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A thick, hearty oatmeal recipe filled with raisins, cinnamon and nuts. We lovingly call this comfort food Lumberjack Oatmeal!

a bowl of hearty oatmeal with nuts and raisins

Lumberjack Oatmeal. A thick, hearty oatmeal recipe. You don’t have to cut trees in order to enjoy this hearty breakfast!

This is a recipe that Matt grew up on so I spent one winter several years ago working to recreate the recipe based on the ingredients that his aunt told him were in it. I was completely depending on him for remembering this one correctly since I had never tasted lumberjack oatmeal.

He thinks we nailed the recipe. And now I have a new favorite hearty breakfast!

Is it okay to eat oatmeal every day?

If you don’t add a lot of sugar and watch your portion sizes, oatmeal is a great way to start the day since it is a whole grain. A healthy oatmeal recipe will fill you up, and provide fiber and important minerals such as magnesium, zinc and iron.

A special treat like this lumberjack oatmeal should only be eaten on occasion because of the added sugar. You should also try our oatmeal breakfast cookies!

Old Fashioned Oats vs Quick Oats

This recipe calls for old fashioned rolled oats. So how do these compare to quick oats? It’s a matter of processing. Quick-cooking oats are rolled oats that are processed and “chopped up” more so that they cook faster.

According to Quaker Oats, there are no major differences in the nutritional value of the different types of oats. Use whichever oats you need for your recipe, but I prefer rolled oats for a hearty oatmeal.

How do you make oatmeal more hearty?

It’s all about what you add to the oatmeal. Add spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg. And then add nuts and raisins.

Other additions for a hearty oatmeal would be dried fruits such as apricots or cranberries, chocolate chips, coconut, protein powder or even a dollop of Greek yogurt.

How to Make a Hearty Oatmeal

Stovetop oatmeal takes a bit more time than quick cook oats in the microwave, but if you like a hearty oatmeal they are worth it!

In a medium saucepan, bring water and salt to a rolling boil.
Stir in oats, reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from the heat and add the remaining ingredients: vanilla, sugars, butter, spices, nuts and raisins. Stir until well combined. Serve the hearty oatmeal recipe hot.

Toppings for Oatmeal

Other favorite toppings for a bowl of oatmeal would be:

bananas
maple syrup or a drizzle of honey
sliced almonds
peanut butter
fresh berries such as strawberries or blueberries
chia seeds or flaxseed
cream

Other Oatmeal Recipes

a bowl of hearty oatmeal with raisins and nuts

Hearty Oatmeal Recipe

4.75 from 8 votes

A thick, hearty oatmeal recipe filled with raisins, cinnamon and nuts. We lovingly call this comfort food Lumberjack Oatmeal!

Servings 6 servings

Prep Time 2

Cook Time 10

Total Time 12

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Ingredients

5 3/4 cups water
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups Quaker Old Fashioned Oats
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup salted butter
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons molasses
1/4 cup walnuts chopped
1/2 cup raisins

Instructions

Bring water and salt to a rolling boil in a large pot over medium heat. 5 ¾ cups water, ¾ teaspoon salt
Stir in oats, reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 3 cups Quaker Old Fashioned Oats
Remove from the heat and add the remaining ingredients. Stir until well combined. Serve hot. ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ cup packed brown sugar, ¼ cup salted butter, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, 2 tablespoons molasses, ¼ cup walnuts, ½ cup raisins

Video

Notes

For gluten free, use gluten-free oats.

The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 6 people, with one serving being ⅙ of the oatmeal. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**