Toasted Coconut Steel Cut Oats Recipe

This creamy, dreamy, steamy bowl of Toasted Coconut Steel Cut Oats are a PERFECT way to kick off your day! Perfect when you are looking to satisfy your morning sweet tooth in a healthy way. And if your prep for oats in advance…this recipe only takes 5 minutes to prepare!

Toasted Coconut Steel Cut Oats requires only 7 ingredients! They are made with steel cut oats, toasted coconut, coconut milk, strawberries, coconut stevia, vanilla, and sea salt.

These Toasted Coconut Steel Cut Oats are loaded with nutrients, full of flavor, and will keep you satisfied for hours. Make this satisfying bowl of comfort food a staple in your weekly routine. Perfect for healthy breakfast meal prep…this recipe will make life extra easy on those busy mornings.

Jump to Recipe

Why you will love Toasted Coconut Steel Cut Oats

• CAN BE PREPPED IN ADVANCE – This recipe is perfect for meal prep and making in large batches! Steel cut oats are not only delicious and nutritious…they are super convenient due to the fact that you can prep them in a large batch and use them for days!
• EXTREMELY NUTRITIOUS – Steel cut oats are full of protein, iron, potassium and fiber. Thanks to the coconut stevia and toasted coconut, this recipe is perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth…but in a healthy, nutrient dense way.
• EASY TO MAKE – This Toasted Coconut Steel Cut Oats recipe is so incredibly easy to make! Steel cut oats take a little time to make, but they are super low maintenance, especially if you use the rice cooker method. And the coconut part of the recipe couldn’t be easier! Just quickly toast your coconut and remove from pan. Then pour everything else in a pan, heat, and pour over the oats. Simple plant-based healthy breakfast in no time!

Ingredients needed to make Toasted Coconut Steel Cut Oats

For this Toasted Coconut Steel Cut Oats recipe you will need…

• STEEL CUT OATS – Steel cut oats are the unprocessed version of oatmeal. They have an amazing texture, are super filling, and are full of nutrients. You can find these in the oatmeal or cereal section of any grocery store.
• COCONUT MILK – To make these Chai Latte Steel Cut Oats nice and creamy, I went with canned light coconut milk. If you want your oats to be SUPER creamy go with regular canned coconut milk instead of the light version. You can also substitute any dairy free milk of your choice!
• COCONUT FLAKES – For this recipe, I went with larger coconut flakes, but you can use shredded ones as well! Make sure you grab the coconut flakes that don’t have extra sugar added…unless you want the extra sugar of course.
• COCONUT STEVIA – To add extra coconut flavor and sweeten this recipe, I used a liquid coconut stevia. You only need a couple of drops to add a lot of flavor! You can find this in some health food stores or grocery stores. I bought mine from amazon and went with the brand Stevia Select. Want to skip the coconut stevia? You can replace it with maple syrup and coconut extract if desired.
• STRAWBERRIES – You can substitute any fruit if desired. Pineapple or mango would be my second choice.
• VANILLA EXTRACT
• SEA SALT

How to make Toasted Coconut Steel Cut Oats

This Toasted Coconut Steel Cut Oats recipe is extremely easy to make! Here’s how…

PREPARE THE STEEL CUT OATS

Begin by preparing the steel cut oats. You have two ways to prepare the steel cut oats listed below. You can use a rice cooker or stove top. Stove top takes 20 minutes, but is more high maintenance because you have to stir them often. The rice cooker method (which is my preferred method) is a set it and forget it situation, but it takes an hour.

STEEL CUT OATS IN THE RICE COOKER

For this recipe, I personally used a rice cooker because I find it to be by far the easiest way to prepare steel cut oats. I personally put them on a timer the night before or make them in a large batch at the beginning of the week and just reheat them.

To prepare steel cut oats in the rice cooker, measure out 1 cup of steel cut oats, add the amount of water recommended on your rice cooker (rice cookers may vary). Press start and allow to cook. My rice cooker personally takes an hour.

STEEL CUT OATS ON THE STOVE

To prepare steel cut oats on the stove, place 3 cups of water in a pot and bring to a boil.

Add in one cup of steel cut oats. Bring back to a boil and then reduce heat to low, so the oats can simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring often so the oats don’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Oats will be ready when the water is absorbed and the oats are tender.

