Are you on the pumpkin train? Have you been ordering pumpkin spice lattes like it’s your job? Or are you, like me, a bigger fan of pumpkin foods that actually contain pumpkin, like pumpkin pie, pumpkin snickerdoodles and pumpkin pancakes? Either way, I think you’ll like this pumpkin oatmeal. It’s super easy, full of real pumpkin (Vitamin A FTW!) and filling. Plus, you get to control the level of sweetness — so you can decide whether you want it pie-like or more on the savory side.

Let’s get started!

Predictably, you’ll need oats and pumpkin. Also: spices, some kind of milk and water.

Please don’t be alarmed if you’ve never made oatmeal on the stovetop before. This is tastes much better and is better for you than the instant kind, and it only takes a few minutes longer. If you can open a can, turn on the stove and stir, you can do this.

And it’s totally fine if you use pumpkin pie spice instead of ground cloves and nutmeg. Just make sure you put a good amount of spices in there — and maybe some pecans on top?

Pumpkin spice oatmeal (Makes 2 large or 3 medium servings)
1 cup water
1 cup milk (I used coconut milk, but plain almond milk or any cow’s milk would be good)
1 cup canned pumpkin (make sure it’s just pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling)
1 1/4 cup rolled oats (“old fashioned,” not instant, quick or steel-cut)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (if you don’t have cloves and nutmeg, substitute 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice)
Maple syrup or brown sugar to taste
Pecans (optional)

Combine the water, milk and pumpkin in a medium saucepan over high heat. Stir to dissolve the pumpkin in the mixture, and allow the liquid to come to a boil.

Stir in the oats and spices and turn down the heat to low. Allow to cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes, or until the oatmeal is thick. Remove the oatmeal from the heat and allow to sit for a minute or two (the oatmeal will continue to thicken), then stir in brown sugar or maple syrup (a little goes a long way) and top with raw or toasted pecan pieces to serve.