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This cinnamon roll oatmeal is a healthy breakfast that tastes like dessert! Packed with protein and fiber, it’s creamy, and topped with a dairy free cream cheese swirl! Vegan, Gluten Free, and Dairy Free.
We love starting our mornings with oats in some form. Our favorites include overnight oats, blueberry baked oatmeal, and this creamy cinnamon roll oatmeal.
I’ve grown up eating cinnamon and oatmeal together. My standard bowl of oatmeal would have the same three things- cinnamon, brown sugar, and a dollop of cream cheese.
Now that I am focused on making my oatmeal healthier and more filling, I’ve changed things up a little bit. The cinnamon is still there and the cream cheese has been replaced by dairy free cream cheese but now there is a secret addition- protein powder!
Adding a scoop of cinnamon roll protein powder takes this cinnamon oatmeal to another level. It adds thickness, extra creaminess, and a whopping 35 grams of protein.
Why make this cinnamon roll oatmeal?
This sticky cinnamon roll batter oatmeal doesn’t need words to describe it- The name says it all. It literally has the taste and texture of a sticky cinnamon bun, but without the sugar, butter, or flour.
While this oatmeal is naturally gluten free, dairy free, and vegan, it’s also completely sugar free.
How to make cinnamon oatmeal
The Ingredients
- Rolled Oats– I prefer rolled oats over quick cooking oats, because they have a thicker and chewier texture. Feel free to use quick oats if you prefer smoother oatmeal. Be sure to use gluten free oats, to keep this recipe gluten free.
- Salt– Brings out the flavor of all the other ingredients.
- Cinnamon– You can add much more than recommended, especially if you like a stronger cinnamon flavor.
- Milk of choice– Any unsweetened milk of choice can be used. I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk.
- Granulated sweetener of choice– Gives the oatmeal extra sweetness, without adding sugar. Monk fruit sweetener and erythritol are my preferred sugar free sweeteners.
- Protein Powder– Optional, but highly recommended. Use a vanilla or cinnamon flavored protein powder.
- Cream Cheese– To stir through the oatmeal to give it a true cinnamon bun flavor. I used dairy free cream cheese, but use standard if you don’t follow a dairy free recipe.
The Instructions
Start by preparing your oatmeal in either the microwave or saucepan. Combine your oats with salt, cinnamon, and the milk of choice. Microwave or heat on stovetop until the liquid has been mostly absorbed by the milk. Next, add the granulated sweetener of choice, before whisking in the protein powder, until fully incorporated. Finally, stir through the cream cheese and top with extra cinnamon, if desired.
Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats
If you prefer your oatmeal overnight oats style, you can definitely prepare it that way. This is great if you’d like to prep your breakfast in advance.
You will only need to use half the amount of milk required. Combine all your ingredients into a cereal bowl or shallow container. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight. When ready to eat, mix together all the ingredients together and add extra milk, if desired.
Slow cooker tips
Easily prepare a big batch of making crockpot or slow cooker oatmeal.
For 4 servings– 3 cups water, 3 cups milk of choice, 2 cups rolled oats, 1/2 cup granulated sweetener of choice, 2 tablespoons cinnamon.
Place the water, milk, and oats in a slow cooker and cover. Cook on low for 8 hours. Turn off heat and stir through the granulated sweetener and cinnamon.
Storing and Freezing Oatmeal
- To store: If you prep multiple batches of cinnamon oatmeal keep stored in the refrigerator at all times. Oatmeal will keep well for up to 5 days. Simply reheat in the microwave or stovetop when ready to eat.
- To freeze: Cream cheese oatmeal is freezer friendly and can be stored in the freezer. Be sure to use freezer friendly containers.
- To thaw: Thaw oatmeal overnight in the refrigerator or the day of at room temperature.
More healthy breakfast recipes
- Keto Breakfast Muffins
- Sweet Potato Oatmeal Muffins
- Strawberry Oatmeal Cookies
- Keto Bagels
- Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal
Ingredients
For the oatmeal
- 1/2 cup rolled oats gluten free, if needed
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon granulated sweetener of choice * See notes
- 1/2 tablespoon Cinnamon
- 1 cup milk of choice I used unsweetened almond milk
- 1-2 tablespoon cream cheese dairy free, if needed
Instructions
- In a saucepan or microwave safe bowl, combine the rolled oats, salt, cinnamon, sweetener of choice and milk of choice and simmer on medium until most of the liquid is absorbed. If adding protein powder, add it here now.
