In the Harry Potter books, porridge makes a regular appearance at the Hogwarts breakfast table where Harry, Ron, and Hermione dine each morning. This delightful recipe for Hogwarts Scottish Porridge features stone-ground oats simmered with milk, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla until lusciously thick and creamy. This warm and cozy breakfast dish is perfect for cold fall and winter mornings, bringing a touch of magic to the start of your day.
"The four long house tables were laden with tureens of porridge, plates of kippers, mountains of toast, and dishes of eggs and bacon, beneath the enchanted ceiling (today, a dull, cloudy gray). Harry an Ron sat down at the Gryffindor table next to Hermione, who had her copy of Voyages with Vampires propped open against a milk jug." -- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Jump to:
- What is porridge, exactly?
- Ingredients needed to make Hogwarts Scottish Porridge
- Scottish Porridge Fit For the Hogwarts Great Hall
- Pairing Suggestions for Hogwarts Scottish Porridge
- Tips for Perfecting Your Porridge
- Essential Tools for Making Hogwarts Scottish Porridge
- Easy Meal Prep
- Looking for More Cozy Brunch Recipes?
- Looking for More Harry Potter-Inspired Recipes?
- Hogwarts Scottish Porridge
What is porridge, exactly?
Porridge, a quintessential breakfast dish, typically consists of crushed or ground grains—often oats—boiled in water or milk, seasoned with a hint of salt, and served piping hot.
While similar, Scottish Porridge, Irish Oatmeal, and American Oatmeal differ in the coarseness of their oats. Scottish Porridge employs fine stone-ground oats, Irish Oatmeal uses coarser steel-cut or "pinhead" oats, and American Oatmeal relies on rolled oats.
In Scotland, porridge is often served with milk or cream and various toppings such as sugar, honey, maple syrup, butter, and fresh or dried fruit. Elevating the traditional recipe, I incorporate a dash of nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla into the porridge base, infusing it with an aromatic sweetness.
Ingredients needed to make Hogwarts Scottish Porridge
To craft this magical Hogwarts Scottish Porridge recipe, gather these essential ingredients:
- Scottish Oats: These fine stone-ground oats form the foundation, lending a luxurious, velvety texture and a hearty, nutty flavor to the porridge.
- Milk: When crafting porridge, some recipes omit milk entirely, but I prefer a half-water and half-milk liquid ratio. This blend infuses the porridge with a creamy richness that elevates its texture and taste. I favor whole milk for maximum creaminess, but you can also use nut milk if you prefer.
- Water: A touch of water helps achieve the ideal consistency, ensuring the porridge is thick and comforting without being overly heavy.
- Nutmeg: Sprinkle in the warmth and cozy vibes with a touch of nutmeg. It adds that special something, infusing the porridge with a comforting, earthy sweetness that makes each spoonful feel like a warm hug on a chilly morning.
- Cinnamon: The warming essence of cinnamon elevates the flavor profile and brings a cozy, comforting aroma that makes each creamy bite feel extra warm and inviting.
- Salt: A pinch of salt -- whether you opt for sea salt or kosher salt -- is essential for a well-rounded porridge. Salt helps open up the flavors of the oats and balances the richness for a perfectly flavorful bowl of Scottish porridge.
- Vanilla: The gentle sweetness of vanilla infuses the porridge with flavor and a comforting aroma.
Scottish Porridge Fit For the Hogwarts Great Hall
While the favored toppings aren't explicitly detailed in the Harry Potter series, one can envision the house elves presenting a deliciously magical array of choices for the Hogwarts students and teachers to dress their porridge bowls with.
