These Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats are super creamy, filling, and so easy to make! It's the perfect fall or winter breakfast and really easy to double or triple. Top them with caramelized apples to make them extra special!
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Why This Recipe Works
Fall in a bowl - Apples, cinnamon, and creamy oats together form the ultimate fall breakfast. It's sweet, creamy, flavorful, and so comforting.
Hearty and filling - Steel-cut oats have a low glycemic index which means they take longer to digest and help you feel full for longer. They have a slightly chewy texture compared to old-fashioned rolled oats which are just very creamy. They do take longer to cook and need more liquid but if you've never tried them, I highly recommend it!
Sweet and flavorful - The caramelized apples are simmered with butter and maple syrup which gives them sweetness but also flavor and the sauce turns into beautiful caramel. The oatmeal is sweetened with apple cider but you can also add a splash of maple syrup if you prefer. It goes really well with all the spices and it's sweet but not overpowering.
Ingredients
- Steel-cut oats - Steel-cut oats are oat groats cut into smaller pieces which makes them different from rolled oats which are flattened. You can use any oats but rolled oats or quick-cooking oats will need much less liquid and will cook quicker.
- Milk - I like using almond milk to keep the dish dairy-free but any milk you'd normally use for oatmeal works.
- Apple cider - Make sure you're using apple cider, not apple cider vinegar. I don't recommend substituting it for apple juice, the flavor won't be the same.
- Apples - Honey Crisp or Gala apples are my go-tos in this recipe. You'll grate one into the oatmeal and caramelize the rest in a pan. You want to use sturdier apple varieties because any that are too soft won't keep their shape.
- Spices - The recipe calls for cinnamon and apple pie spice
- Caramelized apples - All you need are apples, butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. I also like adding apple pie spice but that's optional.
Variations and Substitutions
- Pears - If you don't have apples, you can use pears in the exact same way.
- Peaches - In the summer, I like to use peaches to make this Peach Oatmeal and I top it with these Caramelized Peaches. It's so good and made the same way as the apples for this oatmeal.
- Vegan butter - If you want to keep this oatmeal dairy-free, use vegan butter instead of regular butter for the caramelized apples.
- Different oats - You can use rolled oats or quick-cooking oats instead of steel-cut oats if you prefer. You will have to add less liquid though. I usually go with a 1:2 ratio of oats to liquid for rolled and quick-cooking oats.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats
- Add milk, apple cider, and steel-cut oats to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat stirring occasionally.
- Lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir often to make sure the oats don’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
- Add grated apple, ground cinnamon, apple pie spice, maple syrup (if using), and vanilla extract.
- Stir to combine and cook for another 5-10 minutes stirring often.
Caramelized Apples
- While the oatmeal is cooking, cook the apples.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the butter. Once it’s almost melted, add in the diced apples and toss in the butter. Lower the heat to low medium.
- Add maple syrup, sea salt, cinnamon, and apple pie spice. Stir to combine and mix everything.
- Simmer for about 5 minutes or until the apples are soft but not mushy and the maple syrup thickens. Set aside until ready to serve. Heat the apples back up if the sauce becomes too thick as it cools.
- Serve the oatmeal with the caramelized apples on top and enjoy!
Serving and Storing
Serving: Just like any other stovetop oatmeal, these steel-cut oats are best served right away. The longer they sit, the more liquid they'll absorb and they won't be as creamy but much thicker. That being said, cooked steel-cut oats store much better than rolled oats because they have a heartier texture and they don't lose their shape as much as other kinds of oats.
Storing and reheating: You can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge if needed for 1-2 days, you will just need to add more liquid when you're ready to eat them. Warm the oats back up in a saucepan over medium heat with enough milk, water, or apple cider to thin them out and make them creamy again.
FAQs
If you don't have apples, you can use pears instead for both grating them into the oatmeal and for caramelizing on top. If you're making it in the summer, you can make this Peach Oatmeal with Caramelized Peaches.
