In case you didn’t already know, I am in love with everything pumpkin and autumn. Slow Cooker Pumpkin Steel Cut Oats is a breakfast with a healthy base of hearty oats flavored with pumpkin and spices. Add the topping for a sweeter oatmeal, or just stir in a little applesauce or date paste.
I am in love with pumpkin and winter squash. They are good for you and can be used in just about any sweet or savory dish. They also keep last through much of the winter when stored inside.
Or you can do my favorite thing and stock up on canned pumpkin puree right after Thanksgiving when it’s on sale.
Why Make Steel Cut Oats in Your Slow Cooker?
I love the connivence of adding my oats and nondairy milk to the slow cooker before I go to bed. The steel cut oats do cook soft with this method.
That means if you like chewy steel cut oats you’re better off making them in your Instant Pot or on the stove.
While You Have Your Slow Cooker Out Here Are More Crockpot Oat Breakfasts.
You can’t exist on Slow Cooker Pumpkin Steel Cut Oats alone.
You have to try my Vanilla Fig Oatmeal with Baklava Topping because it’s one of my most known recipes. Pear Rose Cardamom Cake Oatmeal is another great change of pace breakfasts.
This list wouldn’t be complete without Earl Grey Slow Cooker Steel-Cut Oats with Rosewater. Two of my favorite flavors that go great with oatmeal.
What Do Slow Cooker Pumpkin Steel Cut Oats Taste Like?
This oatmeal has a healthy steel-cut oat base mixed with pumpkin and spices. The sweetness comes from the topping, but you can always add some extra sweetener or a splash a vanilla nondairy milk to make it a little sweeter.
How Do You Keep Oatmeal from Sticking to the Slow Cooker?
The easiest way is to spray some oil in the crock before adding your ingredients. You can also line the crock with parchment paper, but make sure that there’s a solid barrier to contain the liquid.
I tear off a very large piece of parchment place it in the crock and then cut off the extra paper.
Can I Use Water in Place of the Nondairy Milk?
You sure can. Just use the same amount of water. I do find that the tiny bit of fat from the nondairy milk helps the oats still less in the slow cooker.
Can I Use Rolled Oats in Place of Steel-Cut Oats?
I do not recommend doing this because they will basically dissolve and create an unpleasant texture. You could cook them in a pot in pot method with water in the slow cooker and on top of a rack if it’s the only choice you have.
Can I Use Oat Groats in Place of Steel-Cut Oats?
You can but increase the water or nondairy milk to 2 cups. Cook the same amount of time.
What’s the Difference Between Rolled Oats, Steel-Cut Oats, and Oat Groats?
Rolled Oats are steamed then put through rollers. That makes them the most processed, but not in a bad way. Rolled oats are still good for you.
Steel Cut Oats are whole oats with the husk removed. Then they are literally cut with steel into 2 or 3 pieces.
Oat groats are are whole oats with the husk removed and nothing else. These are the least processed.
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Coffeecake Oatmeal
It's so nice to wake up to a house smelling like pumpkin coffeecake and filling your breakfast bowl full of yummy pumpkin oats.
This recipe uses a small 1 1/2 or 2 quart slow cooker. You must double or triple the recipe to use with a larger slow cooker.
Ingredients
Slow Cooker Ingredients
- 1/2 cup steel-cut oats
- 1 3/4 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Nondairy Milk (or plain plus 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract)
- 1/2 cup pumpkin purée
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
coffee cake topping
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar, or other sweetener if you don't use refined sugar
- 3 tablespoons pecans, chopped, or leave out to make nut-free
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
The night before:
Mix toppings in a small container and cover until the morning. Spray your crock with some oil to help with clean up later (optional).
Add all the ingredients except the toppings.
Cook on low overnight (7 to 9 hours).
In the morning:
Stir your oatmeal well. It may seem watery at the top but if stirred it should be a more uniform consistency.
Top with coffee cake topping.
Notes
soy-free and gluten-free **This recipe uses a smaller slow cooker 1½ to 2 quarts
Nutrition Information
Yield 3 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 189 Total Fat 9g Saturated Fat 1g Trans Fat 0g Unsaturated Fat 7g Cholesterol 0mg Sodium 6mg Carbohydrates 26g Net Carbohydrates 0g Fiber 3g Sugar 14g Sugar Alcohols 0g Protein 4g
Cara says
October 4, 2011 at 10:17 amYou had me at coffee cake topping. WIll you pour me a bowl? I want some NOW! 🙂
Kathy Hester says
October 4, 2011 at 10:27 amIf you only caught me a little while ago…it’s all gone now.
MeShell says
October 4, 2011 at 10:39 amOh I love that idea. That’ll be a perfect breakfast 🙂
Rachel (@ieatgrains) says
October 4, 2011 at 10:44 amWow, this sounds so good. ‘Tis the season for pumpkin everything.
jenojoon says
October 4, 2011 at 10:47 amI. Must. Make. This. Now!!!!! 🙂 So much yum!
Kathy Hester says
October 4, 2011 at 10:50 am: )
Vegiegail says
October 4, 2011 at 11:39 amYum!
Karena says
October 4, 2011 at 12:44 pmOh, that looks so delicious! Can’t wait to give this a try!
Lauren @ Healthy Food For Living says
October 4, 2011 at 5:15 pmKathy, this oatmeal sounds absolutely amazing! I can’t get enough pumpkin this time of year, and oatmeal is my staple cold-weather breakfast. Fantastic :).
Glenda says
October 7, 2011 at 12:31 pmI think this recipe is a must try! Sounds like a great breakfast or snacktime!
