Apple Baked Oatmeal is a hot breakfast comfort food recipe full of warming spice and apple flavors. It’s fast and easy to whip up or make ahead for an easy delicious breakfast!
This apple cinnamon baked oatmeal is easy and delicious.
It’s a warm hearty breakfast option that’s great for morning meal prep too!
If you love fall flavored recipes like Pumpkin Oatmeal, this will become a favorite.
Easy Baked Oatmeal Recipe
If you haven’t tried baked oatmeal it’s an easy way to enjoy the classic hot breakfast in a new way.
Rolled oats are combined with brown sugar, eggs, milk and some other flavor ingredients, then baked into a solid form.
Instead of the traditional porridge consistency it will be cut in squares like a moist snack cake.
It has a chewy texture from the softened rolled oats.
Just like with regular oatmeal you can add your favorite toppings!
Amish Baked Oatmeal
Another name for this type of recipe is Amish Baked Oatmeal. It’s considered a breakfast casserole and usually has more sugar.
Recipes vary in using instant oats or rolled oats.
Recipe Ingredients + Notes
Rolled Oats. Also called Old Fashioned Oats these whole oats have wonderful flavor and give the baked oatmeal its appealing structure. Do not use instant oats!
Regular or gluten-free rolled oats may be used (we’ve tested both!).
Brown Sugar. Gives a homey sweetness that’s delicious.
Baking Powder. Helps with rising.
Ground Cinnamon. Can you have oatmeal without cinnamon? Perfect with the apple flavor too.
Walnuts. Chopped walnuts add some more wholesome nutrition and gives a pleasing crunch to the baked oatmeal.
Eggs. Helps blend all the ingredients together so it forms a firm structure for cutting after it’s baked.
Milk. We used dairy whole milk. Swap in a different fat percentage of dairy milk or try almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk for a different flavor.
Apple Butter. If you have tasted apple butter you’ll love it. It’s found with the jams in the grocery store. Or use homemade apple butter!
It has a thick consistency and tastes like apples and warming spices. It will add more apple flavor and spices to the oatmeal.
Apples. Use two medium apples. They can be peeled or not. The peel softens during cooking so are not unpleasant to eat (and saves some prep time).
What are the best Apples to use in Baked Oatmeal?
I choose apples with a lot of sweetness and big flavor. Also apples that don’t become completely mushy when cooked.
I personally love Honeycrisp apples.
Here are some other good choices:
- Gala
- Pink Lady
- Fuji
Also using a sweet apple and one tart like Granny Smith makes a nice flavor combination too.
Variations
If you’d like a lighter apple flavor use unsweetened applesauce instead of apple butter.
Add different spices. Allspice, cinnamon nutmeg or mace are all delicious.
Add some dried fruit. Raisins, dried sweetened cranberries or cherries would be delicious.
How to Make it – Step-by-Step
STEP 1. Preparation.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Butter a 9-inch by 9-inch baking dish (or similar size). Or spray it with non-stick cooking spray.
STEP 2. Prepare the Oatmeal – Dry Ingredients.
In a large mixing bowl whisk the oats, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and walnuts. Mix together (photos 2-3).
STEP 3. Add the Wet Ingredients.
Add the milk, eggs and apple butter. Whisk together to combine (photos 4-5).
Stir in the apples (photo 6).
STEP 4. Bake the Oatmeal.
Spoon the oatmeal mixture into the prepared pan (photo 7). NOTE: it will look soupy; this is normal.
Bake for 35-40 minutes until it is golden on the top and cooked through (photo 8). Remove from the oven.
Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
Baked Oatmeal Toppings
Feel free to drizzle melted butter or some coconut oil on top.
Maple syrup or honey and some extra sweetness
Diced apples, sliced bananas or fresh berries are delicious too.
Honey-flavored Greek yogurt is another option.
How to Make it Ahead
There are two ways to make this breakfast recipe ahead.
Cook it the Night Before
Allow to fully cool. Seal and refrigerate. Warm individual servings in the microwave in the morning.
Make the casserole the night before – Cook in the morning
Seal tightly and refrigerate. Remove from the refrigerator 20 minutes before baking (while the oven heats).
NOTE: some of the apples may float to the top and may oxidize. Stir them gently back in. The oatmeal browns when cooked so the apples will brown anyway.
Storing Leftovers
Store well-sealed in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat servings in the microwave.
Can you Freeze Baked Oatmeal?
Yes! Allow the baked oatmeal to fully cool.
Wrap individual servings in plastic wrap and place into a gallon freezer bag.
Freeze for up to 3 months. Freezing it this way allows individual portions to be removed whenever you want them.
Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave or oven in low heat.
More Recipes You’ll Love!
- Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
- Blackberry Oatmeal Bars
- Creamy Overnight Oatmeal Pudding with Cherries
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies
- Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cups
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Recipe
Apple Baked Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups Old Fashioned Rolled oats regular or gluten-free
- ½ cup Light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
- ½ cup chopped Walnuts
- 2 Eggs
- 1 3/4 Cups Milk
- ¼ cup Apple Butter
- 2 small Apples cored and chopped (peeled or not)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch by 9-inch (or similar size) baking dish and set aside.
- In a bowl combine the oats, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and chopped walnuts.
- Add the eggs, milk and apple butter. Stir to combine.
- Add the apples and mix until thoroughly incorporated.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and take to the oven. NOTE: it will look soupy.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and cooked. Cool 10 minutes before cutting.Serve with maple syrup, honey or yogurt on top.
Notes
Keep it refrigerated for up to 4 days or freeze it for up to 3 months.
Doreen says
Absolutely delicious! I doubled the apple butter amount but that’s it. My husband usually does not like baked oatmeal recipes. This one he asked for more!
Sandy says
Would you be able to make this recipe with steel cut oats?
Toni Dash says
Unfortunately you couldn’t direct swap steel cut oats into the recipe as written. The liquid to oats ratio would need to be adjusted and potentially the baking time too.
Kristyn says
This makes the house smell so good!! It is the most flavorful oatmeal!! I could eat this every morning!!
April says
This was so delicious! I loved the addition of apple butter!
Andrea says
I am loving the warm spices and crisp apples in this marvelous oatmeal bake. It’s a terrific way to start the day.
Justine says
This is my favorite baked oatmeal recipe. It tastes like fall, and is just so perfect with my morning coffee.
Ben says
Aww yeah. This isn’t breakfast, it’s a breakFEAST. I’m also a big fan of the fact that it feels like dessert for breakfast. Om nom nom.
Kathy says
Perfectly comforting and easy to customize. A new breakfast recipe to add to my list. Delicious!
Holley says
Absolutely delicious! One of my favorite fall treats!