Magic Spoon Maple Brown Sugar Protein Oatmeal is already easy to make and high in protein. But it's the creamy texture, sweet maple flavor and hunger-crushing power that earned it a Taste of Home Award.

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Long gone are the days when I called a large coffee breakfast, ignoring my rumbling tummy until lunch—thank goodness! Life is too busy for an afternoon energy crash, and skipping breakfast is the biggest culprit for that awful feeling. I’ve got weights to lift and a to-do list to conquer, so starting the day right is essential. I’d love to be a make-ahead breakfast person, but I’m not. I need something that requires minimal effort while my coffee kicks in and I yell for my kid to get out of bed.

I’ve got quick and easy dinners down pat, but smart shortcuts at breakfast are still something I’m exploring. When I saw Magic Spoon Protein Oatmeal at the store, it seemed to fit the bill, so I gave it a try. I chose maple brown sugar, my favorite oatmeal flavor. I polished it off in a flash, pleasantly surprised at the creamy texture and blast of maple. Once I realized it also gave me enough energy to power through the morning, I knew it deserved a Taste of Home Award.

Magic Spoon Protein Oatmeal
VIA MERCHANT
Taste of Home Award

Magic Spoon Protein Oatmeal

Magic Spoon Protein Oatmeal Has Just Enough Texture and Sweetness

Oatmeal has been a go-to breakfast my whole life. I’m especially partial to the chewy texture and nutty taste of steel-cut oats, but since they take ages to cook and easily overflow if you don’t watch the pot, I resigned myself to quick-cooking oats during the week. They always ended up being too soft and mild to spark any breakfast joy, so I eventually gave them up. Even though Magic Spoon Protein Oatmeal technically qualifies as quick-cooking oats, I saw chia seeds and flaxseed listed in the ingredients, which gave me hope for some depth of flavor and chew—despite its 45-second cooking time.

close up of oatmeal on a spoon with a bowl containing more oatmeal and blueberries in the background
MELISSA GAMAN FOR TASTE OF HOME

I mixed the contents of a package with water in a bowl and stirred well to dissolve any lumps before heating. The oats were creamy, thanks to the milk protein isolate, and thick enough to easily scoop but far from the gruel-like texture I’ve had with other instant oatmeal packages. The flaxseed adds a toasty flavor, and the chia seeds offer a gentle pop of crunch (the fact that they are a high-fiber food is a bonus if you are in your fibermaxxing era).

As for the maple taste, I really appreciate that Magic Spoon uses maple powder made from maple syrup rather than maple flavoring, as in pancake syrup. Maple syrup and pancake syrup are different, and the gentler flavor of real maple goes a long way toward preventing the oatmeal from tasting artificial. There isn’t any brown sugar in the blend, but the sweetness from allulose, stevia and monk fruit, combined with the maple, gives it the same effect. I didn’t feel any of the three sweeteners were too intense, so even if you don’t usually care for them, this oatmeal is still worth trying.

If you prefer overnight oatmeal, you are in luck because instead of heating this protein oatmeal, you can mix it and refrigerate it for a ready-to-go breakfast or snack the next day. I generally favor hot oats, but even cold, these had a great texture that wasn’t too thick or runny. Prepared with water, it’s a perfect pre-workout light meal. It also pairs well with toppings—my favorite combination is blueberries and a dollop of Greek yogurt.

Where to Find Magic Spoon Protein Oatmeal

I picked up Magic Spoon Protein Oatmeal at my local Target on an end cap display with other new products, but it may be in the oatmeal aisle at your store. There are three flavors: Banana Bread, Apple Cinnamon, and Maple Brown Sugar, which was the best. It’s not currently at my big grocery store (ShopRite), so I looked it up and saw that it’s also available at Walmart and can be ordered online through Amazon or the Magic Spoon website.

I’ll definitely be keeping a box or two on hand from now on. I’m out of excuses for skipping breakfast!

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