Kim of Mo'Betta says
October 7, 2011 at 6:44 pmI eat pumpkin spiced oatmeal almost every morning…but I’ve got to try this topping tomorrow! It sounds like a heavenly treat!
Amy Roach says
October 11, 2011 at 8:51 amThis is an amazing recipe. Put it on last night for breakfast this morning and my daughter and I enjoyed before we were out the door for school/work. Think this has encouraged me to try some other combinations. So quick and simple. Thank you!
Kathy Hester says
October 11, 2011 at 8:52 amYou are so welcome!
Debbie says
September 16, 2014 at 2:35 pmDo you use a mini crock for this or a reg 3 qt? Seems like it would fit in a mini/dip crock.
Kathy Hester says
September 16, 2014 at 2:47 pmI use a 1 1/2 or 2 quart slow cooker for my oatmeals. You might be able to do it in a 1 quart, but I would not use a little dipper because it will be too small.
Liz says
November 20, 2014 at 2:55 amI only have a regular sized crock pot. Can I double the recipe?
Samantha says
November 29, 2011 at 9:05 amI don’t usually think about breakfast until morning but this sounds amazing! It sounds like a Christmas morning meal.
michelle says
April 4, 2012 at 7:52 pmMy kids loved it! I have now made it 3 times and they still ask for it!
Kathy Hester says
April 5, 2012 at 8:59 amThat’s great to hear!
Cheryl says
September 18, 2012 at 9:28 amHi, would you have to use steel oats or could you use regular old oatmeal? Sounds yummy, LOVE pumpkin.
Kathy Hester says
September 18, 2012 at 9:38 amYou do need to use steel cut oats to use the recipe as is. You can try rolled oats, but they will cook much faster and will likely end up burnt in the am, so you’ll need much more liquid.
Lyn Austin says
September 20, 2012 at 9:55 pmI love steel-cut oatmeal! Do you know if this recipe works when it is doubled & cooked in a 5 quart slow cooker? It would serve more people.
Thank you!
Kathy Hester says
September 25, 2012 at 4:02 pmLyn,
That should work. You may even be able to triple it!
Mary Blakelock says
October 7, 2012 at 9:45 amYes it can be doubled as that is what I did for the same reason, my crock pot was bigger so I doubled. It was so good my doubled amount is gone between two of us. Yes all gone, it is so good.
Kathy Hester says
October 7, 2012 at 10:11 amMary,
I’m glad you liked it. Depending on the size of your larger slow cooker, you may have needed extra liquid when doubling it. So next time I’d add an extra cup of liquid if you are making it in the same slow cooker. You dont’ need to stir as it’s cooking, but if you are awake and in the kitchen you can stir. Just know it may increase your cooking time,
Don’t disappear though. Fill it up with soapy water and let it sit for at least 8 to 12 hours. The burned on part will peel out easily. You may have to scrub a bit to get it completely clean, but it will be so easy after you soak it.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Diane says
October 7, 2012 at 1:24 amJust one word to describe this….YUMMO!!!
Mary Blakelock says
October 7, 2012 at 9:43 amWow, this was the best oatmeal I have ever had. It is Thanksgiving here in Canada today and I thought great time to try this one.
My adult son and I both loved it, great flavour, texture and the topping is just as great. I was a little concerned about the calorie and sugar content as I am dieting, but decided to treat myself anyway because of the holiday. I did use my Splenda Brown sugar instead of the regular one. I doubled the recipe as it sounded great wish it was. It is all gone.
My only issue was it made a big mess on my slow cooker pot. Still trying to clean it up. I did spray it with PAM before hand but did not seem to be of much help. Any suggestions on saving such a mess on the slow cooker pot? I was also wondering if I should perhaps have stirred it half way through the cooking. Thanks for the great breakfast.
Kathy Hester says
October 7, 2012 at 10:13 amI replied above about this – sorry I replied to the wrong comment!
Diane the Enchanted says
February 16, 2013 at 9:44 pmI have a way to fix ths problem. Put water half way up an oven proof dish and place the dish in the slowcooker uncovered but cover the slowcooker. Pam the dish before putting the oatmeal. Works everytime!
Renee says
October 8, 2014 at 10:02 pmI don’t know if they have them in Canada, but there is a great product called Crock Pot Liners. Looks like a big baggie that fits in the crockpot. They are wonderful for messy dishes like this. Worth their weight in gold at clean-up time!
Don Massi says
October 30, 2012 at 6:04 pmThis looks delicious, but what kind of pumpkin do you use? Can you use canned pumpkin puree? Thanks, can’t wait to try this!
Kathy Hester says
October 30, 2012 at 6:18 pmYou can use canned pumpkin puree. There’s also a recipe on the blog to cook your own pumpkin puree and if you make that you can use it in this recipe too.
Stacey Campbell says
August 11, 2014 at 4:20 pmI’d like to use something besides pumpkin. Any ideas? Apples? How much would you suggest? Just not a big pumpkin eater but up for suggestions. Love crock pot oatmeal. Would love to incorporate just brown sugar and raisins if possible.
Kathy Hester says
August 11, 2014 at 4:37 pmI have dozens of oatmeal recipes on the blog: Try starting here: https://healthyslowcooking.com/?s=oatmeal+2+quart
janeese says
September 24, 2014 at 1:31 pmcan you use regular mike, no milk?t almond
Kathy Hester says
September 24, 2014 at 1:33 pmI don’t cook with milk at all so I can’t tell you what the results would be. You can use water and not use any milk.