Breakfast

November 7, 2019 Appetizer

Glazed Pecans

These Glazed Pecans taste simply amazing, and they are so easy to make! These pecans are covered in delicious flavors such as cinnamon, maple syrup, and brown sugar. This sweet, but healthy recipe is perfect as an appetizer for the holidays or your next party!

Why are these Glazed Pecans so good?

Stress free cooking and ready in less than 10 minutes!
So flavorful all thanks to the amazing profiles of cinnamon, butter, and brown sugar.
These pecans are gluten free!

close up of glazed pecans in white bowl.

Are pecans healthy?

Pecans are super healthy and filled with amazing nutrients. We love pecans because they

Improve digestion.
Boost immunity.
Contain anti-inflammatory properties.
Are filled with monounsaturated fats to help lower the risk of heart disease.
Contain high amounts of plant protein!

How to Make Glazed Pecans – Step by Step

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 17 degrees Celsius.
Line cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper. In medium skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add brown sugar and syrup; mix well. Cook until bubbly, stirring constantly.
Add pecans and cook for about 3 minutes while stirring constantly, until coated. Spread mixture cookie sheet lined with parchment-paper.
Bake for about 8 minutes, until fragrant and golden brown. Cool pecans completely.

step by step photos of cooking process for glazed pecans.

What are glazed pecans good for?

Glazed Pecans are great for a lot of different things! We LOVE glazed pecans on top of salads or just by themselves ;). Also, we totally think glazed pecans are great as appetizers for parties or the holidays. Crowd favorite, right?

Can I substitute the sweeteners in this recipe?

We have not tried any substitutions, but the sweeteners in this recipe could totally be replaced! Also, if you are wanting to enjoy this while being VEGAN, you could totally replace the butter with coconut oil.

How do I store these glazed pecans?

If anyone manages to have any of these pecans left over, we definitely recommend storing them in a ziploc bag or airtight container.

Overhead photo of glazed pecans in white bowl with wooden spoon.

Be Sure to Check Out These Other Recipes!

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

Our recipes focus on real ingredients and homemade elements. We try to avoid processed flour and sugar, like white flour or white sugar. Our recipes often swap less healthy options (like a commercial, deep-fried tostada) for an easy homemade version.

Our recipes are not necessarily low fat or low calorie, and we aren’t afraid of fat or carbs! Some of our recipes will be “skinny,” low carb, keto, paleo, dairy free, grain free, gluten free, Whole30, or vegan, and they will be labeled when they qualify for any of these diets. All our recipes are easy and family friendly!

Be sure to share your photos of your creations on Instagram too!

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5 from 2 votes

Glazed Pecans

These Glazed Pecans are super easy to make, ready in less than 20 minutes, and perfect for the holidays! This recipe makes a great appetizer for your guests in addition to tasting amazing by itself!

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time8 mins

Total Time13 mins

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: brown sugar, cinnamon, easy recipe, fall, glazed, healthy, less than 20 minutes, pecans

Servings: people

Calories: 1773kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Cost: $4

Ingredients

2 cups pecans halved
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt or just a pinch

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 17 degrees Celsius. Line cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper.
In medium skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add brown sugar and syrup; mix well. Cook until bubbly, stirring constantly.
Add pecans and cook for about 3 minutes while stirring constantly, until coated. Spread mixture cookie sheet lined with parchment-paper.Bake for about 8 minutes, until fragrant and golden brown. Cool pecans completely.

Notes

If vegan, substitute coconut oil for the butter.

Nutrition

September 9, 2019 Breakfast

Instant Pot Oatmeal

This Instant Pot Oatmeal recipe is out of this world! Why? This recipe ensures creamy, warm, and delicious oats that are made in 10 minutes. Not only are these oats super healthy and ready in no time, but the options of toppings are endless.

White bowl of oatmeal with strawberries, butter, hemp seeds, pecans, brown sugar, and maple syrup next to pink napkin and spoon.

Why is this Instant Pot Oatmeal recipe the best?