Any harder apples work, any varieties that are too soft will break down too much. I like Honey Crisp or Gala apples. Granny Smith apples are also great but not as sweet.
You can soak the oats in cold water in the fridge overnight and rinse and drain them before cooking. This will soften them and they will take less time to cook. Cut the liquid to half and add more as needed while they cook.
Other Oatmeal Recipes
Below are four of my all-time favorite flavors when it comes to oatmeal. If you love creamy oatmeal with caramelized fruit on top, I highly recommend the mocha oatmeal! To see all the latest ones, head over to the Oatmeal recipes category.
- Spiced Oatmeal with Roasted Fruit (great for the winter)
- Mixed Berry Baked Oatmeal (great for meal prep or for a crowd)
- Mocha Oatmeal with Caramelized Banana (the most decadent oatmeal ever)
- Peach Oatmeal with Caramelized Peaches (summer in a bowl)
📖 Recipe
Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats are super creamy, filling, and so easy to make! It's the perfect fall or winter breakfast and really easy to double or triple.
Ingredients
Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats
- 1 cup milk (I use almond milk)
- 1 cup apple cider (NOT apple cider vinegar)
- ½ cup steel cut oats
- 1 apple, grated
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp apple pie spice
- 1 tbsp maple syrup (optional)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla paste
Caramelized Apples
- 2 apples, diced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- ⅛ tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp apple pie spice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Optional toppings: caramelized apples, berries, nut butter, yogurt, seeds, nuts, or honey
Instructions
Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats
- Add milk, apple cider, and steel-cut oats to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat stirring occasionally.
- Lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir often to make sure the oats don’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
- Add grated apple, ground cinnamon, apple pie spice, maple syrup (if using), and vanilla extract.
- Stir to combine and cook for another 5-10 minutes stirring often.
- Serve immediately with caramelized apples or your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Caramelized Apples
- While the oatmeal is cooking, cook the apples.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the butter. Once it’s almost melted, add in the diced apples and toss in the butter. Lower the heat to low medium.
- Add maple syrup, sea salt, cinnamon, and apple pie spice. Stir to combine and mix everything.
- Simmer for about 5 minutes or until the apples are soft but not mushy and the maple syrup thickens. Set aside until ready to serve. Heat the apples back up if the sauce becomes too thick as it cools.
Notes
Storing: The oatmeal is best served immediately. It will thicken the longer it sits. If you need to, you can store leftovers in the fridge for 1-2 days. You can eat the leftover oatmeal cold or reheat it in a small saucepan with a splash of water or milk.
Nutritional info is counted without the caramelized apples
Elaine says
I love steel-cut oats and this is such a delicious way to eat them! Great recipe and I'll be making it again and again.
Bernice says
Yum! That is some cozy fall comfort food right there! I could eat these apple oats for breakfast or lunch.
Marta says
I used this recipe because my husband bought steel cut oats home instead of old-fashioned oats. His mistake was our gain because this apple cinnamon oats recipe is so tasty! Thanks so much for a great dish.
Sarah James says
What a delicious breakfast and a real treat. The apple flavour came through in the cider and cinnamon and apple pie spice were perfect in a bowl of porridge.
Kathryn says
This is my favorite fall breakfast and I love steel cut oats! We have an apple tree so I'll be making this all season long, thank you!!
Tammy says
There's something so comforting about oatmeal on a chilly fall day. Love the warm spiced apples on top..perfect start to the day!
Jacqueline Debono says
My new favourite cold weather breakfast. I love all the flavours and spices in this steel cut oats recipe. The apples are just so so good!
Dennis says
What a delicious oatmeal recipe! I made this for breakfast this morning and it was a big hit!
Hayley Dhanecha says
How delicious this oats breakfast recipe! Warm, comforting and super tasty breakfast that keeps you full for longer.
Lisa says
This is a perfect fall breakast! I cannot get enough recipes using apples as they are at a peak right now.