Atole de Avena

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!

this recipe

Atole de Avena is a sweet and thick beverage made with oats, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla. It has a sweet and delicate taste with a thick and creamy texture.

Most Mexican atole recipes are made of corn masa to achieve their particular thick texture, but atole de avena doesn’t use it as the oats are enough to thicken the mixture.

This hot drink is nutritious, fulfilling, and flavorful. In Mexico is served mostly as breakfast along with tamales or sweet pastries.

If your family loves hot drinks for breakfast as much as mine, you have to try also this corn atole or champurrado!

Ingredients

• OATS: Old-fashioned oats are used in this recipe. You can also replace them with oats flour.
• MILK: Use whole milk for a creamy texture, or replace it with vegan beverages (coconut milk, soy milk, etc.) for a dairy-free version.
• 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 sugar to make the cinnamon infusion.

How To Make Atole de Avena

Place the rolled oats in a blender or food processor with half of the milk. Blend at high speed for 1 minute.

Top Tip: Don’t worry if some bits remain, those add a nice texture to this drink!

In a medium pot pour the water, and add the sugar and cinnamon stick.

Bring to a boil, then set the heat to low. Cover, and let it simmer for about 5 minutes.

After the water has been infused and flavored with cinnamon, add the oats mixture while stirring with a spoon.

Then pour in the remaining milk and vanilla extract, and bring to a gentle simmer.

Cook while stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches a thick consistency that coats the back of a spoon (about 10 minutes).

Tip: Maintain medium-low heat while cooking to prevent burning or sticking to the bottom of the saucepan. Reduce the heat if it’s bubbling too vigorously.

Adjust sugar if needed, then turn off the heat and serve the comforting drink in mugs. Enjoy!

Tips & Notes

• You can adjust the oatmeal drink consistency by adding more milk to make it thinner or cooking it longer to make it thicker.
• When you add the oats mixture to the cinnamon-flavored water, make sure you do it while stirring to prevent lumps from forming.
• Atole has a tendency to form lumps if not stirred continuously. Use a whisk or a wooden spoon and keep stirring throughout the cooking process.
• You can make this drink vegan or dairy-free by using vegan beverages such as coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk, etc. If you do this, I recommend using 1/4 cup more oats since you’ll miss some of the creaminess from whole milk.
• Or you can leave the milk out and use only water, it is still a nutritious and fulfilling drink you can serve for breakfast. If you go this way, we recommend infusing the water with more spices, whole cloves, and anis star works wonderfully in this atole de avena recipe.
• This recipe is somehow similar to avena breakfast but on this version it becomes a drink instead a thick pudding. However, both are delicious and fulfilling!

What to Serve With Atole

This oat atole is a delicious and comforting beverage that can be enjoyed on its own, but it also pairs well with a variety of foods.

Here are some traditional and complementary options to serve with:

• Pan Dulce: The soft and colorful conchas complement the warm and slightly sweet flavor of atole.
• Tamales: Tamales are a classic Mexican dish and make a hearty addition to a breakfast or snack featuring atole. You can serve sweet pineapple tamales or savory chicken tamales.
• Empanadas: Empanadas are turnovers filled with sweet or savory fillings. Sweet pumpkin empanadas, can be a delightful pairing with atole.
• On its own: With a sprinkle of cinnamon powder or grated chocolate on top for a sweet afternoon treat. Perfect to warm you up on cold days!

How to Store This Mexican Oatmeal Drink

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.

FAQ

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