This Instant Pot oatmeal recipe is the best because the oats are super creamy and tender all thanks to the decadent almond milk.
Not only are these oats creamy and healthy, but they are super easy to create and can be made while you are brushing your teeth on a busy morning.
This Instant Pot oatmeal is totally hands off!
They’re vegan and dairy free.

What can I put on oatmeal?

Seriously, the options for toppings are limitless, and we love oatmeal because of how versatile it tends to be. We used strawberries, hemp seeds, maple syrup, pad of butter melted at 10 seconds, brown sugar, and pecans.

This is a great way for you to raid your dried goods to see what types of nuts and/or dehydrated fruit you have on hand. Shredded coconut, honey, chia seeds, frozen or fresh fruit, chocolate, pistachios, or preserves are all great options! This Instant Pot Oatmeal tastes incredible with just butter and maple syrup, too.

How To Make This Instant Pot Oatmeal

Place oats, milk, water, and salt in bowl of the Instant Pot. Combine. Close the lid and make sure the sealing valve is turned to the sealing position.
Press the “manual” button and make sure the Instant Pot is on medium pressure. Adjust the cook time to 5 minutes.
When the oatmeal is finished, use the Quick Pressure Release method by slowly turning the sealing valve from the sealing position to the venting position. Once the pressure has been released, serve with your favorite toppings.

Step by step tutorial on oats in instant pot topped with strawberries, butter, maple syrup, hemp seeds, pecans, and brown sugar.

Are oats healthy?

Oats are incredibly nutritious! Along with being extremely filling, oats are known for improving blood sugar control, containing high levels of antioxidants and fiber, lowering cholesterol levels, and helping people lose weight.

Other Recipes You Will Love

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

Have you made this recipe? We would love to hear your feedback! Please leave a rating and comment so we can chat. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, too!

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5 from 14 votes

Instant Pot Oatmeal

This Instant Pot Oatmeal recipe is out of this world. Why? This recipe ensures creamy, warm, and delicious oats that are made in 10 minutes. Not only are these oats ready in no time, but the options of toppings are endless.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time5 mins

Total Time10 mins

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: instant pot oatmeal, instant pot recipe, meal prep breakfast recipe, oats, pressure cooker

Servings: people

Calories: 157kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Cost: $3

Equipment

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

Ingredients

2 cups Old Fashioned Oats
2 cups Almond Milk
3 cups Water
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 tablespoon Butter

Instructions

Place oats, milk, water, and salt in bowl of the Instant Pot. Combine. Close the lid and make sure the sealing valve is turned to the sealing position.
Press the "manual" button and make sure the Instant Pot is on medium pressure. Adjust the cook time to 5 minutes.
When the oatmeal is finished, use the Quick Pressure Release method by slowly turning the sealing valve from the sealing position to the venting position. Once the pressure has been released, serve with your favorite toppings.

Notes

When turning the sealing valve to a different position, please be careful not to burn yourself with the steam.
If you do not have any milk, it’s fine to use only water.
For less creamy oats, the oats will solidify upon cooling in room temperature.
This recipe will keep in the refrigerator for 5 days.

Nutrition

August 14, 2019 Breakfast

How to Make Vegan Overnight Oats: 4 Ways

This is the ultimate guide to making vegan overnight oats! With 4 versions of a classic overnight oats recipe, there are endless possibilities. Easy to make and perfect for grab-and-go breakfast or meal prep. Chocolate, peanut butter, cinnamon raisin, and plain. Vegan, gluten free, dairy free.

vegan overnight oats with different toppings

Overnight oats are such a wonder. Stir them together the night before and what’s ready for you in the fridge in the morning?

Freaking breakfast. Like, your entire breakfast.

Only chia pudding is easier, and I’m not even sure it’s easier. It’s like, just as easy? I can’t get enough.

This vegan overnight oats recipe uses 4 variations for limitless options. Start with a base recipe and customize to your own taste or whim!

Why these vegan overnight oats are the best

There’s four tasty flavors to try – plus suggestions for more!
They are great for meal prep breakfast throughout the week.
Rich in protein and fiber to keep you feeling satisfied until lunch.
They are so easy to make!

