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Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal is a hot breakfast that smells like apple pie and tastes as if fall has arrived.
The aroma of spicy cinnamon and apples cooking always gets me in the mood for autumn. It’s everything I love about apple pie cooked into a hearty comforting breakfast.
Bites of sweet apples simmered with rolled oats and cinnamon spices, then topped with brown sugar and a pat of butter all added up to an absolutely delicious way to start the day.
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
This was an impromptu breakfast one morning, while we were out of town one weekend. I had arrived at our cabin with several bruised apples and I knew I needed to bake them into something.
I want something cinnamony, sweet, and homey. However, I wasn’t up for making an apple crisp or apple pie that I would want to eat in its entirety.
I saw the apples sitting on the counter the next morning as I was starting a batch of oatmeal for breakfast. I quickly diced them and simmered them along with the cooking oatmeal. A dash of cinnamon and a touch of nutmeg plus a little brown sugar completed the dish.
I also added the tiniest pat of butter to the top of each bowl of oatmeal before serving and sprinkled each dish with chopped pecans. Since then, I’ve also made this recipe several times without adding nuts and it’s delicious that way too.
My idea for Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal turned out so well, the boys requested this again for breakfast the first morning we were back home. I enjoyed this every bit as much as the kids did.
I love having a new and easy way to use bruised apples and a warming fall breakfast that takes very little effort or planning.
How to Make Oatmeal
If most of your oatmeal making has involved ripping open a packet of instant mix, you’re missing out. Homemade oatmeal is so worth the small amount of extra effort.
All it takes is bringing a pot of water to boil along with oats and any other add-ins you desire (in this recipe, cinnamon, nutmeg, and chopped apples). After simmering the whole thing for a few minutes on low heat, you add your preferred sweetener to taste.
This recipe, like many oatmeal recipes, uses brown sugar as its sweetener. The amount of brown sugar you use depends on how sweet your apples are. Ripe sweet varieties of apple will result in oatmeal that’s already naturally sweet.
In general, I start with 1/4 cup of brown sugar for this recipe. From there you can add more brown sugar by the tablespoon until you reach your preferred level of sweetness.
Oatmeal Recipes
Over the past 7 years, this oatmeal has become one of my favorite oatmeal recipes. Oatmeal is one of our most frequently made breakfasts because it’s easy, nutritious and everyone enjoys it without complaint.
I love how many ways there are to prepare and flavor oatmeal, too! You never have to get bored of eating oatmeal the same old way day after day, although we certainly have our family’s favorite recipes. Along with Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal, we make Blueberry and Almond Oatmeal and Peaches and Cream Oatmeal
In the fall, another favorite is Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal. Eaten plain or topped with a little vanilla whipped cream it’s like autumn in a bowl.
All of these oatmeal recipes are delicious beyond words and if you haven’t tried them yet? You’re missing out.
Over the years, I’ve also found myself making more and more Baked Oatmeal Recipes. If you like the cinnamon and nutmeg flavors in this Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal, you’re sure to enjoy this Pumpkin Spice Baked Oatmeal just as much.
Check out all of our Oatmeal Recipes here! And for a truly fabulous weekend breakfast, try these Homemade Cinnamon Rolls. They’re heaven on a plate.
If you’re a pancake lover – like my boys, these Apple Cinnamon Pancakes (that are also whole grain and dairy-free to boot) look divine.
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- Combine the oats, water, apples, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium size saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, stirring occasionally.
- As soon as it boils, reduce heat to low and simmer for just a few minutes, until the oats are soft and the apples are tender. Remove from the heat and add brown sugar to taste.
- The sweeter the apples, the less brown sugar you will need. Scoop into serving bowls and top with butter and pecans if desired. Enjoy!
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 3 3/4 cups water
- 3 small sweet apples or 2 cups apple pieces diced small
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- dash of nutmeg
- 1/4 cup plus 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar, adjust to taste
- Butter a teaspoon or so for on top of each serving
- Optional: chopped pecans just a sprinkling for serving each bowl
Instructions
- Combine the oats, water, apples, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium size saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, stirring occasionally.
- As soon as it boils, reduce heat to low and simmer for just a few minutes, until the oats are soft and the apples are tender. Remove from the heat and add brown sugar to taste.
- The sweeter the apples, the less brown sugar you will need. Scoop into serving bowls and top with butter and pecans if desired. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
{originally published 8/28/12 – recipe notes and photos updated 10/20/21}
I used coconut sugar, almond milk, butter, pecans, and flaxseed for my toppings. Super tasty. I cooked the apples with the oatmeal and prefer it that way since it gives it some crunch.
Delicious recipe! Have made many times and will continue to do so. I like to do half water and half apple cider if I have it.
Cider sounds delicious, Brianna!
Delicious and simple. I used honey crisp and did half whole milk half water. So good.
I’m so glad you liked the oatmeal, Jessica!
The flavor was bland for the Apple cinnamon oatmeal. I thought it would be weird to add the apples as the oats cook, and I was right, not the best but the flavor from the cinnamon enhanced the oatmeal.
You can always add more apples toward the end too.
Does the salt get added with the other spices?
Yes, it does, Ruth.
Super yummy! I added almond butter and used crushed walnuts on top. What a comfort meal, thank you.
Sounds delicious, Michelle.
Thank you for this recipe, it’s perfect! Absolutely delicious, and so easy to make in the morning. The whole family loved it!
Love hearing that!
What type of apple is considered “sweet”?
Apples like golden delicious and honey crisp are naturally on the sweeter side, Dedra.
Delicious! I was out of apple cinnamon oatmeal. I still had oatmeal left from cookies so I tried this recipe. My son and husband loved it!! We add toasted walnuts on top too. Yum!!!
Glad to hear that you and your family loved the oatmeal, Michaela! Adding toasted walnuts sounds like a great idea; I’ll have to try it the next time I make this for breakfast. Happy cooking!
Just what I was craving and super easy to reduce quantity. I used a small envy apple so very little sugar was needed. Also used water and milk then a dash of half and half on top! I was so excited because it smells so delicious that I probably pulled it off heat a little too soon but will let it go a bit longer next time.
It can be hard to wait sometimes, Stacie. I’m glad the oatmeal turned out so well; happy cooking!
This turned out awful and I ended up existing food which in this economy in Canada really stinks. I’ve never cooked Apple with oatmeal when I make it I always cook the Apple first but I thought I’d give this a try and you I was right it was awful by the time the apples cooked down it was all clumped and I kept having to add more water. Super disappointed
I’m honestly not sure what went wrong here, Tanner, but I can appreciate your frustration. The apples aren’t intended to “cook down” in this recipe. As you can see in the photo, there are still chunks of apple throughout the oatmeal. If you prefer your apples to be super tender and cooked through, you definitely would need to cook them first.
Love the apple cinnamon oatmeal.
I’m glad it’s a hit!
First time making this and it was delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
I’m glad you like the oatmeal!
I made this recipe and it tasted great! It’s very delicious and it lasted me days which is great. Even my mom tasted it and loved it. Thank you.
I’m so glad you like the oatmeal!
This is an amazing recipe!! My husband mentioned how much he loves apple cinnamon oatmeal, so I set out to find a recipe. This recipe proved to be “a real treat” (his words), and the kids and I loved it too! Definitely going to print this recipe out and save it in our go-to recipe binder. I love that this recipe doesn’t call for milk and instead uses water. It makes it more budget friendly. Most oatmeal recipes don’t taste as good when you use water but this one proved to be an exception. Also, the addition of butter at the end really gave the oatmeal something special. Highly recommend this recipe!
I’m so glad you love it! It’s a favorite for us as well.