Some of My Favorite Hogwarts Scottish Porridge Toppings for a Magical Breakfast:
- Fresh fruit: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, peaches, nectarines, bananas, pears, apples, plums
- Dried fruit: raisins, currants, blueberries, apricots
- Roasted nuts and seeds: Almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds
- Nut and seed butter: peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, sun butter
- Nutella
- Jam
- Greek yogurt
- Honey or maple syrup
- Brown sugar or coconut sugar
- Butter
- Shredded coconut
- Marshmallows
- Cocoa nibs or chocolate chips
- Milk, nut milk, or cream
Pairing Suggestions for Hogwarts Scottish Porridge
- Coffee or Tea: Enjoy your porridge with a cup of coffee or pair it with English Breakfast, Earl Grey, or a calming chamomile tea for a cozy morning ritual.
- Freshly Squeezed Juice: Pair the creamy porridge with a vibrant glass of orange juice or Hogwarts-favorite ice-cold pumpkin juice.
- Sliced Toast or Warm Croissants: Serve alongside slices of buttered toast or warm, flaky croissants.
- Bacon or Sausages: Consider a savory side of crisp bacon or breakfast sausages to balance the sweetness of the porridge.
- Fresh Fruit: Accompany your bowl of Scottish porridge with a platter of fresh fruit such as berries, stone fruit, sliced banana, pineapple, grapes, or mango.
Tips for Perfecting Your Porridge
- Heat Control and Stirring: Initiate the cooking process at medium-high heat to bring the mixture to a simmer. Then, reduce it to medium-low for gradual thickening without compromising creaminess. Don’t forget to stir occasionally for the smoothest consistency.
- Adjust the Richness and Creaminess: Experiment with the water-to-milk ratio to achieve your desired richness and consistency. Increasing the milk content results in a richer, creamier porridge, while reducing it slightly maintains deliciousness with a touch less richness and creaminess.
- Adding Spices: Add nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla towards the end of cooking to preserve their aromatic essence, ensuring their delightful flavors infuse the porridge without losing their aromatic potency.
- Resting Period: After cooking, allow the porridge to rest briefly off the heat, enabling it to thicken further and attain the ideal consistency.
- Personalize Toppings: Elevate your porridge by exploring various toppings from fruit or nuts to various sweeteners, adding a personalized touch each time you enjoy a bowl.
Essential Tools for Making Hogwarts Scottish Porridge
- A kitchen scale (or measuring cups for less precise measuring)
- Liquid measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- A medium saucepan or soup pot
- A wooden spoon or silicone spatula for stirring
Are you looking to upgrade your cooking tools or replenish your pantry? Check out my kitchen tools shop page and pantry staples shop page to find my must-have kitchen tools, pantry items, and other Whip & Wander favorites.
Easy Meal Prep
What makes this Hogwarts Scottish Porridge recipe a favorite go-to is its suitability for easy meal prep. Prepare a generous batch on Sunday morning, storing the surplus in microwavable glass containers or Weck jars for convenient, portable breakfasts throughout the week.
Looking for More Cozy Brunch Recipes?
- Harry Potter-Inspired Pumpkin Pasties
- Hagrid's Rock Cakes
- Steel-Cut Oats with Whisky Butter
- Oatmeal with Roasted Pears, Walnuts, and Toasted Cream
- French Hot Chocolate Oatmeal
- Gingerbread Granola
- Sourdough Discard Pumpkin Scones
Looking for More Harry Potter-Inspired Recipes?
Explore an enchanting collection of Harry Potter-inspired recipes and other magical content HERE.
Print
Hogwarts Scottish Porridge
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 14 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: British, Scottish
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
In the Harry Potter books, porridge makes a regular appearance at the Hogwarts breakfast table where Harry, Ron, and Hermione dine each morning. This delightful recipe for Hogwarts Scottish Porridge features stone-ground oats simmered with milk, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla until lusciously thick and creamy. This warm and cozy breakfast dish is perfect for cold fall and winter mornings, bringing a touch of magic to the start of your day.
Ingredients
- 144 g (1 cup) Scottish oats
- 12 oz (1 ½ cups) whole milk (may use dairy-free milk alternative)
- 12 oz (1 ½ cups) water
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼th teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt
- ½ tsp vanilla
The Hogwarts Scottish Porridge depicted in this post is dressed with the following toppings:
- Bowl #1: Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries Greek yogurt
- Bowl #2: Pecans, walnuts, sliced almonds, melted brown sugar
For more topping ideas check out the Scottish Porridge Fit for the Hogwarts Great Hall section earlier in the post.
Instructions
- In a medium pot over medium-high heat, bring together Scottish oats, milk, water, and a pinch of salt to a simmer.
- Once the mixture comes to a simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low and let it cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally until the porridge begins to thicken.
- Add nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla into the pot, stirring well to combine.
- Continue cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes until the porridge reaches a thick, yet pourable consistency.
- Remove the pot from heat and allow the porridge to rest for 1-2 minutes; it will further thicken during this time.
- Serve immediately, customizing with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Nutritional information on Whip & Wander is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving porridge made with whole milk (no toppings)
- Calories: 199
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 134 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 9 mg
Ron says
Would just like to say that if you have a coffee grinder or a Nutri-bullet with a seed grinder or whatever, you can make your own Scottish oats, just use 1 cup rolled oats throw them in the grinder until all the whole oats disappear, it only takes a couple seconds, or else you will end up with oat flour if you grind it too long. This was my first time having real porridge, I was skeptical about the liquid quantity,it is way more than regular oats, but the recipe is quite right. Thanks. I really enjoyed it.
Rebecca says
My children and I ‘conjured’ this porridge to celebrate Harry Potter’s birthday. One added sliced bananas, the other maple syrup, Thumbs-up all around!! The novelty of eating like at Hogwarts was powerful: the one who is usually revolted by oatmeal asked for more porridge the following morning! Thank you for sharing your recipe and your beautiful photos!
Whip & Wander says
Rebecca, thank you so much for your kind words. I am delighted that your children loved this recipe and you all had fun celebrating the occasion together!
Jacqui Debono says
We have porridge most mornings when it's cold - I even use a spurtle! I like mine with a little bit of cream on top too (only on special occasions for that!).
Trish Bozeman says
I'm loving this Harry Potter series! Definitely making this with my kiddo when we start reading the books. Nutritious AND exciting. 🙂
Whip & Wander says
Thanks, Trish! I hope you and the kiddos enjoy!
Debra says
Your creativity is awesome! I love oatmeal. I could eat it every day...and this is anew prep method for me. YAY. More ways to enjoy it. I think the toppings are the best part...great suggestions.
Whip & Wander says
Thanks, Debra! No excuses for a boring bowl of porridge!
Jim says
I make breakfast at our house and I'm always looking for new ways to prepare oatmeal. Haven't tried the porridge but sounds like a great way to switch things up.
Whip & Wander says
It's really a fun recipe. Make sure to check out the full list of ideas for topping your porridge. There's no excuse for a boring bowl of cereal with it!
Tracy says
You know, I never knew what the difference crease between porridge and oatmeal! Thanks so much for that little lesson! Also, I just love love love all yourHarry Potter recipes. I’m bookmarking them all for when my girls start reading the books. It will be soooo fun to create these with them!!
Whip & Wander says
Thanks, Tracy! I hope you and your girls love making and eating them together!
Sean@Diversivore says
I've always been a little on-the-fence about porridge, but a) the way you've dressed it up in these gorgeous photos is making me wonder why exactly I've resisted in the past, and b) Harry Potter! C'mon, who hasn't wished that they could dive into one of those gigantic Hogwart's spreads? It's literary-culinary-escapism at its best. My kids are just a touch on the young side to start diving into Harry Potter but I figure it's coming soon. We'll have to plan a themed breakfast 😀
Whip & Wander says
I think so many people are on the fence about hot cereal because they've had bad experiences in the past (cough instant packets). But homemade porridge is totally delicious! I hope you give this recipe a try!