The four base flavors:

Classic

Perfect as the base for, well, everything, top this classic vegan overnight oats flavor with anything you like, from fresh fruit to dried, nuts to seeds, nut butters to maple syrup or honey – whatever!

Chocolate

Chocolate for breakfast?! ALWAYS a good idea. This one is easy to upgrade with nut butters, too, like hazelnut or peanut butter. Decadence!

Peanut Butter

Vegan overnight oats with banana topping

Who doesn’t love peanut butter?! Another one that’s super easy to vary, whether you use a different type of nut butter or sprinkle in some cinnamon, drizzle it all with honey, top it with bananas or apples… the list goes on. So good and a great source of healthy fats!

Cinnamon Raisin

An excellent base for incorporating dried fruit, try this variation with pumpkin spice instead of cinnamon, dried apples instead of raisins, dried cherries instead of raisins, etc. The dried fruit plumps up overnight and is totally delicious!

What will be your favorite?!

How to make Vegan Overnight Oats

Stir the ingredients for your chosen overnight oats together and let chill in the fridge at least 8 hours.
After 8 hours, top the oats with your toppings and eat.

Process shots of how to make the breakfast jars

Are vegan overnight oats a healthy breakfast?

Oats are a great choice for a healthy breakfast – they are full of nutrients. They are rich in fiber and B vitamins, as well as containing iron. The plant based proteins in oats help to control blood sugar and they can help to boost metabolism. Because these oats are dairy-free they contain no cholesterol.

How long do overnight oats last?

These vegan oats are perfect for meal prep, as they will keep for 5 days in the fridge. It’s a great idea to make a batch on Sunday evening for grab and go breakfasts all week.

What do you make overnight oats in?

I love th ese jars to make my oats in – they have a great seal and stack well in the fridge. You can make them in Tupperware if that’s all you have, but I find it easier to make these personal portions. Be sure to sterilize your jars or containers with boiling water and that they are food safe

Recipe variations!

Overnight oats are so versatile and the choice of flavors and toppings are endless! Here are some more of my favorites:

Pumpkin Spice: Whisk in 1-2 tablespoons pumpkin purée to any recipe and use 1-2 tablespoons less milk. Include a couple dashes pumpkin pie spice.
Chocolate Hazelnut: Stir in a tablespoon of hazelnut butter to the Chocolate recipe and top with chopped hazelnuts.
Apple Cinnamon: Use chopped dried apples instead of raisins in the Cinnamon Raisin recipe.

Use other dried fruit as desired, like dried cherries, blueberries, or apples. You can also swap out the cinnamon for other spices.

Top tips to make vegan overnight oats

Use food safe jars and containers that have been sterilized – I used these.
Let the oat mixture sit in the fridge for at least 8 hours.
Experiment with different fruits, seeds and flavors!

Be sure to check out these other easy and healthy breakfast recipes!

I would love to hear if you have tried this grilled peaches recipe – do leave me a star rating and comment down below!

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How to Make Vegan Overnight Oats: 4 Ways

With 4 versions of a classic overnight oats recipe, there are endless possibilities. Easy to make and perfect for grab-and-go breakfast or meal prep.

Prep Time5 mins

Resting time8 hrs

Total Time5 mins

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy overnight oats recipe, meal prep breakfast recipe, vegan overnight oats recipe

Servings:

Calories: 341kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Ingredients

Classic

3/4 cup rolled oats
1 cup minus 1 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt
Top with : Fresh berries and hemp seeds

Peanut Butter

3/4 cup rolled oats
2 tbsp peanut butter
1 scant cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt
Top with : Peanut butter, banana and chia seeds

Chocolate

3/4 cup rolled oats
1 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 scant cup unsweetened almond milk
1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons maple syrup
teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt
Top with : Chocolate shavings and frozen raspberries

Cinnamon Raisin

3/4 cup rolled oats
3 tbsp dried fruit like raisins, see Note
Dash cinnamon if desired
1 scant cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt
Top with: Yogurt dollop, brown sugar, raisins and cinnamon

Instructions

Stir the ingredients for your chosen overnight oats together and let chill in the fridge at least 8 hours.
After 8 hours, top the oats with your toppings and eat.

