This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Nothing starts the day better than a hot and healthy bowl of apple cinnamon oatmeal!
In this quick stovetop oatmeal recipe, rolled oats are simmered in a creamy mixture of brown sugar & spice with fresh apples. Top with with crunchy pecans before serving!
Oatmeal is packed with nutrition, antioxidants, fiber, and all the B-vitamin energy to get through the day!
An Easy Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Recipe
- Just 3 easy steps to prepare this breakfast recipe!
- Prepare a double batch at the beginning of the week to have healthy breakfasts all week long.
- Pop leftovers in a muffin tin and put them into the freezer for individual portions ready anytime.
Ingredients
Oats – Use old-fashioned oats (also called rolled oats). They have a firmer texture than quick oats. If you’d like to use steel-cut oats increase the liquid and cook them partway. Add the apples 15 minutes before they are ready so the apples don’t get mushy.
Milk – A splash of milk added to the cooking water adds a creamy texture to this oatmeal recipe. Non-dairy milk works perfecto too.
Add-Ins – Granny Smith is our first choice for how it holds its shape and adds a nice tart flavor. Raisins are added for sweetness but swap them out for cranberries (or other dried fruits) if you don’t love raisins.
Variations
Swap the granny smith apple for another kind of apple. Gala, fuji, honeycrisp, or your favorite apple will all work. Change the milk for a dairy-free milk, such as almond milk, and butter for coconut oil to make it vegan.
Add a topping of chopped pecans, sliced almonds, chopped walnuts, or mix in other dried fruit. For a touch of sweetness, try adding cinnamon sugar or topping with maple syrup or honey!
Frozen berries or frozen bananas are great to stir in before serving (and help cool the oatmeal to serve to kids!).
How to Make Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Oatmeal is so warm and comforting, and it’s super easy to make a hot and healthy breakfast with this easy recipe. Top with nuts, whipped cream, extra brown sugar, fruit, or fruit preserves.
- Heat water, milk, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a saucepan per the recipe below.
- Once simmering, stir in the oats, apples, and raisins and let cook.
- Once thickened, stir in the butter and top with pecans.
Tips for Perfect Oatmeal
- Cook the oats in a combination of water and milk for a creamy consistency.
- Swap out the cinnamon for apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice, or sprinkle in some nutmeg.
- For this recipe, it’s best to use old-fashioned (or rolled) oats. Quick oats or easy oats will become too soft.
- If your oatmeal thickens too much, stir in some milk, cream, or even applesauce to thin it out.
- The apples and raisins add more texture, but feel free to add nuts or coconut.
More Oatmeal Dishes
Did you love this Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup milk
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar or to taste
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups old fashioned oats
- 1 granny smith apple peeled and chopped
- ¼ cup raisins
- 1 tablespoon butter
- chopped pecans brown sugar and cream for topping, optional
Instructions
- Bring water, milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt to a boil.
- Stir in oats, apples, and raisins. Reduce heat to simmer and cook 13-16 minutes stirring frequently so the milk doesnt burn.
- Remove from heat and stir in butter. Top as desired and serve.
Notes
In the Microwave
- Combine water, milk, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a large microwave-safe bowl. Cook on high until it comes to a boil.
- Add oats, apples, and raisins to the heated mixture. Stir and heat in the microwave for 3 to 5 minutes, until the oats absorb the liquid. Remove from microwave, stir, and add butter.
- Use a combination of water and milk for a creamy consistency.
- Non-dairy milk works just fine in this recipe.
- Swap out the cinnamon for apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice.
- Use old-fashioned (or rolled) oats. Quick oats or easy oats will become too soft.
- Stir frequently so the dairy doesn’t burn to the bottom of the pot.
- If your oatmeal thickens too much, stir in some milk, cream, or even applesauce to thin it out.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
This was awesome, easy, whole family loved it, and healthy! I used honey crisp apples because that’s what I had on hand and also added some chopped dried apricots. Delicious! I love your recipes, thank you for your wonderful website.
Louise, thank you so much for the kind words! Honeycrisp apples and dried apricots sound like such a tasty combo — so glad your whole family loved it. I really appreciate you sharing and I’m so happy you’re enjoying the recipes!
You mentioned a double batch, how should I store that, and do you have reheating options?
I store it in the fridge. When reheating, I usually add a little bit of water to loosen it up a bit and heat on the stove or in the microwave.
I made this on a school morning and it was super delicious! The only cha ge was that I used a honey crisp apple and added more raisins. It was just the thing on a February morning. I plan to put this in the rotation. It was quicker than the Instant Pot.
So happy to hear you loved this oatmeal, Deborah!
Hi Holly , would you happen to have a Steel cut oatmeal recipe that can be slowly cooked in a crockpot over night ? Thank you
I’m sorry Peggy, I don’t have one as of yet. If I do, I will come back and leave a link here for you.
I can’t wait to make this but I’m wondering…Is the butter necessary?
Can it be left out?
I can be left out, we add it for flavor.
Great recipe and soooooo delicious. I followed the recipe exactly and topped with walnuts and half and half.
Thanks much.
Walnuts on top sounds delicious! So glad you loved this recipe!
Excellent recipe. I have tried many oatmeal recipes, and this one is exceptional. Make sure to try the toasted walnuts. So yummy!
So happy you enjoyed it, Jeff!
Can this be made for overnight breakfast meal prep?
Hi Angie, that should work well. When reheating I would add a little additional water or milk to keep it from getting too thick.
I really enjoyed this recipe. I am so full after eating a bowl. I see that the recipe states 4 servings. Is that a 1/2 cup or 1 cup per serving? Thanks for sharing this recipe!
So happy to hear that Erica! You’re welcome! Each serving would be one-quarter of the recipe, close to one cup.
Game changer recipe! Obsessed with it. I eat eggs everyday – but trying to change the habit- This recipe is SO fulfilling and tasty! YUM!
After making this just using the pictures and verbiage, I was very disappointed. Saw the butter in the pictures, but it wasn’t mentioned until the last direction. When searching for the comment section I found the actual recipe with directions. This is backwards. I think i’m just going to skip this site. Too confusing for this 70 year old mind.
.
Sorry to hear that you didn’t enjoy the oatmeal Diane. The recipe card contains all of the details. You can find it by scrolling down, or clicking on the Jump to Recipe button near the top of the post. The narrative gives additional helpful information, but the entire recipe is on the recipe card. Hope that helps.