Atole de avena is the perfect oatmeal drink to start your day! Is creamy, sweet, and cozy. The delicious blend of oats, cinnamon, and milk is pure comfort in every sip!
Atole, in general, is a warm, slightly thick drink made with milk or water, lightly sweetened, and flavored with ingredients like vanilla, cinnamon, or chocolate.
But atole de avena is special because it’s made with oats (yes, oats!) which gives it a creamy, silky texture and a natural heartiness that keeps you full for hours.
It’s the kind of drink that feels nourishing and comforting all at once.
Ingredients
- Oats: Old-fashioned oats are used in this atole de avena recipe. You can also replace them with oats flour.
- Milk: Use whole milk for a creamy texture, or replace it with beverages like coconut milk, soy milk, etc.
- Sugar: I used regular granulated sugar, but you can use your favorite sweetener like brown sugar, piloncillo, etc.
- Cinnamon: Use a small stick of cinnamon, or replace it with 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon.
- Vanilla: Optional, I like the flavor and aroma, but you can simply leave it out.
- Water: You’ll need a bit of water to make the cinnamon infusion.
How To Make Atole de Avena
Start by tossing your rolled oats into a blender with half the milk. Blend on high for about a minute.
It doesn’t need to be perfectly smooth. In fact, if you still see a few oat bits, that’s great! They give the atole a lovely rustic texture that makes it extra cozy.
Meanwhile, grab a medium pot and pour in the water, sugar, and a cinnamon stick.
Bring it to a boil, then lower the heat, cover, and let it simmer for about 5 minutes. Your kitchen will smell like cinnamon heaven.
Once the cinnamon has done its job, slowly pour in the blended oats while stirring.
Then add the rest of the milk and a splash of vanilla, and let everything come to a gentle simmer, but keep stirring because this helps avoid those pesky lumps.
Keep stirring often, cooking over medium-low heat until it thickens up enough to coat the back of a spoon.
This usually takes around 10 minutes, and it’s totally worth it because that creamy, velvety texture is what makes atole so special.
Tip: Keep the heat on medium-low so your avena atole cooks gently without sticking or burning. If you see it bubbling like crazy, just lower the heat a bit, it should be more of a soft simmer than a rolling boil (watch the video below!).
Taste and adjust the sweetness if needed, then pour it into mugs and serve it warm.
Atole de avena it’s the kind of drink that makes you want to curl up under a blanket and just breathe in the cinnamon-y steam before taking the first sip.
Tips & Notes
- Want it creamier or lighter? Just add more milk to thin it out or let it cook a bit longer for a thicker, cozier drink.
- You can totally make it dairy-free with almond, soy, or coconut milk, just add a bit more oats to keep it creamy. Or skip the milk completely and use water.
- Toss in a few extra spices like cloves or star anise for a warm, fragrant flavor.
What to Serve With Oatmeal Atole
This oat atole is one of those drinks that feels complete on its own. But if you really want to enjoy it the Mexican way, pair it with something to nibble on.
Sweet pan dulce is a favorite; nothing beats dunking a soft, fluffy concha into a warm mug of atole. Tamales are another classic pairing, whether you go for sweet pineapple tamales or savory chicken ones.
Of course, you can just enjoy it by itself with a sprinkle of cinnamon or even a little grated chocolate on top. Just the perfect cozy treat to warm you up on a cold afternoon.
Storing & Reheating
Oatmeal atole leftovers can be stored for up to 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
You can also freeze it for up to 2 months and then thaw it overnight and have it ready the following day for breakfast.
For reheating, place the atole in a saucepan or small pot and reheat in a medium setting while stirring constantly.
You can also reheat it in the microwave in the same mug where you’ll drink it in 30 seconds intervals, mixing it in between.
More Atole Recipes
Loved this atole de avena recipe? I’d love to see your creations! Come hang out with me on TikTok, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Video
Print the recipe
Atole de Avena
Equipment
- Blender
- medium pot
Ingredients
- 1 cup old fashioned oats (or oats flour)
- 4 ⅙ cups whole milk
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 cups water
- 1 ¼ cinnamon stick
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Blend the oats with half of the milk for about a minute. No need to make it perfectly smooth, a little texture is nice.
