Name: Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup quick-cooking steel cut oats (substitute with regular steel cut oats or rolled oats (see note)); 1 1/2 cups water; salt (pinch); 1 medium apple (chopped (try Honeycrisp or SweeTango apples)); 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 cup 1% milk (or milk alternative (oat milk, etc.)); 1/4 teaspoon brown sugar (Substitute with honey, maple syrup or your favourite alternative sugar. (Optional))

This creamy apple cinnamon steel-cut oats recipe makes a healthy yet delicious breakfast - with a clever shortcut!

Cook your oats on the stove and apples in the microwave, and you'll enjoy a satisfying bowl of oatmeal in no time!

A hearty bowl of apple cinnamon steel cut oats with chunks of fresh apple.

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🍎 Ingredients & Substitutions
🥣 How to Make the Oatmeal
• Recipe •

I'm a big fan of having oats for breakfast. Sometimes, I'll have a smoothie with oats; sometimes, it's an oat-based muffin, but most of the time, I'll have oatmeal.

Apple cinnamon is a classic oatmeal flavour, and I'm sure many of you are familiar with the instant apple cinnamon oatmeal packets at the grocery.

While those have a certain nostalgic appeal, I find them far too sweet for breakfast.

This homemade steel-cut oatmeal has a cozy fall flavour without being so sugary. I like the chewiness that steel-cut oats provide, and the fresh apple really makes it pop!

A bowl of warm apple cinnamon steel-cut oats with a spoon in it.

🍎 Ingredients & Substitutions

Quick Cooking Steel Cut Oats: these are much more substantial than regular quick oats. Substitute with traditional steel-cut oats or rolled oats.*
Water: for cooking the oats.
Salt: adds flavour to the oatmeal.
Apple: try Honeycrisp or SweeTango apples, or your favourite cooking apple.
Ground Cinnamon: for warm fall flavour.
1% Milk: feel free to use any milk or milk alternative.
Brown Sugar: for sweetness. Substitute with honey, maple syrup or your favourite alternative sugar. (Optional)

*I used Bob's Red Mill Quick Cooking Steel Cut Oats (not sponsored!) for this recipe. These oats are cut smaller than traditional steel-cut oats, so they cook more quickly.

If you want to use traditional steel-cut oats or rolled oats, be sure to follow the recommended cooking time on the package.

An illustration of a recipe card next to a green bowl with ingredients falling into it.

See the recipe card for the complete ingredient list and recipe instructions.

A bowl of apple steel cut oats with lots of milk and chopped apples in it.

🥣 How to Make the Oatmeal

This recipe comes together very quickly!

Using quick-cooking steel cut oats reduces the time it take to make this recipe from start to finish. You'll also be able to cook your cinnamon-flavoured apples in the microwave in about a minute!

Step 1: Toast the oats in a dry pan over medium heat until they smell nutty.

Step 2: Add water, stir, and cook for 8-10 minutes.

Step 3: Microwave the chopped apples and cinnamon in a bowl for 1 minute.

Step 4: Spoon oatmeal into two bowls and top with the apple cinnamon mixture, plus more milk and sugar (if desired).

I hope this recipe helps you enjoy a comforting bowl of creamy apple cinnamon oatmeal for breakfast - even on busy weekdays!

Looking for more apple recipes? Try my spiced apple cider or apple pecan crisp recipes!

• Recipe •