Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal – Healthy Fitness Meals
This Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal is a cozy, high-protein breakfast made with fresh apples, warm cinnamon, and crunchy pecans. It’s quick, nourishing, and a healthier twist on the classic Quaker Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
If you’re craving a cozy, nourishing breakfast, this Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal is the perfect way to start your day. Made with fresh apples, warm cinnamon, and a hint of maple syrup, it’s naturally sweet, creamy, and way better than instant packets. This stovetop oatmeal comes together in under 20 minutes, is high in fiber and protein, and can easily be made dairy-free or vegan. Whether you enjoy it on a crisp fall morning or as a year-round healthy breakfast, this apple and cinnamon oatmeal will keep you full and satisfied.
If you love chocolate-based oatmeal, then you will love my peanut butter chocolate oatmeal bowl.
Before you get started
- Make a double batch: Double up on this to make extra to enjoy throughout the week.
- Old-fashioned oats give the best texture. Quick oats can get mushy, and steel-cut oats need more liquid and longer cooking time.
- If you have time, you can sear the apples a bit with a small amount of coconut oil and a dash of cinnamon.
- Add the nuts and topping towards the end. You do not want to cook the nuts early on.
- Apples can vary in sweetness, so taste and adjust the sweetness. Add more brown or coconut sugar, or honey if you like.
How to apple cinnamon oatmeal
Below is a quick step-by-step guide on how I made the apple oatmeal breakfast bowl.
1️⃣ Cook the oatmeal
First, add water to a medium pot and bring to a boil. Add the oats with salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir well and let it simmer for 1-2 minutes so the flavors meld.
✏️ I recommend using rolled oats here instead of instant oats. If you want to use a gluten-free rolled oats option, you can.
2️⃣ Add the apples
Next, add the chopped apples. Reduce the heat and simmer for ten to twelve minutes while occasionally stirring.
✏️ Use any tart apple of your choice or whatever you have on hand. Chop them as small or as big as you like. Don’t like apples? Use pears.
3️⃣ Add nuts and honey
Finally, once the apples are tender, stir in the honey and chopped pecans.
✏️ Here is where you can swap the honey for agave or maple syrup, and you can use chopped walnuts instead of pecans
4️⃣ Let it sit and serve
Turn the heat off, cover the pot, and let the oatmeal sit for five minutes. Add more honey if you like, or drizzle with any nut butter of your choice.
Variations and substitutions
- For a vegan option: Feel free to use maple syrup in place of honey. Agave will also work.
- Apples: Use any type of apple for this apple cinnamon oatmeal recipe. I like Granny Smith, Gala, Honeycrisp, etc. Don’t like apples? Use pears, berries, or peaches.
- Gluten-free option: Make sure you are using a gluten-free rolled oat option. Bob’s Red Mill is a great one that has a gluten-free option.
- For a creamier option, stir in your choice of milk.
- Add protein powder or Greek yogurt for extra protein
- Make it overnight oats instead of stovetop. It will work great too!
Storage and reheating
- To store: You can store in an airtight container in the fridge for 4–5 days.
- Reheating: To reheat, you can use the stovetop or the microwave. Add a splash of milk or water to the leftover oatmeal and reheat on the stovetop or microwave. If using the stovetop, reheat at a medium to low heat. To use the microwave, you can reheat at 30-second increments.
- To freeze: Let the oatmeal cool completely, then portion it into freezer-safe containers or silicone molds. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store the leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 4-5days.
Yes. You can freeze this apple cinnamon oatmeal in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
I like to use apples that have a balance of sweetness and tartness to them and i feel like they work best here. Some of my recommendations would be Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, or Pink Lady for a sweeter options and Granny Smith for a nice tart contrast. You can even mix two types for the best flavor.
There are a lot of fruit options out there if you do not want to use apples. The closest one would be using pears. You can use peaches, berries, apricots, or plums.
Yes. You can definitely make this into overnight oats. For a quick version, mix the rolled oats, milk instead of water (you can use a non-dairy milk like almond milk), cinnamon, nutmeg, honey, and chopped apples in a jar. Give it a mix, cover and then then refrigerate overnight.