- In a medium pot, combine the water, sugar, and cinnamon stick. Bring it to a boil, then lower the heat, cover, and let it simmer for about 5 minutes to infuse that lovely cinnamon flavor.
- Slowly pour in the blended oats while stirring, then add the remaining milk and a splash of vanilla. Bring everything to a gentle simmer.
- Keep stirring over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, until it thickens and feels creamy.
- Taste and adjust the sweetness if you like, then turn off the heat. Serve hot in mugs with a little cinnamon sprinkled on top.
Notes
- Adjust the drink consistency by adding more milk to make it thinner or cooking it longer to make it thicker.
- Do not stop stirring the mixture; it will spill out of the pot, or even worse, burn on the bottom.
- You can make this oat drink vegan or dairy-free by using vegan beverages such as coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk, etc.
- Or you can simply leave the milk out and use only water, it is still a nutritious and fulfilling drink you can serve for breakfast.
Maybe a ridiculous question, but can I sub the milk for almond or just water?
Hi Kathy, yes, you can substitute the milk with a vegetable option or even water, actually, using water instead of milk is a common practice in some families :)
Hello Mari,
This sounds ideal for my partner’s Mum, who has worsening memory issues. She has a bowl of Oat porridge every day and doesn’t drink Tea or Coffee. I like the sound of it too!
People struggling to eat resultant of chemo would do really well with this recipe, too.
And the silently growing food allergy group being winnowed down in options. This beverage-meal is great for getting over sickness caused by allergens ironically found in grocery store oat milk. 😄
This recipe is credited with much of my survival the past few years and I feel too awkward to make my own complimentary comment when the last went unnoticed. I spliced the recipe with Cookpad from Nairobi (Leyona Wangari) to come up with a concentrate version – Wangari liquid amounts in Flores milk/water ratios & Flores sugar & cinnamon measurements. Then doubled that recipe, which is a struggle to mix I don’t advise (danish whisks are designed to break up solid bits of grain in a dough and work with a lot of hot cereals too) and put them in 1/2 cup Souper Cuber Trays for the freezer.
Breakfast has become: pop it out of the silicone in the freezer, drop it in a mug, add some 2 cups of milk, and microwave. Then stir it back to a smooth liquid with a fork.
One of my comfort drinks every morning! It is creamy, sweet, and perfect for breakfast. Plus, it’s really fulfilling!
Excellent recipe giving lots of information…delicious Avena.
I’ve been looking for an oatmeal version of this for years, now! Atole is the perfect breakfast choice when one is barred by allergy from Carnation Breakfast Beverages from the supermarket! Thank you so much for posting this recipe; it’s my new favorite.
I also enjoy pretending the base is made of cinnamon candy. ;)
Making this Now and I can’t wait to try it!!!
How was it?
Saw it. Tried it. Loved it. This recipe was beyond amazing and the flavors were indescribable. Thank you for providing this recipe, I really enjoyed it. It warmed my heart. ❤️❤️❤️😊
Thank you Jocelyn! Atole de avena is really a cozy and comforting drink, glad you enjoyed it :)
I’m excited to try your atole recipes. My kids binge off of our version of atole all fall and winter. I’ll be following up :)
Thank you :) try atole de Mazapán, its delicious! And is so easy to make too.
Thank you for all of the info on the different drinks. I experienced some while teaching in Los Angeles. The vanilla atole is very comforting.
My grandmother made this as we were growing up. I remember not liking it, and now that she is no longer here I find myself looking for this recipes of delicious flavors and thanks to yours I can enjoy them again 😊 thank you.
You’re welcome, I hope you enjoy it and it brings sweet memories of your grandmother :)
This sounds so cozy and wonderful for this dreary weather!
What a fab breakfast for this time of year! I know a little Pea that will be trying this out at the weekend! Thanks for sharing :)
I’ve never heard of this drink but I love the idea of an alternative to hot chocolate so its going straight on my “to-try” list!
Absolute heaven, what a delicious drink to wake up to!
Ooh, this sounds delicious. It sounds like liquid porridge and I adore porridge. I’m so going to have to give your atole a go.
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