.
Blueberry compote for your pancakes? Thank you, and YES. In this case, we use frozen cherries and all we need is a saucepan and a few simple flavorings.
Okay, so here’s the thing. You can make whatever you want in the oatmeal department. I don’t care if its old-fashioned, steel cut, whole oat groats, gluten-filled or my favorite gluten free, but whatever you do, don’t use INSTANT.
Instant oatmeal just doesn’t deserve the luscious cherry almond compote. The texture is different and I’ve never tried one that wasn’t a bit watery, and well, a little sad.
You can make most old-fashion oatmeal varieties within 10 minutes, and the steel cut a bit more, and it’s really worth the extra few minutes. Just cook enough for four-servings of your favorite variety, then we’re good to go.
In a world of strawberry and blueberry EVERYTHING, cherry is a flavor standout. To me, there is NOTHING, and I really mean this – better than a piece of homemade cherry pie.
With a scoop of vanilla bean almond milk ice cream, please. Cherry is hands down my favorite flavor, because it tastes so luxurious, so special.
Also, making this simple cherry compote to top your morning oatmeal is the closest you’ll get to cherry pie for breakfast on a Tuesday morning, so please – PLEASE – take the call. Who knows? It may even make the rest of the week go fast 🙂
The combination of these few, simple flavors really takes this idea of Cherry Almond Oatmeal over the top.
In fact, this stuff is so satisfying and tasty you’ll want to eat it on the reg, and why shouldn’t you? Oatmeal is a great way to start the day unless the other choice is a big, juicy chili cheese omelet. In which case, do as you please 🙂
This recipe overall is super easy and flexible..just cooked oatmeal, a simple fruit compote, a little vanilla yogurt and sliced almonds.
Yum! Cherry Almond Oatmeal is delicious! Looking forward to making this over and over!
Thank you 🙂
I like my oatmeal filled with add-ins, and this version looks delicious! I might have to double the cherry compote, I think it would be awesome over vanilla ice cream as well. 🙂
You’ve got a good idea there..:)
Oatmeal is my favorite breakfast food but I’ve never tried cherry almond oatmeal. This sounds delish!
Thank you 🙂 !
Oh yum! The perfect breakfast idea.
Yes! Thanks 🙂
The grown up kids loved this. We were all home this week and they raved!