Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
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Published Sep 21, 2023
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This apple cinnamon baked oatmeal is inspired by traditional Amish baked oatmeal and studded with apples, raisins and loads of cinnamon flavor. It’s vegan, gluten-free and great for meal prep.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… baked oatmeal is the best thing since overnight oats! Each month, I’ve been making a seasonal baked oatmeal flavor and this month it’s apple cinnamon baked oatmeal!
This apple cinnamon baked oatmeal is inspired by one of my favorite seasons: fall! I love visiting apple orchards and creating alllll the apple recipes. My ideal weekend would involve a cool, crisp morning, a cozy sweater and some sort of baked apple treat.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- The apple cinnamon combo is chef’s kiss and perfect for fall!
- It’s perfect for meal prep! Make a batch during your weekend meal prep and have breakfast ready to go for the week.
- Easy to make directly in one bowl. Yay for less dishes!
- It’s vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free and nut-free.
Who Invented Baked Oatmeal?
Since my obsession with baked oatmeal, I’ve been determined to figure out who invented baked oatmeal. I’ve yet to find the answer, but a lot of the old baked oatmeal recipes I’ve found come from the Amish, who made baked oatmeal to fuel their long days working on the farm.
Most of the Amish baked oatmeal recipes involve apples, raisins, and cinnamon so the recipe I’m sharing is inspired by that flavor combination, but without the butter, eggs, and milk! We’re keeping things vegan and dairy-free for my version!
I’ve made a similar version before with steel cut oats, but this version is just as tasty and cooks up a bit faster. Here’s the baked steel cut oatmeal recipe, if you’re interested.
Ingredients Needed
- rolled oats – makes for a super creamy bowl of oatmeal and are my personal favorite! Make sure you grab certified gluten-free if necessary. I like Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Rolled Oats.
- unsweetened applesauce – make your own homemade applesauce or use store-bought. Just make sure it’s unsweetened if you go that route.
- non-dairy milk – I like using unsweetened vanilla almond milk. You can also make homemade almond milk using my recipe. You can use whatever milk you prefer!
- flaxseed – flaxseeds are great sources of healthy fats, fiber and even plant-based protein!
- maple syrup – one of my preferred natural sweeteners. You can totally skip this or use another liquid sweetener like honey or agave.
- coconut oil – gives the baked oatmeal a nice moist texture.
- baking powder – rising agent that helps lighten the texture of the baked oatmeal. It prevents it from becoming too dense or heavy.
- vanilla extract, ground cinnamon and sea salt – to enhance the flavors!
- apples – you’ll need about 1-2 apples, peeled and finely chopped into pieces.
- raisins – the perfect companion to apples and cinnamon!
How to Make
Baked oatmeal is pretty much just a matter of mixing and baking. Nothing fancy!
In a large bowl, add the rolled oats, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, almond milk, flaxseed, unsweetened applesauce, maple syrup, coconut oil and vanilla and stir to combine. Fold in the raisins and diced apples.
Pour the oat mixture into a prepared baking pan, top with a few extra apple slices and bake at 375ºF for about 40 minutes or until the center is set.
This apple cinnamon baked oatmeal recipe is absolutely delicious with a drizzle of almond butter, a splash of almond milk, or maple syrup on top.
Substitutions & Notes
Oats – Rolled oats work best for baked oatmeal and I don’t recommend swapping them for quick oats or steel-cut oats as the liquid ratio and cook time will differ. If you’re looking for a baked oatmeal recipe that’s made with steel-cut oats I suggest checking out this apple baked steel cut oatmeal recipe instead.
Milk – Any non-dairy milk will work here. Almond, oat, soy, or even coconut milk can be used depending on your preference.
Sweetener – If you’re out of maple syrup, you can substitute with honey or agave syrup. Just note that this will slightly alter the flavor profile.
Flaxseed – Chia seeds can be a good alternative to flaxseed if you’re looking for another source of omega-3 fatty acids. Or you can use 1 egg if you don’t need this recipe to be vegan.
