This apple cinnamon oatmeal combines a creamy base made of nutrient-dense ingredients with a healthy and flavourful apple topping making this breakfast taste like an apple pie.
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I’m a lover of comforting food. So, I will choose a warm meal over a cold one any day. Especially in Fall and Winter, I like to start my day with something that fills me up until lunchtime and warms me from the inside out. Like a hug in a bowl.
This apple cinnamon oatmeal is my version of an apple pie turned into a healthy breakfast treat. It contains the rich flavour of an apple pie but without a load of simple carbs and sugar. The best part? You can meal prep this the evening before and eat it throughout the week.
Love a nourishing and fruity breakfast? Try this Apple and Plum Crumble, Stone Fruit Salad and Healthy Mixed Berry Compote to start your morning on a flavourful note.
Is this apples & cinnamon oatmeal healthy?
While this oatmeal tastes like a delicious piece of apple pie, it is packed with nourishing ingredients like oats, nuts, and cinnamon. But what makes this a real MVP is the hidden superfood it contains. Because this oatmeal also contains flaxseeds.
Flaxseeds are loaded with nutrients like fibre, omega-3 fatty acids, and a balanced dose of protein. Adding them to your meals can boost your digestive system, promotes a healthy heart, and keeps you full longer. Sounds great, right? So sprinkle that superfood over your oatmeal, granola, and smoothies to reap all those benefits.
Tip: Use ground flaxseeds instead of the whole ones. This makes digesting them easier and absorbing the nutrients a breeze.
Ingredients
For the oatmeal:
- Rolled oats – I use rolled oats in this recipe as they are cooked quickly. Cooked in the liquid, it creates a creamy texture.
- Liquid – This recipe works with regular milk, plant-based milk or water.
- Vanilla extract – I tried it with vanilla extract and dried ground vanilla. Both work great in this breakfast. For 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, use ¼ teaspoon ground vanilla bean.
- Cinnamon – Ground cinnamon is best to use in this recipe. Alternatively, cook a whole cinnamon stick with the oatmeal and remove it before eating.
- Hazelnut meal – You can also use ground almonds, walnuts or other nuts to your liking.
- Flaxseeds – Add ground flaxseeds for extra fibre and omega-3 fatty acids.
For the apple cinnamon topping:
- Apple – This apple topping is delicious when made with a sweeter variety of apples. I used Pink Lady in this recipe.
- Honey – If you want to make this vegan, substitute the honey for maple or agave syrup.
- Cinnamon – Use ground cinnamon if you have it on hand. Alternatively, cook a cinnamon stick with the apples and remove after half the cooking time.
Instructions
For the apple topping: Chore and chop the apple and heat the honey in a saucepan over medium heat.
Add the apple pieces, add the cinnamon and water, and bring to a boil. Stir to combine, cover with a lid and cook on low to medium heat for about 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, bring the milk or water in another saucepan to a boil.
Add the oats, cinnamon powder and vanilla extract. Stir well, turn down the heat to the lowest heat point and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
Remove the oatmeal from the heat and stir in the ground hazelnuts and flaxseeds.
Divide the oatmeal into two bowls, jars or glasses and top with the cooked apple. Sprinkle with more cinnamon if you like, and serve.
Tips and substitutions
- This oatmeal would also taste great with pears or other seasonal fruits like plums, grapes and apricots.
- Out of milk? Use water instead to make this easy oatmeal recipe.
- This is an ideal recipe to meal prep your breakfast to have ready in no time when you need it. Find tips on how to prep and store this in the Recipe FAQs.
Top tip
Sprinkle with extra ground cinnamon before serving to make this oatmeal even cosier and taste like an apple pie.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, I change out the fruits according to season and taste. In Fall, I make this with pears and grapes. In Winter, I would add pomegranate seeds and juice instead of water. When Spring and Summer fruits are at their best, I make this with berries, stone fruits and much more.
Use any fruit you like and play with different spices like vanilla, cardamom, nutmeg and ground ginger to complement the fruits you use.
This is a perfect meal prep recipe. For the apple topping, cook a bunch of apples and adjust the quantities to the number of apples you use.
For the warm oatmeal, I like to portion the dry ingredients (oats, hazelnut meal, ground flaxseeds and store them in small airtight containers. When I want to eat the oatmeal, I just add milk or water and cook it on the stove or in the microwave on 600W for about a minute.
You can store the cooked apples in an airtight container. In the fridge, they will last for about 3 to 4 days.
For storing the oatmeal, see the question above.
Yes, this apple cinnamon oatmeal can easily be made vegan. When cooking the oats, use plant-based milk instead of regular milk. Substituting the milk for water works great too. I always do that when I don’t have milk at home.
When making the apple topping, swap out the honey for maple syrup or agave nectar to make it entirely plant-based.
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Equipment
- pots
- cooking spoon
Ingredients
For the oatmeal
- 100 g rolled oats (1 cup)
- 500 ml milk, plant-based milk or water (2 cups)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 2 tablespoon ground hazelnuts
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds
For the apple cinnamon topping
- 1 apple (sweeter variety, e.g. Pink Lady)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 2 tablespoon water
Instructions
- For the apple topping chore and chop the apple and heat the honey in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the apple pieces, add the cinnamon and water, and bring to a boil. Stir to combine, cover with a lid and cook on low to medium heat for about 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, bring the milk or water in another saucepan to a boil. Add the oats, cinnamon powder and vanilla extract. Stir well, turn down the heat to the lowest heat point and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Remove the oatmeal from the heat and stir in the ground hazelnuts and flaxseeds.
- Divide the oatmeal into two bowls, jars or glasses and top with the cooked apple. Sprinkle with more cinnamon if you like, and serve.
Notes
- This oatmeal would also taste great with pears or other seasonal fruits like pears, plums, and grapes.
- Make this recipe vegan by using plant-based milk instead of regular milk and maple or agave syrup instead of honey.
- Out of milk? Use water instead to make this easy oatmeal recipe.
- This is an ideal recipe to meal prep your breakfast to have ready in no time when you need it. Find tips on how to prep and store this in the Recipe FAQs.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only calculated with online tools. The author of this website is not a nutritionist nor a doctor. All the nutritional data provided in the recipes and correspondent blog posts are for informational purposes only. Do not use the information as nutritional or medical advice. Since the nutritional value can vary depending on the products used, it is recommended to calculate it based on the actual type of ingredients used.
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