Baked Oatmeal with Apples and Cinnamon
A cozy breakfast baked oatmeal with tender apple pieces, warm spices, and a crackly cinnamon-sugar top. Make it once and reheat slices all week long.
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 386kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Oatmeal
- ¼ Cup salted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- ½ Cup brown sugar (light or dark)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 Cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 + ¼ Cup milk of choice (I use skim or 2% dairy milk, you can also used plant-based milk if preferred)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons ground flax
- 3 Cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 Cup chopped apple pieces (about 1 apple)
Cinnamon-Sugar Topping
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Optional Toppings
- A simple drizzle of maple syrup, a dollop of vanilla Greek yogurt, chopped nuts (like pecans, walnuts, or sliced almonds), a spoonful of peanut butter or almond butter, fresh berries, or slices of banana, etc.
Instructions
- Preheat and prep the pan. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray an 8x8 or 9x9 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside.
- Whisk together the wet ingredients and brown sugar. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients until combined.¼ Cup salted butter, melted and cooled slightly, ½ Cup brown sugar, 2 large eggs, 1 Cup unsweetened applesauce, 1 + ¼ Cup milk of choice, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Add the dry ingredients. Slowly mix in the baking powder, salt, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, ground flax, and oats. Then add the chopped apple and give it a gentle stir so the pieces are distributed throughout.1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, ¼ teaspoon salt, 2 Tablespoons ground flax, 3 Cups old-fashioned rolled oats, 1 Cup chopped apple pieces
- Pour the oat mixture into the prepared baking pan. Carefully pour the oat mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer.
- Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar topping over the oat mixture. Stir the granulated sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl, then sprinkle it evenly over the top.1 Tablespoon granulated sugar, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Bake. Bake for 28 to 33 minutes, until the center is almost set and the edges are golden brown.
- Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. It firms up as it sits, and this short rest is what lets you cut clean slices.
- Add your favorite toppings as desired and enjoy!
Notes
How to Store: Place fully cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. See blog post above for make-ahead and freezing instructions.
Variation Ideas for Baked Apple Pie Oatmeal
- Add raisins or dried cranberries. Stir in ½ Cup with the apple pieces.
- Fold in nuts before baking. Add ½ Cup of chopped pecans or walnuts for more texture / crunch throughout the oatmeal.
- Sweeten with maple syrup instead. If desired, swap in pure maple syrup 1-for-1 for the brown sugar. Since maple syrup is a liquid, the finished bake will be a little softer. If you prefer a firmer, easy-to-slice style oatmeal, pull the milk back a tad.
- Swap the spices. Apple pie spice in place of the pumpkin pie spice, or add a pinch of ground ginger or cardamom.
- Use brown sugar in the topping. Brown sugar instead of granulated gives the top a deeper, more caramel-like flavor.
- Make it dairy free. Use your favorite plant-based milk and swap melted coconut oil for the butter.
- Try pears. Firm pears in place of the apples make a good late fall version.
Nutrition
Calories: 386kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 280mg | Potassium: 364mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 450IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 168mg | Iron: 3mg