Coconut oil – If you prefer not to use coconut oil, you can substitute with another mild-flavored oil like avocado oil or even melted unsalted butter for a non-vegan option. I’ve also made baked oatmeal without coconut oil and it turned out just fine!
Raisins – Feel free to swap out the raisins for other dried fruits like cranberries or chopped dried apricots for a different twist. Another good substitute would be nuts like chopped walnuts or pecans.
Spices – If you want to add even more spice to this baked apple oatmeal recipe you could add a dash of nutmeg, ginger, allspice and/or apple pie spice.
How to Serve Apple Baked Oatmeal
Baked oatmeal is not only a great everyday breakfast recipe, it’s also a lovely addition to a brunch spread. Here are some ideas on what to serve it with:
- Eggs: Pair it with a savory egg dish! Try this dairy-free spinach quiche or this delicious hash brown breakfast casserole.
- Fruit: a bowl of fresh fruit like this easy fruit salad recipe will be an excellent addition to serve alongside this baked oatmeal.
- Cocktail: if you’re serving this recipe for an adult brunch pair it with some mimosas or these peach bellinis.
- Coffee: serve this baked oatmeal with a warm cup of plain coffee, this creamy iced coffee or a homemade pumpkin spice latte.
- Toppings: I love adding a drizzle of maple syrup and sliced apple with a dash of cinnamon for something sweet, but there’s plenty of other options. Try adding some crushed nuts for a bit of a crunch. Or enjoy with a dollop of your favorite yogurt for some added protein!
- As a dessert: Transform this healthy breakfast into a dessert by adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of this date caramel sauce.
Can You Make Baked Oatmeal Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can totally make baked oatmeal ahead of time, and that makes it perfect for meal prep! There are a couple of options that work really well.
Option 1: Bake and Then Reheat Before Serving
- Prepare baked oatmeal as the recipe suggests. Once baked, let the oatmeal cool, then cover the baking dish and place in the fridge. You can do this 1-2 days in advance. When ready to serve, take oatmeal dish from fridge, cover with foil and reheat in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes. For individual portions, set toaster oven to 350°F and bake for 5-10 minutes or reheat in the microwave for 1 minute.
Option 2: Prep as Much as You Can Without Baking
- Mix together your dry ingredients in a bowl, cover and let sit out on the counter until morning.
- Mix together all the wet ingredients in another bowl, cover and store in the fridge until morning.
- In the morning, simply mix the wet and dry ingredients together, pour oatmeal mixture into your prepared baking dish and bake as recipe suggests.
How to Store & Reheat
- In the fridge: Allow the baked oatmeal to cool, then cover the baking dish with a lid or plastic wrap or transfer individual portions to an airtight container. It’ll stay fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- In the freezer: You can also freeze baked oatmeal for up to 3 months. To do this, let the oatmeal cool completely, then cut into portions and store in freezer-safe containers or bags.
- To reheat the entire pan of baked oatmeal: Cover with foil and reheat in the oven at 350ºF for about 20 minutes or until warm.
- To reheat individual portions: Set oven or toaster oven to 350ºF and bake for 5-10 minutes. You can also reheat in the microwave for 1 minute. Once warm, add your toppings and enjoy!
More Baked Oatmeal Recipes
- Zucchini Bread Baked Oatmeal
- Peach Baked Oatmeal
- Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal
- Maple Pecan Baked Oatmeal
- Strawberry Banana Baked Oatmeal
- Baked Blueberry Oatmeal
- One Pan Baked Oatmeal
- Pear Baked Oatmeal
- Coffee Baked Oatmeal
- Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
- Sweet Potato Baked Oatmeal
- Cranberry Orange Baked Oatmeal
More Apple Recipes to Try
- Apple Cinnamon Muffins
- Baked Apple Cider Donuts
- Vegan Apple Bread
- Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- Apple Cake
- Baked Apples
- Dutch Apple Pie
- Apple Oatmeal Bars
- Apple Dutch Baby
- 30+ Healthy Apple Recipes
Be sure to check out all of the apple recipes as well as the full collection of oatmeal recipes.
Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled old-fashioned oats
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 cups non-dairy milk, I like using unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed
- 1 Tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup diced apple, divided
- ½ cup raisins
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray an 8×8 baking dish with non-stick spray.
- In a large bowl, mix together rolled oats, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, almond milk, applesauce, maple syrup, flaxseed, coconut oil and vanilla.
- Fold in raisins and ¾ cup of the diced apples.
- Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and top with remaining ¼ cup of diced apples.
- Bake about 40 minutes or until the center has set and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow baked oatmeal to cool just a bit before serving. Serve with a drizzle of almond butter, almond milk, or maple syrup.
- Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To reheat the whole baked oatmeal, cover with foil and reheat in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes. For individual portions, set oven (or toaster oven) to 350°F and bake for 5-10 minutes or reheat in the microwave for 1 minute.
Video
Notes
- Oats – Rolled oats work best for baked oatmeal and I don’t recommend swapping them for quick oats or steel-cut oats as the liquid ratio and cook time will differ. If you’re looking for a baked oatmeal recipe that’s made with steel-cut oats I suggest checking out this apple baked steel cut oatmeal recipe instead.
- Milk – Any non-dairy milk will work here. Almond, oat, soy, or even coconut milk can be used depending on your preference.
- Sweetener – If you’re out of maple syrup, you can substitute with honey or agave syrup. Just note that this will slightly alter the flavor profile.
- Flaxseed – Chia seeds can be a good alternative to flaxseed if you’re looking for another source of omega-3 fatty acids. Or you can use 1 egg if you don’t need this recipe to be vegan.
- Coconut oil – If you prefer not to use coconut oil, you can substitute with another mild-flavored oil like avocado oil or even melted unsalted butter for a non-vegan option. I’ve also made baked oatmeal without coconut oil and it turned out just fine!
- Raisins – Feel free to swap out the raisins for other dried fruits like cranberries or chopped dried apricots for a different twist. Another good substitute would be nuts like chopped walnuts or pecans.
- Spices – If you want to add even more spice to this baked apple oatmeal recipe you could add a dash of nutmeg, ginger, allspice and/or apple pie spice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi,
Have you ever tried quick-cook steel cut oats would work in a baked oatmeal recipe? Thank you!
Should have made more… only made a half batch. Had no idea I’d be eating it for breakfast and dessert! Didn’t have flaxseed so added an egg white and some chia seeds. Also don’t like raisins so doubled the apples – Amazing!
Ah yay! I am so happy to hear that you are loving this recipe, Vicki. Thank you so much for sharing your review + star rating, it means so much to me!
I made this this morning it was delicious. Only thing I changed was to illuminate the coconut oil, As I don’t use oils. Everything stayed together it cooked well.
Ah yay! I am so glad this recipe turned out great and that you are enjoying it, Lois. Thank you for coming back and sharing your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!
Absolutely fantastic! I baked this in a 10” cast iron (didn’t have an 8×8 pan) and it turned out wonderfully (baked about 5 minutes longer). I used mashed banana instead of applesauce, and I used walnuts instead of raisins. Will definitely be making again – thank you!
OH YUM! This sounds delicious, Issa. Thank you so much for sharing your review & star rating, I really appreciate it!
So yummy! I tried many of the ebf baked oatmeal varieties but went with this one because I already had all the ingredients in my pantry. So easy and delicious! What flavor should I try this week…..hmmmm
WOO! I am excited to hear that you are loving my baked oatmeal recipes, Allison! Have you tried the coffee cake baked oatmeal yet? This one is SO delicious! Thank you for sharing your review + star rating, it means so much to me!
This recipe is under my “favorites”! I’ve made it many times and is always great. So easy, one pan, and so yummy. Thanks!!
WOO! Glad to hear you are loving this recipe it is a hit, Janice. Thanks for your review + star rating, I truly appreciate it!