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Looking for a delicious and healthy breakfast option? This Caramelized Fig Toasted Oatmeal is packed with flavor and texture, featuring sweet honey-carameled figs, crunchy pistachios, and pecans. Perfect for a quick, creamy, and nutritious start to your day. I know I’ve dressed up oatmeal before with the Nutella Hot Chocolate Oatmeal, but figs were all around me.
Why You’ll Love This Fig Oatmeal
Transitioning from a basic cereal like Weetbix to this delightful oatmeal transforms chilly mornings into a cozy experience. Figs take center stage here, moving past the usual Nutella Brownie Oatmeal I’ve once adored.
Ingredients for Caramelized Fig Oatmeal
- Figs: Fresh figs are the star of this dish, offering natural sweetness and a unique, delicate flavor. They caramelize beautifully, enhancing their sweetness and adding a rich, jammy texture that pairs perfectly with the oats. Use any left over figs for a amazing holiday chesseboard perfect for all occasions!
- Butter or Coconut Oil: Used for caramelizing figs and toasting oats. Butter provides a rich, creamy flavor, while coconut oil offers a slightly nutty taste, making it suitable for those looking for a vegan or dairy-free option.
- Milk (Low-fat/Skim or Almond Milk): Used to cook the oats to a creamy consistency. Dairy milk provides protein and calcium, while almond milk offers a lighter, nutty flavor that is lower in calories and suitable for lactose-intolerant individuals.
Note: please see recipe card for full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to Make Caramelized Fig Toasted Oatmeal
So my favourite typical breakfast is anything french toast like my Banoffee French Toast, Piña Colada French Toast or even Red Velvet French Toast, however this recipe was a pleasant pivot, making a gloomy morning infinitely better.
- Caramelize the Figs: Begin by melting half of the butter or coconut oil in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Add honey and mix. Lay the fig halves cut-side down, allowing them to soften and caramelize for a rich, sweet flavor. Set aside a few caramelized figs for topping later.
- Toast the Oats: Add oats to the pan with the remaining butter/oil. Stir occasionally, toasting the oats until they emit a nutty aroma—about 5 minutes.
- Cook the Oatmeal: Pour in 1 cup of milk and the vanilla extract, stirring well. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer. Gradually add the remaining milk, stirring until the oats are creamy to your liking.
- Serve and Enjoy: Top your creamy oats with reserved fig slices and a drizzle of honey. Sprinkle with crushed pistachios and pecans for added crunch.
Tips for the Best Oatmeal
So, so creamy. Yep. I’ll take this over Weetbix again tomorrow.
- Experiment with substitutions: Swap figs with seasonal fruits like nectarines, peaches, pears, or apples.
- For a vegan version, use coconut oil and almond milk.
Recipe FAQ’s
Caramelized Fig Toasted Oatmeal is a nutritious breakfast option, rich in fiber and antioxidants from figs, healthy fats from pistachios and pecans, and essential nutrients from oats. It provides a balanced meal that helps maintain energy levels and supports digestive health. Try my BLT Breakfast Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing as another healthy breakfast alternative.
To caramelize figs for your oatmeal, slice fresh figs in half and sauté them in a mixture of honey and light butter or coconut oil until they soften and develop a golden, sweet glaze. This enhances their flavor and adds a delicious texture to your oatmeal.
Yes, you can substitute figs with other seasonal fruits like nectarines, peaches, pears, or apples. Each fruit adds its unique flavor and nutrition benefits to the oatmeal, allowing you to customize the dish according to your tastes and seasonal availability. I use apples in my Caramel Apple Pancakes and they turned out delicious.
This oatmeal recipe is healthy because it uses whole ingredients like rolled oats for fiber, fresh figs for natural sweetness and antioxidants, and nuts for protein and healthy fats. The use of honey as a sweetener and options for low-fat or almond milk make it suitable for various dietary preferences. I also make healthy oatmeal breakfast cookies from only 2 ingredients
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Caramelized Fig Toasted Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon light butter or coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 5 whole figs halved
- 1 cup rolled oats (or quick oats)
- 1½ cups low fat/skim or almond milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 drizzle extra honey
Instructions
- Melt ½ tablespoon of the butter/oil in a nonstick pan. When the butter is sizzling, mix in the honey and combine. Add the fig halves (open slice down), and allow to soften and caramelise. Remove four of the fig halves (or however many you need to garnish later) and reserve on a warm plate.
- Add the oats to the remaining fig halves in the pan, along with the remaining butter/oil. Allow the oats to toast on the pan, while occasionally stirring, for about 5 minutes or so (your kitchen will start filling with a nutty almost popcorn aroma). Pour in 1 cup of the milk and the vanilla extract. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer while stirring, pouring in the remaining milk slowly until reaching your desired consistency. Remove from heat once oats are soft and creamy. Add extra milk if you wish!
- To serve, top with the reserved fig slices and a drizzle of extra honey. Optional: top with crushed pecans and pistachios.
Notes
- Selecting Figs: Choose ripe figs that are slightly firm to the touch, with no blemishes. Ripe figs should yield slightly when gently pressed. If figs are too soft or mushy, they’re overripe and may not hold their shape when caramelizing.
- Caramelizing Technique: Ensure the pan is preheated before adding the butter and honey. This step helps achieve a beautiful caramelization. When placing the figs in the pan, make sure they are cut-side down for even cooking and maximum flavor.
- Toasting Oats: Keep an eye on the oats while toasting; they can go from perfectly toasted to burnt quickly. Stir frequently to develop a rich, nutty aroma without overcooking.
- Milk Temperature: When adding milk to the oats, warm it slightly first. This helps prevent the oatmeal from cooling down too much and ensures a nice, creamy texture.
- Adjusting Consistency: If the oatmeal becomes too thick, gradually stir in more milk until you reach your desired creaminess. For a thicker consistency, let it cook a bit longer on low heat.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
OMG!! This was so delicious. Nutty, earthy warm hug in the morning. Coming times decreased when making for just one person. So with the effort. 🙂
Yay! I’m happy that you liked it!
This looks so tasty! Do you think it would work with bananas? 🙂
Hey Rachel yes it should! They may need a little less cooking time, but they will still come out beautifully! X
Awesome, thank you. I may just have to try this for breakfast this morning! x
You’re very welcome Rachel! I hope you love it just as much Xxx