Start your day off with this protein oatmeal that tastes just like a cinnamon roll! It’s quick, easy, healthy, and will keep you full until lunch!
I love putting protein powder in a smoothie to start the day. So, I started experimenting with what other breakfast foods I can add protein powder to, and that’s when I dove into the world of protein oats. As you may know if you’re a FFF reader, I’m a big fan of protein oats.
This healthy cinnamon roll protein oatmeal is one of my favorite variations. It tastes just like a cinnamon roll and is a million times easier and faster to make than actual cinnamon rolls. I love baking cinnamon rolls, but sometimes I’m just not in the mood to deal with yeast. It’s exhausting to check on your dough every five seconds to see if it’s risen enough so that you can bake it. Starting the day with protein oats is something that I do all the time. On top of being delicious, oatmeal is a comforting, satisfying breakfast, and it really fills you up and sticks to your bones! If your family loves oatmeal as much as mine, this protein oatmeal recipe is sure to be a hit in your household. It’s rich and creamy, made with better-for-you ingredients, and has the perfect amount of sweetness to curb that craving.
Is This Cinnamon Roll Protein Oatmeal Healthy?
Oatmeal is very good for you! Oats are a whole grain and a great source of important vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Oatmeal also has protein: typically six grams per cup. Reduced-fat cream cheese is used instead of full-fat cream cheese. You could make this oatmeal with milk instead of water to boost the calcium content, but stick to skim milk if you’re worried about too much fat. To make this recipe dairy-free and vegan, use dairy-free protein powder and dairy-free cream cheese.
What Is Truvia?
If you’re unfamiliar with Truvia, it’s a brand of sugar-free sweetener made from erythritol (a sugar alcohol) and rebaudioside A (a compound that comes from the stevia plant). Truvia is popular with people on the keto diet. Since keto is a low-carb diet and sugar is a carb, keto followers opt for sweeteners like Truvia, stevia, or monk fruit. You’ll see a lot of keto recipes on Food Faith Fitness that use Truvia, like these Sugar-Free Peanut Butter Cookies. And you can always substitute Truvia if you’re trying to make a recipe keto-friendly!
How Do I Store Leftovers?
This oatmeal can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days. In the freezer, it lasts 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
To add more fun to your morning, why not serve this oatmeal with Fruit Kabobs? You can also eat it with a classic hard-boiled egg or maybe even Jammy Eggs! Lastly, I suggest washing it down with some Strawberry Juice or a Homemade Caramel-Vanilla Iced Coffee.
If you’re looking to go down a protein oats rabbit hole, I recommend trying Cookie Dough Protein Oatmeal or Protein Overnight Oats next.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled old-fashioned oats gluten-free, if needed
- 2 tablespoons Truvia or sweetener of choice to taste, plus more to sweeten the cream cheese
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon + 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract divided
- 2 tablespoons vanilla whey protein powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- 4-5 teaspoons water depending on protein powder thickness
- 1 tablespoon reduced-fat cream cheese softened
Instructions
- In a small pot, combine the oats and Truvia.
- Add in the water and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract and bring to boil over medium-high heat.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the oats are thick, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes.
- Take the oatmeal off the heat and let it cool for 5 minutes.
- Stir together the protein powder, cinnamon, and coconut sugar in a small bowl. Add water 1 teaspoon at a time and stir to create a thick but spreadable paste (resembling the icing on a cinnamon bun).
- In a separate small bowl, stir together the softened cream cheese and remaining 1/8 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Sweeten to taste.
- Spoon the oatmeal into a bowl. Swirl on the cinnamon mixture and cream cheese. I recommend using a piping bag or plastic bag with the corner cut off to get the satisfying cinnamon roll look.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
Really wanted cinnamon rolls this morning, but knew they wouldn’t give the nutrition I need. Used honey in the oatmeal instead of artificial sweetener, and added butter extract to the oats in addition to the vanilla (next time it will go into the cinnamon topping instead 😉). Also a half scoop of cinnamon cereal protein protein to round out a full serving. Needless to say, this checked all of my breakfast boxes! Thanks for the recipe!
So glad to hear these came out great! Thanks for reading.