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Delicious Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal is filled with cozy spices and topped with tender bits of caramelized apples. This easy apple oatmeal is naturally sweetened and makes the perfect breakfast for a chilly morning! Add nuts for the ultimate treat!
Why you’ll love this easy homemade oatmeal!
Nothing screams fall quite like a warm, comforting bowl of this flavorful apple cinnamon oatmeal. Made with simple, wholesome ingredients like old fashioned oats and fresh apples, this is truly the perfect fall breakfast.
Oatmeal is my go-to breakfast most days, but especially in the fall and winter when the mornings are cool and crisp. This recipe includes a basic bowl of oatmeal that is taken to the next level when sautéed cinnamon apples are added as a topping. This dish is loaded with all the flavors you start craving in autumn, like fresh apples, warm spices and brown sugar. So good!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Bursting with flavor. Caramelized apples, cinnamon and oats come together for a breakfast that’s SO incredibly tasty and satisfying.
- Comforting. Apple pie oatmeal is warm, cozy and full of hearty goodness. It’s like waking up to a big hug and totally tastes like dessert!
- Healthy. Nutrient-rich oats and fruit make this a healthy, wholesome breakfast.
- Easy. This apple oatmeal recipe comes together so easily with only a handful of ingredients.
Ingredients needed
The ingredients for this brown sugar oatmeal recipe are listed fully down in the recipe card but let’s briefly go over the pantry staples needed including a few substitutions you can make as desired!
- Butter or coconut oil. For sautéing the cinnamon apples.
- Apple. Any variety of apple can be used, but I prefer a sweeter apple in this recipe. Try honeycrisp or pink lady.
- Brown sugar. To sweeten and caramelize the apple pieces. As desired, you could also use pure maple syrup instead.
- Spices. Get the ultimate cozy flavors from a mix of ground cinnamon and nutmeg. While not included in the recipe, a little vanilla extract would also go nicely with this!
- Cornstarch. Mixed with water to create a slurry, which will thicken the cinnamon apples.
- Old-fashioned oats. We’re using rolled oats to keep a nice creamy texture. Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats, if you need to keep this recipe gluten free.
- Water or Milk. I typically opt for a non-dairy milk such as oat milk or soy milk but really anything works well here. You can also just use water!
- Salt. To intensify flavors and balance all the ingredients.
- To serve. chopped nuts, maple syrup, extra splash of milk.
Types of apples to use
For this recipe, you really can’t go wrong! I suggest using your favorite variety of sweet apples. But, here are some ideas based on what I have found works best:
- Honey crisp apples
- Gala apples
- Granny smith apples for a more tart oatmeal
How to Make It
Just a reminder that you can find the FULL written healthy apple cinnamon oatmeal recipe down in the recipe card, but I want to quickly go over how to make them with visuals for you :)
For full, printable instructions, reference the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Prepare the cinnamon apples. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once it’s completely melted, add in the apples and stir until they are fully coated.
- Make the cornstarch slurry. While the apples cook, stir together the cornstarch and water in a small bowl and set aside. Turn the heat to low and stir in the cornstarch slurry. Once combined, stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Finish the cinnamon apples. Sauté for 8 minutes until nice and tender to your liking. The cook time depends on the thickness of your apples.
- Cook the oats. Meanwhile, make the oatmeal by bringing water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Once boiling, add in the oats and a pinch of salt. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often until thick. Store any leftovers in an airtight container.
Recipe Tips
This apple cinnamon oatmeal recipe is really straight-forward and easy to make, but here are a few tips, so your breakfast is perfect every time.
- Less sugar. Feel free to use less than the 2 tablespoons brown sugar. You can even sub with coconut sugar, if you’d like.
- Serving size. This recipe makes 2 medium-sized bowls of oatmeal. Feel free to double or triple the recipe, if you’re feeding a crowd or using this recipe for meal prep for the week.
- I like to leave the oatmeal plain and unsweetened because the apples are plenty sweet and really flavor the oatmeal once they’re added.
- Additional toppings. Any of these extras would be delicious: chopped walnuts or pecans, ground flax, chia seeds, shredded coconut, dried cranberries or raisins, yogurt and/or a drizzle of peanut butter or almond butter.
Frequently asked questions
Sweeter varieties like Honeycrisp, Gala, or Pink Lady caramelize beautifully and balance the warm spices really well. Granny Smith works if you like a more tart flavor. Honestly though, any apple you have on hand will be delicious.
We recommend old-fashioned rolled oats to create the best creamy, perfectly chewy texture. However, you can use quick oats or steel cut oats if that’s what you have in your kitchen. Take note, though, the ratio of water to oats and cooking times will vary.
This recipe for apple-flavored oatmeal is a very nutritious breakfast because oatmeal is a complex carbohydrate that fuels your body all morning and it contains over 5 grams of protein per serving. Add nuts, milk or Greek yogurt for more protein. You can also add chia seeds and/or nut butter for a boost of healthy fats.
For busier mornings you can prep this oatmeal the night before. Cook as directed, then store apples and oatmeal in separate containers in the refrigerator. In the morning, take out of the fridge and top the oatmeal with apples and reheat in the microwave with a splash of almond milk or water.
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Video
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoons butter or coconut oil
- 1 large apple, peeled, cored and chopped into bite sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch + 2 tablespoons of water
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- Pinch salt
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once it’s completely melted, add in the apples and stir until they are fully coated. Cook for 8 minutes until nice and tender to your liking. The cook time depends on the thickness of your apples.1 1/2 tablespoons butter or coconut oil, 1 large apple
- While the apples cook, stir together the cornstarch and water in a small bowl and set aside. Turn the heat to low and stir in the cornstarch slurry. Once combined, stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.2 tablespoons brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon cornstarch + 2 tablespoons of water, 2 cups water, Pinch nutmeg
- Meanwhile, make the oatmeal by bringing the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Once boiling, add in the oats and a pinch of salt. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often until thick. Divide the oatmeal between 2 bowls and top evenly with the cinnamon apples. ENJOY!1 cup old fashioned oats, Pinch salt
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
what a lovely fall breakfast! I can’t eat raw apples, so this is a delicious way to add them to my diet.
There is a spot in the recipe where it calls for 2 cups of water in the apple spicing section. I think that is meant to go with the oats? I didn’t add the 2 cups of water but it might be confusing to people.
thank you for pointing that out! I’ll fix it so it’s more clear!
I tried this recipe this morning and it was sooo good! I really wish I had some nuts or other toppings to add to it because I know it would have just brought it to another level, but it was wonderful without <3