Instant Pot Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins AKA BeeBo Bites

These Oatmeal Muffins are named after my son and are very near and dear to my heart.  They are a perfectly sweet bite of portable oatmeal and an absolute joy to eat for breakfast, lunch, or a snack.

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Sponsored by Bob's Red Mill

This recipe was originally published in February 2018.  I'm updating the recipe with some details to make them even more tasty, but the story of my son I've left as is.  Enjoy!

These BeeBo Bites are named after my son.  I have twin boys and one of them is loud, curious/mischievous, and lives and breathes for attention – be it positive or negative.  The other one, however, is mostly quiet, thoughtful, and naturally desires to be good and choose the right.  His nickname is BeeBo.

I waited for him to get off the bus one day and watched as his strong, brave face melted into tears at the first sight of me.  All he could choke out was “the kids were so mean to me today” as he cried into my shoulder.  My mommy heart ached more than I could stand.

Eventually, he told me that a kid had teased him in class and then proceeded to gather more kids on the bus to tease him all the way home.  Oh, how the mama bear in me wanted to go break down some doors!

Strangely enough, this incident is where this recipe began.

This recipe came to me in the early hours of the morning while everyone was still asleep.  I had pulled out ingredients with the intent of making something involving oatmeal, but I was too busy thinking about how I could start BeeBo's day off right.

As I racked my brain of how to make everything all better for him, ingredients and measurements instead seemed to pour into my mind.

What came out of my pressure cooker that morning was the cutest, fluffiest, most moist and portable oatmeal bite I've ever seen.  I knew my kids would love them.

But I hadn't solved the problem yet on how to bring a smile to my sad boy's face and how to renew his confidence to go face the world.  That was when inspiration hit.  I would call these Oatmeal Power Muffins, BeeBo Bites.  I would dedicate this recipe to him because he is strong and capable of meeting this new day with fearless power.

As the kids gathered around the table I told them of my new creation and I wish I had a picture of the smile that spread across my son's face when I told him this recipe was named after him.  The fact that everyone loved them and kept making comments like, “Wow, BeeBo, you taste good” (followed by lots of giggles) “BeeBo bites are the best breakfast ever” “Can I take Beebo Bites to school for lunch” was just icing on the cake.

Despite the fact that these bites are simply the most amazing, delicious, and healthy form of portable oatmeal, they are also a roundabout method of helping my boy get lots of positive attention that lifts his spirits in a way that just my words of comfort can't.

I learned that day that being a mom is never black and white and my “techniques” may work one day and wreak havoc the next.

And sometimes, just sometimes a broken heart can be mended by simply naming a yummy little oatmeal muffin after a boy in need of a self-esteem boost.

Parenting tip learned by heavenly inspiration, as most best ideas are.

Now let's talk more about these muffins

WHY YOU WILL LOVE OATMEAL MUFFINS IN THE INSTANT POT

• Is it a muffin?  Is it oatmeal?  It's a combo of both!  The texture is very unique.  The best way I can describe it is soft, cushy, handheld oatmeal
• Loaded with protein from eggs, yogurt, oats and a dash of antioxidant rich blueberries.  Nice knowin' ya to-do list, you're gonna be nonexistent by noon!
• Perfect on-the-go breakfast for kids and adults alike, more on that below

HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY OATMEAL MUFFINS

1. Mix up your wet ingredients
2. Stir in your dry (don't over mix!)
3. Stir in blueberries
4. Use a cookie scoop to divide batter into silicone trays
5. Stack bottom tray with mason jar lids
6. Stack the second tray on top (this keeps them from sitting directly on top of each other which would prevent the muffins in the bottom tray from rising)
7. Cook for 10 minutes
8. Let cool slightly
9. Use a knife to scrape around the edge of the muffin, then turn onto a cooling rack

GLUTEN FREE OATMEAL MUFFINS IN THE INSTANT POT

I did a gluten free deep dive in this Oatmeal Muffin post comparing almond flour, oat flour, and Bob's Red Mill's gluten-free flour blend.  They are all slightly different in texture, but we loved them all.  My favorite was the oat flour, my kid's favorite was the GF Blend.  If you follow a gluten-free diet or just want a yummy spin on the original, give them a try!

HEALTHY BREAKFAST ON THE GO (OR LUNCH!)

I absolutely love these glass containers.  They have a leak-proof seal around the exterior as well as down the middle.  This makes it so I can pack a couple of Denver Style Egg Bites with salsa on one side, and Oatmeal Muffins and fruit on the other side without the dreaded smell or ingredient transfer happening.

The containers are leak proof, dishwasher safe, and microwave friendly.  They are seriously amazing!

LUNCH BOX IDEA FOR KIDS

I don't particularly like sending my kids to school with glass containers, so for them, I use these bombproof Bento Boxes.  I'm in my third year of these and they are still going strong.  It's hard to find a good leak proof kid lunch box, so I was thrilled to find these!

One of their favorite lunches is a hard boiled egg, fruit, carrot sticks, and 2 or 3 Oatmeal Muffins.  That's a lot of solid nutrition there, even if they toss the carrots.

VARIATIONS OF HEALTHY OATMEAL MUFFINS

• Gluten Free Oatmeal Muffins AKA Beebo Bites
• Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Muffins
• Sky's the limit!  Raisins, strawberries, peaches, chocolate chips, etc

Now go make somebody in your life a bit happier with a hug and a BeeBo Bite.  Their day will be ever brighter!

And if you try these, let me know what you think.  I'd love to tell my son that there are others out there loving his BeeBo Bites!