Raw apples and raisins are a pretty typical fruit topping for oatmeal. Make your oatmeal interesting by cooking it with diced fresh seasonal fruits like apple or pear and non-seasonal dried fruit like blueberries, apricots, or prunes. Frozen fruits like dark cherries or peaches are another delicious thing to toss in while the oatmeal is cooking. Cook fruit into your oatmeal and add a splash of vanilla extract and you'll get results that are reminiscent of pie. Mmm!
Dried unsweetened shredded coconut or coconut flakes make a fun tropical oatmeal topping.
Have a high protein breakfast by adding protein powder, seeds, nuts or nut butters to your oatmeal. I like adding walnuts and flax seeds to get Omega 3s. Recently, I discovered I love a spoonful of maple cashew butter in my warm cereal. Nut butters are an excellent source of healthy fats.
Speaking of healthy fats, coconut oil is not only a good dairy-free substitute for butter; it also beautifully accentuates sweet flavors present in a dish like any fruit that's in your oatmeal.
I like my oatmeal a little on the creamy, slightly thinner side so I add a splash of almond milk or coconut milk to it. Friend of the blog Melissa B. stirs in soy yogurt, which sounds dreamy.
The things you can add to oatmeal are unlimited. I hope I inspired you to be more adventurous and creative with this classic breakfast staple.
Did I miss anything? What's your favorite oatmeal topping or mix-in?