Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal – A Couple Cooks

Cozy up to a bowl of comfort with maple brown sugar oatmeal! Each spoonful bursts with creamy sweetness—a perfect way to start the day.

There’s something so cozy about the words maple brown sugar oatmeal, and this bowl is like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket on a chilly morning. This recipe is a homemade copycat for the packaged instant oatmeal of the same name. Each spoonful bursts with creamy goodness, with a nuance in sweetness from both maple syrup and brown sugar. It’s got all the nostalgia of the packaged variety, but tastes better and is ready in just 10 minutes. We’re daily oatmeal people around here, and this one is a favorite in our repertoire!

Ingredients for maple brown sugar oatmeal

We make a bowl of oatmeal every day using this classic oatmeal recipe or the 2-minute microwave version. Growing up, I used to love the maple and brown sugar oatmeal instant packets, but something about them tasted, well, artificial. This recipe is bursting with pure, wholesome flavor, making this cozy bowl taste larger than life. There’s also a secret ingredient that really amps the maple flavor and makes it taste just like the instant packets! Here’s what you’ll need:

• Old Fashioned rolled oats
• Maple syrup: we recommend bottles marked Grade A: Dark Color and Robust Taste
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon
• Salt
• Maple extract

You can make this maple and brown sugar oatmeal with brown sugar and maple syrup and it tastes great. However, it does not have a distinct maple flavor with just syrup. To amp the maple flavor, we suggest using maple extract. It is completely optional, but if grab it at the grocery store and we promise you’ll love it!

Maple extract is a flavoring made from steeping maple syrup in a neutral syrup, like vodka or grain alcohol, for a few weeks to extract the flavor. The extract has a much stronger maple flavor than the syrup itself, which is very neutral. Grab maple extract in the baking aisle at the grocery, and you can also use it in this maple glaze for apple pie bars and baked donuts.

Tips for making maple brown sugar oatmeal

Maple brown sugar oatmeal is a great healthy and vegan breakfast idea, especially if you keep the sugar at a moderate level. The whole grains are hearty and filling, and stick with you all morning. Here are a few tips top keep in mind when making the recipe (or jump to the recipe below):

1. Combine the water, oats, salt, and cinnamon in a saucepan and cook 6 to 7 minutes. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium. Cook until creamy and the liquid is mostly absorbed. 
2. Allow to stand 2 minutes. This helps to fully absorb the liquid and set the texture.
3. Stir in brown sugar, syrup, and extract. Adding the flavorings last gives them the most punch.

Notes on maple syrup grades

One thing to keep in mind when buying maple syrup is that you can no longer buy Grade A and Grade B. The maple syrup grading system was changed in 2015 and all maple syrup is labeled Grade A.

For the best flavor, we recommend buying Grade A: Dark Color and Robust Taste, which has the strongest maple flavor. Use this in our recipes that call for maple syrup on this website. We typically buying bottles marked Golden or Amber, as they have a much lighter flavor.

Topping ideas

How to serve this maple brown sugar oatmeal recipe? A few toppings to make it into a simple, easy breakfast recipe. We like topping with a hearty dollop of peanut butter or almond butter to make it even more filling. Here are some ideas:

• Maple syrup, honey or agave syrup
• Pecans, walnuts or almonds
• Nut butter like almond butter, cashew butter, or walnut butter
• Cream, half and half, or milk of choice
• Raisins, dried cranberries or dried cherries
• Greek yogurt sweetened with maple syrup

This recipe is perfect as a make ahead breakfast! You can make maple brown sugar oatmeal in advance and refrigerate up to 4 to 6 days. Reheat in the microwave or stovetop with a splash of water or milk, then add additional seasonings to taste and toppings.

More breakfast recipes

Maple and brown sugar oatmeal makes a great easy healthy breakfast that’s both vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free! Here are a few more great breakfast recipes to start your day: