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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast

    Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats

    Published: May 4, 2021 · Modified: Mar 26, 2022 by Katie · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a comment.

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats are a mix of steel cut oats, apples, cinnamon, almond milk and maple syrup, cooked overnight in your slow cooker! When you wake up in the morning you'll be greeted with breakfast all made and ready-to-eat. This warm and comforting breakfast is delicious anytime of the year.

    apple cinnamon overnight oats in three bowls, three spoons in the lower left corner, topped with walnuts.

    This delicious and healthy breakfast recipe gets prepared in your slow cooker before you go to bed at night. Simply add all of the ingredients to the crock pot, set it to low and go to bed.

    You'll wake up in the morning and briefly think someone snuck into your kitchen in the middle of the night and baked apple cinnamon muffins. That is how good your house will smell!

    My recipe for Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats only calls for 7 ingredients, preps in 5 minutes and is packed with flavor.

    I've been making this recipe for years. It's perfect for mornings that you know will be hectic. Making your breakfast the night before takes one thing off of your to-do list in the morning.

    Serve Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats with my yummy dairy free Matcha Chai Latte made with oat milk.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Equipment needed
    • Why use a slow cooker?
    • What are steel cut oats?
    • Step-by-step instructions
    • Variations
    • Substitutions
    • FAQ
    • Breakfast recipes you might also like
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients

    apple cinnamon overnight oats ingredients labeled.
    Image of ingredients needed.
    • Steel cut oats - I prefer to use Bob's Red Mill steel cut oats but you can use any brand that you prefer.
    • Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk - I strongly suggest using unsweetened vanilla milk. You will be adding maple syrup and you can top your oatmeal with brown sugar after it has finished cooking.
    • Maple syrup - I hope I don't have to tell you to only use pure maple syrup... Pure maple syrup contains absolutely no artificial ingredients. It does cost quite a bit of money, but it's one of those ingredients that are worth splurging on.
    • Vanilla extract - Vanilla extract is another baking ingredient that is worth paying extra for. Avoid imitation vanilla extract and opt for the real thing.
    • Apples - Any kind of apple will work for this recipe. My preference is gala or Cortland apples.
    • Ground cinnamon
    • Water
    • Optional toppings: walnuts & brown sugar

    Equipment needed

    • Slow cooker - I recently purchased this slow cooker. It doesn't have any extra fancy functions, but it does the trick!
    • Measuring cups & spoons
    • Cutting board & chopping knife

    Why use a slow cooker?

    I cook steel cut oats in the slow cooker because steel cut oats take much longer to cook than regular rolled oats, old fashioned oats or quick-cooking oats. Even when they are cooked on the stovetop, they can take up to 45 minutes to prepare.

    What are steel cut oats?

    Steel cut oats are oat groats that have been cut into 2-3 smaller pieces. Steel cut oats, sometimes referred to as Irish oats, have a chewy, dense texture. Thanks to their high fiber content, they are very filling and satisfying. The main difference between steel cut oats and rolled oats, is that rolled oats are oat groats that have been steamed and flattened. As a result, rolled oats require less cooking time.

    Step-by-step instructions

    Step 1: The first thing you need to do is spray the inside of the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray! This is a must! If you skip this step, prepare to have a half inch of oatmeal stuck to the sides of your slow cooker in the morning.

    Hand holding olive oil cooking spray, spraying the inside of the crock pot.
    Slow cooker sprayed in oil.

    Step 2: Add all of your liquid ingredients to the slow cooker first - the water, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Next add your dry ingredients - the steel cut oats, ground cinnamon and apples.

    all ingredients in the slow cooker, ready to cook.
    All ingredients in slow cooker.

    Step 3: Cover your slow cooker and cook on low for 7.5 hours. If your slow cooker does not have an automatic timer, then you will have to make sure you start your slow cooker 7.5 hours before your will be waking up the next morning.

    Cooked oatmeal in the slow cooker.
    Cooked Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats.

    Step 4: After your cinnamon overnight oats have finished cooking, give the oats a good stir to combine the mixture. Serve topped with brown sugar and walnuts.

    Variations

    You could eliminate the apples from this recipe and slightly increase the cinnamon. This would give the oatmeal more of a cinnamon role overnight oats flavor. You could also make your own icing to drizzle over the oatmeal when you're ready to eat it!

    Another way to add variety to this recipe is to add different toppings. I really like adding walnuts and brown sugar. You could also add sliced bananas, slivered almonds, chia seeds, apple sauce, apple butter or a dollop of Greek yogurt.

    Substitutions

    • Almond milk - Swap out the almond milk for any other unsweetened vanilla dairy free milk. I love coconut milk and oat milk!
    • Maple Syrup - Instead of maple syrup you could try honey or agave nectar. Both are regularly used as substitutions for maple syrup.
    • Toppings - I listed a variety of different topping options under the Variations section!

    FAQ

    Can I cook this slow cooker recipe on high?

    Yes! I have cooked this recipe on both low and high. If you would like to cook it on high, cook it for 3.5 hours.

    Can I freeze slow cooker steel cut oats?

    Yes. I recommend freezing the oats in individual servings. You can thaw the oats slowly in the refrigerator or cook them from frozen in the microwave.

    Is this recipe gluten free?

    You can make this recipe gluten free by choosing to use steel cut oats that are specifically labeled as gluten free.

    Breakfast recipes you might also like

    • Sausage Spinach Quiche
    • Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
    • BLT Bagel Sandwich
    • Matcha Chai Latte
    Print

    📖 Recipe

    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Close up image of slow cooker oats topped with apple slices and walnuts.

    Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats

    ★★★★★

    5 from 9 reviews

    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats are a mix of steel cut oats, apples, cinnamon, almond milk and maple syrup, cooked overnight in your slow cooker! When you wake up in the morning you'll be greeted with breakfast all made and ready-to-eat. This warm and comforting breakfast is delicious anytime of the year. 

    • Total Time: 14 minute
    • Yield: 4-6 servings 1x

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 ½ cups steel cut oats
    • 3 ½ cups water
    • 2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk
    • ½ cup pure maple syrup
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 cup chopped apple
    • Cooking spray
    • Optional - walnuts, brown sugar 

    Instructions

    1. Spray the inside of your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
    2. Add all of your wet ingredients to the slow cooker first.  This includes the water, almond milk, maple syrup and vanilla extract.  
    3. Next add the steel cut oats, ground cinnamon and the chopped apple.
    4. Put the lid on your slow cooker and cook on low for 7.5 hours or high for 3.5 hours. 
    5. At the end of cook time, give the oatmeal a good stir.  Top with walnuts and brown sugar.  Enjoy!

    Notes

    • Don't forget the non-stick cooking spray!  This is an absolute must. 
    • If you want to make this recipe gluten free, just make sure you are using certified gluten free steel cut oats.
    • If you don't care about this recipe being dairy free, I suggest serving your steel cut oats with a splash of heavy cream or half & half.
    • This recipe will freeze well.  I suggest freezing in individual portions and thawing in the microwave when you are ready to eat it. 
    • Author: Katie
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 7.5 hours
    • Category: breakfast
    • Method: slow cooker
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Gluten Free

    Keywords: apple cinnamon overnight oats

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sabrina

      May 10, 2021 at 6:48 pm

      Yum, this oatmeal ticks all the boxes. A really delicious recipe, thanks!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Lara

      May 10, 2021 at 7:31 pm

      Love that you can put this is the slow cooker at night when you head to bed and breakfast is ready when you wake up! Great for beating that morning rush!!

      Reply
    3. Adriana Lopez

      May 10, 2021 at 8:43 pm

      Nothing like a good bowl of steel-cut oats to start the day.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. will

      May 10, 2021 at 11:37 pm

      I've been making steel cut oatmeal because it's better for you than the instant stuff, this is by far the best tasting and easiest I've made. Thanks!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    5. Amy

      May 11, 2021 at 12:11 am

      My husband loves his oats and we're always looking for different recipes to try. This looks so good!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Elizabeth Flight

      May 11, 2021 at 2:59 am

      Fantastic recipe! Will definitely make again!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    7. Amber

      May 11, 2021 at 4:14 am

      I love steel cut oats, but I had never even thought to make them in the slow cooker. Game changer!! I can't wait to wake up to the smell of apples + cinnamon + vanilla!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    8. Kay

      May 11, 2021 at 4:42 am

      Woke up to it this morning, helped get me up and at them this morning with the promise of a good hearty and warm brekkie waiting for me! Will def make again.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    9. Ramona

      May 11, 2021 at 10:58 pm

      This is a gorgeous recipe - will make it again!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    10. Sondra

      May 12, 2021 at 1:48 am

      Would love to try this.

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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    I’m Katie, the food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer at Sugar & Snap Peas. I specialize in easy, budget friendly, family recipes. My goal is to help you take the stress out of cooking and provide you with simple, creative recipes.

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