Instant Porridge Pots – Homemade

These home-made Instant Porridge Pots are simple, nutritious, colourful and delicious. Hands-down the best instant oatmeal you’ll get… AND they make lovely foodie gifts too. (optional gluten free; dairy free; vegan)

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Instant Porridge Pots – convenience with a history

In the last few years, instant porridge pots (also known as instant oatmeal) have become huge business. Actually, they are not new… For those of us way too old to admit our age, the memory of ‘Ready Brek’ as a winter kids hot breakfast back in the 70’s remains strong. The TV adverts promised an ethereal-like orange body glow after eating. But no matter how much we tried to see it, it remained invisible.

Glow or no glow… instant oatmeal does have an appeal. It is quick to prepare and convenient to take into the office for a working breakfast. It makes for a handy, healthier after-school snack and warms you from the inside when the weather’s cold. Shop-bought instant porridge pots come with whole range of added flavourings and sweeteners, so it seems we are spoiled for choice… But are we?

In this post, I will share just how easy it is to make them at home… YOUR way…

Instant Oatmeal Pots… What makes them instant?

Making your own instant porridge recipe at home brings a whole new excitement to these sustainingly wholesome wonder pots. And guess what? They are surprisingly easy to whip up once you know the basics. But what makes instant porridge so instant?

Actually, there’s no big trick and it’s not complicated. It’s a simple matter of balancing rolled oats with oat flour, making them apparently speedier to cook and also much creamier. And here’s the good news… They can be made at home, to your own specification… lacing with favourite fruit, nuts and spices.

If you are gluten free, just make sure you use certified GF oats and oat flour to avoid any cross-contamination. And in no time, you will have Instant porridge pots better and cheaper than you can buy in the supermarket.

Where do I get oat flour?

For the Coeliacs among us, it is important first and foremost to source gluten free oats… Certified gluten free oats are really easy to find in the free from aisles of good supermarkets. But finding oat flour is a little harder.

At Gluten Free Alchemist, we use a lot of oat flour. It is a staple gluten free flour that works particularly well in gluten free bread recipes. And yes… you can source it on-line quite easily from merchants like Shipton Mill, Healthy Supplies and even Amazon. But (unless feeling very pushed for time), at GFHQ, it is mostly ground at home.

To make oat flour, simply get a large bag of oats (gluten free or not). Pop them in a blender and switch on… Leave to grind until you have a fine powder (usually anywhere between 10 and 25 seconds, dependent on the blender’s power). Transfer the oat flour into an airtight container and keep ready for whenever you need it!

What flavours and extras can I add to Instant Porridge Pots?

The best thing about a home-made instant oatmeal recipe, is that you can make it YOUR way. Providing there is a balance of oats and oat flour, you can add any favourite fruits and nuts, along with some carefully-paired spices and a little sugar or sweetener of choice.

When it comes to the fruit, it is better to use dried fruit for instant porridge pots for full portability… Although there is nothing to stop you adding fresh berries or banana with the liquid. Freeze dried fruits are fantastic for intensity of flavour and vibrant colour, but if you prefer standard dried fruit, it will work just as well.

Dry sugars are best for a porridge pot that is leaving the home… My favourites are coconut sugar, other brown sugars, unrefined jaggery and date sugar. Or alternatively, if making to eat straight away, a drizzle of Maple syrup or honey is delicious too.

Gluten Free Alchemist Instant Porridge Recipe

The recipe shared here is just one version of instant porridge pots. It is rather lovely. But I won’t be offended if the ratios and ingredient weights are used as a guide to be substituted with additions you prefer.

The Gluten Free Alchemist recipe pairs a careful ratio of oats and oat flour with freeze-dried strawberries or raspberries and some dried blueberries for a fruity punch. There’s rich ground hazelnuts and a couple of crunchy spoons of chopped green pistachio nuts too. For sweetness, this instant oatmeal includes a little soft, light brown sugar that has been mixed with warming cinnamon spice.

What does it taste like? Amazing! Like no porridge I have had before… And that is a good thing! This porridge excites the tastebuds… It makes getting out of bed something to look forward to.

Can I make Instant Porridge Pots dairy free and vegan?

Absolutely. The basic oatmeal pots are completely plant based. It is just the milk that is added to hydrate and cook them that makes a dietary difference. Simply use your favourite dairy free and vegan milk in place of dairy milk as you wish.

Actually, they can also be created without oats! Gluten free porridge can be made from lots of other grains, flakes and seeds and many of them are best made by simply adding hot milk/water (just like instant porridge). For lots of alternative inspiration, why not head over to my How to Make Gluten Free Porridge post?

And… they are all perfect sustenance for anyone planning to do Veganuary!

Turn Instant Porridge Pots into gifts and stocking fillers

I don’t know about you, but I think these instant porridge jars are really quite beautiful. Although mixing the porridge portion in a bag would taste just as good, the old adage ‘eat with your eyes’ matters… And layering the ingredients in a pretty jar makes it even more appealing.

