Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets
Oatmeal is a standard breakfast for so many households, including my own. I wonder how many of you have instant oatmeal packets in your pantry right now! That was me for many years! That is, until – I realized you can make your own! After doing some google searches, I found some great tips for the ‘perfect’ homemade instant oatmeal packets, and I think ya’ll are going to L-O-V-E this as much as I do.
Before I give you the how-to, let me first give you the cost breakdown. From my calculations on prices at my local Walmart, the store-bought instant oatmeal packets break down to $0.35 each! These homemade versions cost just $.08 a pack! That’s a whole lot of savings when you multiply that according to how many you purchase throughtout the year (or even a lifetime!)
So, here’s what you need to get started.
Pretty basic, right?
First, start off with 10 cups of quick oats. Place 7 of those cups in a large bowl. Pour the remaining 3 cups into a blender or food processor & blend til smooth. That’s the secret to getting that same consistency in the store-bought counterparts!
Add the pureed oatmeal into the large bowl where the 7 cups of the un-pureed oatmeal is sitting, and give it a quick stir.
Now, stir in 2 cups of brown sugar & 1 cup of non-dairy coffee creamer. You could use powdered milk, but please note that it has a tendency to mold over time since it is a dairy product – so only use the powdered milk if you plan on consuming the batch within a month’s time!
That’s it – your instant oatmeal mix is DONE!
Now, all is left is deciding how you want to package it. You can use resealable plastic bags -OR- you can place it all in an airtight container. For the plastic bag method, place 1/2 cup of the instant oatmeal mix into each resealable bag.
For the container method, just pour the whole mix into a large airtight container. Then, whenever you want a serving of oatmeal, just scoop 1/2 cup in a bowl, add your water, & microwave..
No matter which way you package it or store it, obviously the preparation method is the same.
Microwave 1/2 cup of instant oatmeal mix with 3/4 cup of water for 1-2 minutes (depending on your microwave). Serve as is, or fix it up however you like it. I personally like a little pat of butter & a splash of maple syrup in mine.
I hope you enjoy these little instant oatmeal packets as much as my family does – and most of all, enjoy all that extra money you’ll be saving!
Watch me make these live on Fox8 news below!
Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets
Ingredients
- 10 cups of quick oats
- 2 cups of brown sugar
- 1 cup of non dairy coffee creamer OR powdered milk note: if using powdered milk, please consume the mix within one month since it is a dairy product, it has a tendency to mold
Instructions
- Place 7 cups of quick oats into a large bowl. Puree the remaining 3 cups in a blender or food processor. Stir the pureed oatmeal into non-pureed quick oats. Stir in the brown sugar & non dairy coffee creamer or powdered milk. Package in resealable plastic bags with 1/2 cup of instant oatmeal mix in each one -OR- store the entire mix in an airtight container, scooping out 1/2 cup of mix each time you would like to make a bowl of oatmeal.
- To prepare oatmeal: Mix 1/2 cup of oatmeal mix with 3/4 cup of water. Microwave for 1-2 minutes, depending on your microwave.
If I use a flavored non-dairy creamer, due I omit the brown sugar or leave it!
Just leave it, unless you don’t care for brown sugar in your oatmeal that is! 🙂
great thanks ever so much I will defintely be doing this because i do buy the store bought ones but this is so much easier and less expensive .. great saving for something else … ty
wonder how u would do apple cinnamon , my kids love this stuff/and could we cut the recipe in half,? ty
You can definitely cut the oatmeal in half. With apple cinnamon, I’d add a few tablespoons of cinnamon & some dehydrated apples to the mix. OR – just add some cinnamon & diced cooked apples to the oatmeal after it has cooked.
Why coffee creamer… why not powdered milk???
Powdered milk is a dairy product, and it will mold over time. However, if you are planning on using the entire batch within a short period of time – it wouldn’t be an issue.
I’ve done this before on my own, but I never thought of using the creamer! That’s a good idea 🙂 My kids mix in dried fruit, like these dehydrated cinnamon apple chips that we get from our local market, dried cranberries, dried cherries, and raisins. My daughter is a big sweet stuff fan, so she adds chocolate chips and mini marshmallows to her bags as well 🙂
Wonderful tutorial and Thank You for the recipe! My husband LOVES the packaged kind and can go thru a box in just a few days. He works hard and I try to get things as healthy as I can but now making this myself I will have more $ to shop better at the grocery store and still feed him right without all the preservatives 🙂
Just a suggestion for others…we have one of those jar sealers(does plastic bags too) and I will make this and seal it into jars so I won’t have to make it as often. Then we just fetch another jar when needed from the pantry. It will stay fresh and because the oxygen is removed with the sealer it will keep longer.
THIS. IS. PERFECT!
At 3 1/2 months pregnant, these pesky cravings are getting to me!
Oatmeal is one of the big ones, but I don’t like the after taste of store bought. (Weird? Probably..) I’ve tried making it at home but the consistency was always off.
You’ve fixed that issue! Yay!
I know what I’m getting at the store later. 🙂
I think I’ll have to add some cinnamon and raisins though. 😉
Thank you for sharing!
I’m so glad you’ve had success with the recipe, thanks for coming back & sharing!
Thanks for this. Most recipes I found were for single servings. I just didn’t feel like doing the math in order to make a big batch.
You’re quite welcome!
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I trying to cut back on sugar, processed foods
I used a powdered coconut coffee creamer I found at grocery store. I just found Truvia brown sugar, so my next batch I will use it. Now to figure out the calories and all in it. This is really good on COLD days here in South/mid GA. Will have to try add I,g dried apples and cinnamon sometime
Thanks