Naturally sweet cooked apples, fragrant cinnamon, and a hint of allspice make this easy and healthy one-pot apple cinnamon oatmeal the perfect breakfast for chilly mornings.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s seasonal: Here in Ohio, it’s apple-picking season. This year, we went early enough to score a big bag of delicious Honeycrisp apples. Although any apples will work in this recipe, I adore Honeycrisp because they are a unique balance of sweet and tart.
- It’s nourishing: There’s something about a home-cooked breakfast that just feels special. That’s the case with this one-pot apple cinnamon oatmeal. Even though it takes less than 15 minutes to make, it will give you all the positive energy of starting the day with a warm meal that will make you feel grounded and cared for. And because oatmeal gives you steady energy for hours, it’s a great way to fuel your morning without crashing.
- It’s kid-friendly: Honestly, this recipe is so easy that I was on the fence about whether to publish it. But I decided to do so because it’s been my son’s top-requested breakfast since his toddler days. As any parent knows, kids are fickle eaters and finding anything they’ll love consistently is next to impossible. This oatmeal has been an exception: he’s eaten it and loved it since day one. Given how often he requests this dish, I wanted to share this with other parents in case it turns out to be a hit in your home as well.
Ingredients
- Water: For cooking the apples and oatmeal.
- Old-fashioned (rolled) oats: These have a flattened shape, letting them cook much faster than steel-cut oats. Do not substitute steel-cut oats in this recipe; they will not work because they require more liquid and a much longer cook time.
- Honeycrisp apple: I love these apples because they are just sweet enough with a subtle tartness that adds complexity. If you like your oatmeal on the sweeter side, choose Fuji or Gala apples instead. Honeycrisp apples tend to be larger than many common varieties, so usually 1 apple is perfect for this recipe. If your apples are smaller, use 2 instead (the cooked apple chunks are the best part, so if in doubt, don’t skimp!). Enjoy the apples with the skin on for more vitamins and minerals.
- Ground cinnamon: A quintessential spice in the fall and winter months, cinnamon adds warmth to any dish. It’s also a good source of antioxidants, and research suggests that it has heart-healthy and anti-inflammatory benefits.
- Allspice: A powerhouse spice that gives this dish all the fall/winter feels. A little goes a long way.
- Coconut sugar (optional): This recipe gets a lot of natural sweetness from the apple (especially if you use a sweeter variety), so try it as-is first. If you do crave something sweeter, a hint of coconut sugar works wonders. Brown sugar and maple syrup are both good alternatives.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium pot, bring the water to a boil. Add the oats, apple, cinnamon, and allspice to the pot and stir well. Reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Step 2: Simmer, uncovered, for 8 to 12 minutes, stirring frequently. Taste and adjust the spices to suit your preferences. If you like your oatmeal sweetened, stir in coconut sugar, brown sugar, or maple syrup, to taste.
Serve immediately. Enjoy as-is or garnished with your preferred toppings. Apple slices, crushed walnuts, granola, and shredded coconut are all favorites in our house.
Equipment
- cutting board
- paring knife
- medium pot
- large spoon
Storage
Store any leftovers in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Reheat any leftovers in the microwave or on the stovetop before serving.
FAQ
100% yes! Oatmeal and apples are high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. And cinnamon is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.
No. Steel-cut oats have a much longer cooking time than rolled oats and require more cooking liquid, so they should not be used as a substitute in this recipe.
“Allspice” is not, as many believe, a mixture of spices. Rather, it’s the dried unripe berry of a single plant: Pimenta dioica. It gets its name because its taste is reminiscent of a blend of warming spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Given its complex flavor profile, it is a perfect shortcut to achieve those warm and cozy fall/winter vibes.
Related
Looking for other breakfast ideas? Try these:
One-Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Equipment
- cutting board
- paring knife
- medium pot
- large spoon
Ingredients
- 1½ cups water
- 1 cup old-fashioned (rolled) oats
- 1 large Honeycrisp apple diced (Gala and Fuji apples also work well; use 2 apples if yours are on the smaller side)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon allspice
Optional
- 1 teaspoon coconut sugar or more, to taste (brown sugar or maple syrup also work well)
Instructions
- In a medium pot, bring the water to a boil.
- Add the oats, apple, cinnamon, and allspice.
- Stir well and reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Simmer, uncovered, for 8 to 12 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. The oatmeal is done when it is thick and fluffy and the apples are golden-brown and soft enough to pierce easily with a fork.
- Taste and adjust the spices to suit your preferences. If you like your oatmeal on the sweeter side, stir in 1 teaspoon of coconut sugar, brown sugar, or maple syrup.
- Serve hot. Enjoy as-is or garnished with toppings such as apple slices, crushed walnuts, granola, and/or shredded coconut.