- Remove from heat and pour into a bowl. Stir through the cream cheese and top with extra cinnamon
Notes
Nutrition
I make a similar pumpkin cinnamon oatmeal and posted it on my blog! I gave you recipe credit because it is so similar to your recipe – hope that’s alright 🙂
Hi Deanna,
I actually received a fair few emails over the last day or two saying several of my recipes had been copied, that being one of them. As blogging is my full time job, I work hard to create unique, original recipes so it’s disheartening to get those kinds of emails. I appreciate you crediting the source.
I can’t wait to make this! I do not have any protein powder though. What can I substitute for that? Thanks!
I ate cookie dough like there was no tomorrow when I was in middle school! Took a toll on my health, so I make sure my cookie dough is healthified! I’m going to make your pumpkin cookie dough soon though so I can enjoy it again–except add a lot of cinnamon and protein glaze if I want to make it cinnamon roll flavored!
I have that coming up 😀 You’ll love it!
So I am assuming the egg white cooks itself from the heat of the oatmeal as you stir it in? I am so going to be eating this soon!
Hi Jori! They sure do- You mix them in while it’s cooking- Make sure you stir constantly to avoid them clumping 🙂
Is there a way to sub out the protein powder?
I like everything else but can’t have protein powders.
Hi Amy! You sure can- Just decrease the dairy free milk by 1/4 cup (or don’t add the excess dairy free liquid)- You may want to add a dash of vanilla extract too 🙂
Can I omit the protein powder? Do I need to change up any ingredients if I do?
Hi Paulson! You can certainly omit the protein powder- You may need to add more granulated sweetener to taste 🙂
When it comes to food, I ignore the voice of reason! 😉 Lovin’ this oatmeal awesomeness THIIIIS much!
Haha TOUCHE!
I would eat oatmeal every day if I could have this! Grocery stores are so different everywhere. When my daughter and I were in Sweden, they had rows and rows of candy…I’d never seen anything like it! We were traveling with a youth soccer team and all the girls were quite thrilled…we were in there for hours (what seemed like hours anyway) while they mulled over what to get.
Oh wow! That would have been a kid’s dream… Okay fine my dream too (I went crazy in Dylan’s Candy store)
This is some sexy oatmeal.
Raw Cinnabon dough sounds like a college dorm resident’s dream. (*cough* MY dream). So thank you for enlightening us with this recipe. Although, if I tried to give this version of Cinnabon to my mom, she might not talk to me for a day or two. She doesn’t take replacements for her Cinnabon.
LOL. Can you seriously please stock some in your dorm room?
Your mum is even more of my idol now.
This is totally my kind of breakfast. I love how oatmeal is pretty much a blank slate and you can get as creative with it as you want. This one is a must try!
Right? Cheers Gina!
Oh my gosh, Arman! I am literally laughing out loud reading this post! My kids are asking what’s so funny so I had to read the part about whipping your hair back and forth. LOVE your writing. And this oatmeal? Genius.
Hahaha thanks Mandy. I may have a soft spot for that stupid song.
It’s so creamy I could DIE — I want to swan dive right into it. Or belly flop with my mouth wide open. And I actually won’t touch raw cookie dough if it has eggs in it. But I’ll usually eat the eggless kind before I have a chance to make it into actual cookies. Oops.
Can you seriously swan dive into it? Please?
Oh man, we’ve totally gotten into the habit of making a big batch of oatmeal at the beginning of the week, and then reheating it for breakfast. I’m totally going to need to make this cinnamon roll version appear…and soon. I also love that you ate the cinnamon roll dough plain. (I can’t blame ya…well, not much!) And now you know why Americans are so weight-challenged. Haha!
Hahaha but but…It was so worth it. Also. CRESCENT rolls? I am in bloody awe.
Oh my gosh! This oatmeal looks incredibly delicious!!
Thanks so much, Joanne! 🙂