In fact, it’s so gorgeous presented in little glass jars, that instant porridge pots make lovely gifts and stocking fillers… Perfectly presented in these cute Lakeland jars. Whether an extra Christmas or birthday treat or a cheer-up offering to thank the officer early birds… the experience of eating one is guaranteed to put a smile on any face.

Ready to make my quick oatmeal recipe?

Here’s the recipe for my easy Instant Porridge Pots. Whether you enjoy at home or give as gifts, I really hope they are loved. If you do make them, I’d love to hear how you got on and whether you used any different ingredients.

Leave a comment, rate the recipe, email me, or tag me on social media (links at the top of the page). If you are looking for other Christmas gift inspiration, check out our Gluten Free Christmas Index and scroll down for the ‘food gifts’ header. For breakfast ideas, we have a dedicated Breakfast and Brunch Index. And for everything else, check out our full free Gluten Free Recipe Book Index.

If you like these, you might also like some of our other foodie gift ideas

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5 from 9 votes

Instant Porridge Pots (Instant Oatmeal)

These home-made Instant Porridge Pots are simple, nutritious, colourful and delicious. Hands-down the best instant oatmeal you’ll get… AND they make lovely foodie gifts too. (optional gluten free; dairy free; vegan)

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Total Time10 minutes mins

Course: Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine: British, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Vegan

Keyword: foodie gifts, oats

Servings: 1 see NOTES

Calories per serving: 348.8kcal

Author: Gluten Free Alchemist – Kate Dowse

Key equipment

• Kitchen scales
• measuring spoons
• sealable jars/pots/bags
• small bowls

Ingredients 

0.33x0.5x0.66x1x1.5x2x

MetricUS Customary

Dried Instant Porridge Pots

• 18 g oats gluten free if required
• 7 g oat flour gluten free if required – See NOTES
• 3 tsp rough chopped freeze-dried strawberries or raspberries or alternative fruit
• 1 tsp dried blueberries (heaped) – or alternative fruit
• 2 tsp pistachio nuts chopped (or alternative nuts)
• 2½ tsp brown cinnamon sugar make by adding a little ground cinnamon to soft light brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground hazelnuts heaped (or alternative nuts)

Add when ready to eat

• 140 ml/g milk dairy free if required (or a little more for a less thick porridge)

Instructions

Dried Instant Porridge Pots

• Mix the oats with the oat flour in a small bowl.
• Prepare your jars or pots (with airtight lids) ready for mixing or layering and lay out your ingredients in small bowls ready to divide into portion-pots (for making several pots at once).
• Spoon your ingredients into your jars/pots in the ratios as above. Feel free to vary your fruit and nuts as you prefer. To make pretty, layer… eg. in the following order (from bottom to top) : half the oat mix; strawberry; blueberry; pistachio; sugar; hazelnuts; rest of the oats.
• Seal the jar/ pot with a lid.

To prepare with milk when ready to eat

• Tip the porridge mix into a serving bowl and stir.
• Add 140 ml milk (DF if required) and microwave on high for 1½ to 2 minutes. If you prefer your porridge a little less thick, just add a little extra milk.
• Enjoy!

Notes

* Note: nutritional information is an estimate & may vary according to portion size/ingredient variants.

The ingredients listed are for one portion. To make several pots, multiply the ingredient amounts and divide evenly between portions.

To make oat flour – get a large bag of oats (gluten free or not). Pop them in a blender and switch on… Leave to grind until you have a fine powder (usually anywhere between 10 and 25 seconds, dependent on the blender’s power). Transfer the oat flour into an airtight container and keep ready for whenever you need it!

Vary the fruit and nuts as you prefer.

Nutrition

Calories: 348.8kcal | Carbohydrates: 52.3g | Protein: 9.5g | Fat: 11.3g | Saturated Fat: 3.3g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 66.7mg | Potassium: 525.6mg | Fiber: 5.5g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 226.8IU | Vitamin C: 180.7mg | Calcium: 158.2mg | Iron: 4.5mg

Tried this recipe?Take a pic & tag @glutenfreealchemist on Instagram & Facebook (GFAlchemist1 : Twitter) ~ #glutenfreealchemist ~ I love seeing your posts x

© 2019-2023 Kate Dowse All Rights Reserved – Do not copy or re-publish this recipe or any part of this recipe on any other blog, on social media or in a publication without the express permission of Gluten Free Alchemist

Instant Porridge Pots shared with

• Fiesta Friday #356 with Angie
• Full Plate Thursday #512 with Miz Helen’s Country Cottage
• Cook Blog Share with Recipes Made Easy
• What’s for Dinner #291 with The Lazy Gastronome
• You’re The Star (December 2020) with Mom The Lunch Lady

Previously shared with: The Spice Trail challenge – with Bangers & Mash.