Juice instead of water: For added sweetness and flavor, try substituting the water with any unsweetened fruit juice (like orange, tangerine, pineapple or apple). I've used orange juice instead of water, and also added the zest from the orange and it was really tasty (if you try this, don't blend the zest, just add it at the end while stirring everything together).
Nut options: Any kind of chopped or small nuts would work here, but I think the texture of the sliced almonds is my favorite. I’ve also used chopped walnuts, pecans and sunflower seeds.
Raw raisins and nuts: If you don't want to cook your raisins and/or nuts, feel free to toss them in with the oat mixture after cooking.