For the peanut butter oats

Warm up the peanut butter and milk and whisk together before adding to the oats.

For the chocolate oats

Stir the oat mixture well with a fork until there are no clumps, before shaking

Notes

A “scant” cup means a little less than a cup. This measurement will result in a standard overnight oats texture.

Nutritional values are based on one classic vegan overnight oat jar.

Variations

Use other dried fruit as desired, like dried cherries, blueberries, or apples. You can also swap out the cinnamon for other spices.

Pumpkin Spice: Whisk in 1-2 tablespoons pumpkin purée to any recipe and use 1-2 tablespoons less milk. Include a couple dashes pumpkin pie spice.

Chocolate Hazelnut: Stir in a tablespoon of hazelnut butter to the Chocolate recipe and top with chopped hazelnuts.

Apple Cinnamon: Use chopped dried apples instead of raisins in the Cinnamon Raisin recipe.

Nutrition

July 29, 2019 Breakfast

Blueberry Baked Oatmeal

This blueberry baked oatmeal is absolutely divine. It’s perfectly chewy but still soft with perfect sweetness. It’s a filling and easy grab and go breakfast, great for meal prep, and great for brunch or breakfast entertaining, too! Gluten free.

Two servings of baked oatmeal on white plates

Why is this the best blueberry baked oatmeal recipe?

It’s so easy to make – it only takes about five minutes to prep this dish!
It is so tasty! This was a huge hit in our house!
It’s perfect for meal prep for easy breakfasts throughout the week.
It’s great if you are making breakfast or brunch for a crowd – it easily serves eight!
It’s naturally gluten-free.

How to make blueberry baked oatmeal – step by step

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a large bowl, mix together oats, maple syrup, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Beat in milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Stir in fresh blueberries.

Spread into a 9×13 inch baking dish.

Bake in preheated oven for 30-40 minutes or until top is golden

What oats are best for baking?

I used rolled oats in this baked oatmeal, and I find them the best for baking. They are whole, flatten oats that have a nice chewy texture. Quick oats are are similar, but they are cut into smaller pieces, so their texture is more delicate when baked. Old fashioned oats will result in a heartier texture.

Baked blueberry oatmeal is great for meal prep!

This recipe is so perfect for make ahead breakfasts. The leftovers keep for several days in the refrigerator for easy to grab breakfasts throughout the week. Simply reheat a portion in the oven or microwave with a splash of milk.

If you are planning on serving this as a breakfast or brunch to a large crowd, you can make it the night before, keep it covered in the fridge and then bake in the morning before you serve it.

Two slices of blueberry baked oatmeal on white plates

Is baked blueberry oatmeal a healthy breakfast?

Oatmeal is a great breakfast choice – oats are one of the healthiest grains yo can incorporate into your diet! They are a great source of fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and they keep you satisfied until lunch. Health benefits include lowering blood sugar levels, weight loss and management and a reducing the risk of heart disease.

Top tips to make baked blueberry oatmeal

You could probably make this breakfast vegan by substituting 2 flax eggs for the eggs, using coconut oil instead of butter, and using a plant-based milk.
If you are gluten intolerant, be sure to check that the oats are GF certified.
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

A square of blueberry baked oatmeal on a white plate

Be sure to check out these other healthy family recipes!

I would love to hear if you have tried this baked blueberry oatmeal recipe – do leave me a star rating and comment down below!

Be sure to share your photos of your creations on Instagram too!

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4.88 from 8 votes

Baked Blueberry Oatmeal

This blueberry baked oatmeal is absolutely divine. It's perfectly chewy but still soft with perfect sweetness.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Total Time35 mins

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: baked oatmeal recipe, blueberry oatmeal recipe, meal prep oatmeal

Servings:

Calories: 352kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Ingredients

3 cups rolled oats
2/3 cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2-3/4 cup milk of choice 1/2 cup for firmer, 3/4 for moister
2 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter or refined coconut oil
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries or frozen

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients except blueberries until well combined. Fold in blueberries.
Spread into a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Bake in preheated oven for 30-40 minutes or until top is golden

Nutrition