PREPARE THE COCONUT

Once your oats are prepared, it’s time to focus on the coconut. This part only takes 5 minutes…so if you prepare your oats in advance, this recipe is so fast to make!

Place the 1/2 cup of shredded coconut on a pan and cook over medium heat. Stir often and cook until the coconut is toasted and slightly brown. This will only take 1-2 minutes. Keep a close on your coconut as it toasts…it will toast quickly and you don’t want it to burn!

When coconut is properly toasted, remove from heat immediately (so it doesn’t burn) and transfer the coconut into a bowl and set aside.

In the same pan, combine 2 cups of light canned coconut milk, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 1/8 tsp of salt, and about 10 drops of coconut stevia (taste test and add more coconut stevia if desired, it is pretty strong so easy does it). Cook over medium heat for 1 minute or until hot. Remove from heat.

PUT IT ALL TOGETHER

Now it’s time to put it all together! Recipe makes 4 servings.

Cut the cup of strawberries into slices.

Place 1/4 of the steel cut oats in a bowl (recipe makes 4 servings). Top with coconut milk, toasted coconut, and strawberries.

Serve and enjoy!

Tips for making Toasted Coconut Steel Cut Oats

• DON’T OVER DO THE COCONUT STEVIA – The coconut stevia is strong in flavor AND sweetness….do not over do it! Start with 10 drops OR LESS and add more if needed!
• DON’T BURN YOUR COCONUT SHREDS – Coconuts shreds will toast quickly so you need to babysit them when cooking. Make sure to mix them often and keep a good watch. The moment they start to really toast, remove them from the heat or they will keep on cooking and burn.
• MAKE YOUR STEEL CUT OATS IN ADVANCE – Steel cut oats are perfect for prepping in advance! I like to set up my rice cooker the night before so I can wake up to a fresh batch of oats in the morning. I also make more oatmeal than I need that day. If I am preparing oats for myself, I personally make a couple of days worth and store it in a container in the fridge for easy mornings.
• PERFECT FOR MEAL PREP – This recipe is an excellent choice when it comes to meal prep. Simply prepare the oats, the toasted coconut, and the coconut milk, but store them separately. When you are ready to serve, simply combine and reheat. Top with the toasted coconut and sliced strawberries.

Questions Answered

• IS THIS RECIPE VEGAN – Sure is!…this recipe is vegan / plant-based.
• IS THIS RECIPE GLUTEN FREE – Yes…if you buy a brand of steel cut oats that are gluten free. Although oats are naturally gluten free, they are often contaminated with gluten in the growing fields or where they are being packaged. So if you need this recipe to be gluten free…just check the label
• SHOULD I USE A RICE COOKER OR STOVE TOP METHOD FOR STEEL CUT OATS – I 100% prefer the rice cooker method because it’s a set it and forget it situation. The stove top only takes 20 minutes, but you have to stir them often so they don’t stick to the pan.
• HOW CAN I MEAL PREP THIS RECIPE – This Toasted Coconut Steel Cut Oats recipe is PERFECT for meal prep. Simply prepare the oats, the toasted coconut, and the coconut milk, but store them separately. When you are ready to serve, simply combine and reheat. Top with the toasted coconut and sliced strawberries.
• HOW DO I MAKE THIS RECIPE LESS SWEET – If you want to lower the sweetness level of this recipe, just use less coconut stevia or skip it all together. If you want more of a coconut flavor WITHOUT using coconut stevia, just use coconut extract in its place.

What to serve with Toasted Coconut Steel Cut Oats

These Toasted Coconut Steel Cut Oats make a full and filling meal all on their own. But if you desire more, serve it with fresh fruit or tofu scramble. Or you can cut the portion in half and serve along side one of these crowd-pleasing breakfast / bunch options…

• VEGAN STEAK AND EGG BREAKFAST TACOS
• WAFFLE SLIDERS WITH ROSEMARY MAPLE
• SPINACH AND ARTICHOKE VEGAN QUICHE
• CARROT LOX TOAST WITH SWEET MUSTARD CREAM CHEESE
• VEGAN BLOODY MARY SUNDRIED TOMATO DIP FOR BAGELS

More Vegan Breakfast / Brunch Recipes