Sweet, gooey and caffeinated Almond Butter-Caramel Macchiato Oats with a Protein punch too! This warm bowl of coffee protein oats is topped with a homemade Vegan salted caramel sauce – a delicious and healthy alternative to your favorite caramel latte.

Okay this is kind of a cheaters caramel coffee oatmeal.

All the authentic flavors, but not the conventional ingredients.

A normal caramel macchiato would need that espresso shot and splash of milk, but I used Instant coffee. I do not do coffee. Like at all; It’s just too bitter. So I don’t have anything that would let me make a real espresso.

And then no caramel here either (cringes at the thought of having all that sugar). It’s a homemade Vegan caramel made with almond butter.

Guys this tasted JUST LIKE THE REAL DEAL! I was beyond impressed.

And all in all the caramel and coffee flavor totally worked out!

Almond Butter Caramel Macchiato Oats Ingredients:

This high protein oatmeal recipe uses steel cut oats for a rich nutty flavor, but you can replace it regular rolled oats as well.

Here’s the full list of what you need to make this healthy chocolate oatmeal:

Steel cut oats
Water to cook the oats
Cauliflower Rice to bulk up the oatmeal, or just double the oats, water and almond milk
A good Vanilla Protein Powder to add some sweetness and also make it a high protein oatmeal. I love adding Quest Protein Powder to my oatmeal recipes.
Instant Coffee for a quick coffee oatmeal without a coffee maker!
Almond Milk to thin out the oats after adding the dry ingredients, and keep it dairy free – no milk in here

If your protein powder is not sweet enough, add some sweetener – I recommend stevia for a sugar free coffee protein oatmeal.

For a Gluten Free and Vegan salted caramel oats, use gluten free oatmeal and a suitable protein powder.

If you prefer a salted caramel or just vanilla latte oatmeal instead of a caramel macchiato oatmeal, just add some extra milk or reduce the amount of instant coffee.

Why Cauliflower Rice Oatmeal?

I always make riced cauliflower oatmeal since it adds in bulk without all the carbs and calories that the same amount of oats would add.

Another benefit of adding cauliflower to oatmeal is that you eat vegetables for breakfast without even tasting them!

How to cook Creamy Steel Cut Oats on the Stove?

There’s plenty of ways to do this (instant pot, crock pot, baked), but this recipe is for stovetop steel cut oatmeal.

For every 1 cup of dry oats, you want to add 3 cups of liquid.

So here’s steel cut oats stovetop directions:

Let the water and milk boil, then add the dry steel cut oats.
Let it boil again, reduce the heat, cover and let the oatmeal cook for about 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Try to use a non stick sauce pan, since the oats get thick really quick and tend to stick to the bottom while cooking.

Make sure to stir the mix every now and then so it doesn’t stick to the bottom – non stick pan or not.

Vegan Almond Butter Caramel Sauce?

Yes! This recipe uses a Vegan nut butter caramel sauce – almond butter here.

Almond Butter: This vegan caramel sauce has no coconut and no butter, so it’s a lot healthier.
Maple Syrup: Use a stevia or monk fruit sweetened syrup for a sugar free Vegan Caramel
Pure Vanilla Extract
Optionally, a pinch of Salt for a salted caramel oatmeal; You could also use salted almond butter instead.

How to make Vegan Caramel Oatmeal with Instant Coffee

This recipe for caramel macchiato oats or caramel latte oatmeal is super easy to put together once you have the cooked steel cut oats or rolled oats and the vegan caramel sauce.

Warm the riced cauliflower in the microwave for about 1 and half minute so it gets tender and mixes completely with the oats.

Then stir together all the coffee protein oats ingredients in a bowl: cooked oatmeal, cauliflower rice, protein powder, instant coffee and milk.

This recipe for caramel macchiato oats or caramel latte oatmeal is super easy to put together once you have the cooked steel cut oats or rolled oats and the vegan caramel sauce.

Can you store this Caramel Macchiato Oatmeal with Cauliflower Rice?

Yes!

I always meal prep my steel cut oats, and you can do the same with regular rolled oats as well, for a quick breakfast.

Cook the oats, and let it cool.
If you’re using fresh cauliflower, pulse it in a food processor to make the cauliflower rice.

Make the Vegan caramel sauce with almond butter.

Keep them all in the fridge, in separate airtight containers, for up to a week.

When you crave the salted caramel protein oats, microwave the oats for about a minute, add the cauliflower, then microwave for about 1 min 30-40 seconds.

Continue with the vanilla protein powder oatmeal as per the recipe, add a little extra milk to thin and top it with the caramel sauce!

Some more delicious Healthy Proats Ideas?