Baked Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Baked Apple Oatmeal is the perfect warm and hearty breakfast and can be made in advance for meal prep. We are huge fans of baked oatmeal recipes and this is one of our favorites along with this Baked Blueberry Banana Oatmeal and Strawberry Banana Oatmeal.

Last week I wanted anything but fall comfort food after over-indulging on Thanksgiving but this weekend I woke up craving it. All I wanted was a big bowl of apple crisp but unfortunately, we had already gone through three batches of this Cinnamon Cranberry Apple Crisp during Thanksgiving week so it was time to switch it up. Baked oatmeal is one of my favorite dishes for lazy weekend mornings, so I decided to make an apple crisp inspired baked oatmeal full of cinnamon, baked apples, and brown sugar.

To make sure the apples got soft and delicious, they are baked them first with cinnamon and brown sugar. You could add some melted butter as well if you want a richer flavor. Then the oats are added along with milk and an egg to help everything come together. The result is a mix between oatmeal and a breakfast bar. Full of apple cinnamon flavor and hearty and filling so that you aren't hungry two hours after breakfast. One quick note on the recipe, I try not to use too much sugar in the recipe since the apple brings a lot of sweetness on its own, but you may want to add a bit more sugar, honey, or maple syrup if you have a sweet tooth.

How do you make baked oatmeal?

To make a basic baked oatmeal recipe, you will want start by combining equal parts oats, liquid, and fruit and add 1 egg for every cup of oats that you use. Additionally, you will want to add around 1/4 cup sweetener for every cup of oatmeal. And you can add spices, nuts, coconut, chocolate chips, or any other ingredients you like. Then bake everything at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. This works for an individual serving (although they may cook quicker) or a huge pan of oatmeal for a crowd. Here's the basic recipe for 4 people:

Basic Baked Oatmeal Recipe

• 1 cup oatmeal
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or other milk)
• 1 cup fruit (berries, bananas, apples, plums, etc)
• 1/4 cup sweetener (honey, maple syrup, brown sugar, mashed banana, etc)
• 1 egg
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Serve it hot or cold. If you let it cool, store it in the refrigerator.

Can you freeze baked oatmeal?

There are a few different ways to freeze baked oatmeal depending on how you plan to serve it. 

• Freezing before baking: If you are making this for a big breakfast, brunch, or party - I would recommend making the oatmeal but not baking it. Freeze it right in a large glass baking dish. The night before you plan to serve it, take it out and let it defrost overnight in the fridge. Then bake it at 350 degrees for around 45 minutes or until it is warmed and set.
• Baking then freezing: If you make a large batch of this and find you need to freeze the leftovers, you can do that as well. Pack in a freezer safe container and then defrost in the microwave or in the oven until warmed through. If you remember, place it in the fridge the night before to defrost. It retains more moisture that when defrosted in that manner.
• Freezing individual portions: If you want to make individual servings for grab and go breakfasts, bake the oatmeal in individual servings using a muffin tin. Simply fill a muffin tin with the oatmeal mixture. Then bake for 15-18 minutes. Once they are cooled, freeze the individual portions. Reheat in the microwave or toaster oven.

Should baked oatmeal be refrigerated?

If you aren't going to finish the oatmeal the morning it is prepared, it is best to refrigerate so that it stays fresh. It will stay good in the fridge for 3-5 days. Baked oatmeal can be eaten cold or warmed in the microwave, oven, or toaster oven. If the oatmeal seems dry at all, add some milk to add some moisture. You can also top with yogurt to add moisture.

Can I make baked oatmeal with instant oats?

Although you can make baked oatmeal with instant oats, I wouldn't recommend it. Instant oats cook differently than traditional rolled oats and tend to get mushy when baked. To maintain the texture of the oats, only make baked oatmeal with rolled oats.

Looking for more healthy baked oatmeal dishes?

• Baked Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal
• Baked Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal
• Steel Cut Baked Oatmeal
• Cranberry Apple Baked Oatmeal

Calories 269, Total Fat 4g, Total Carbohydrate 53g, Protein 9g, Serving Size 1-1.25 cups

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