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.
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.
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Ingredients
- 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
You can make this recipe gluten free by choosing to use steel cut oats that are specifically labeled as gluten free.
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Print📖 Recipe
Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats
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
- 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
- Spray the inside of your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
- Add all of your wet ingredients to the slow cooker first. This includes the water, almond milk, maple syrup and vanilla extract.
- Next add the steel cut oats, ground cinnamon and the chopped apple.
- Put the lid on your slow cooker and cook on low for 7.5 hours or high for 3.5 hours.
- 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.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 7.5 hours
- Category: breakfast
- Method: slow cooker
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Keywords: apple cinnamon overnight oats
Sabrina
Yum, this oatmeal ticks all the boxes. A really delicious recipe, thanks!
★★★★★
Lara
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!!
Adriana Lopez
Nothing like a good bowl of steel-cut oats to start the day.
★★★★★
will
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!
★★★★★
Amy
My husband loves his oats and we're always looking for different recipes to try. This looks so good!
★★★★★
Elizabeth Flight
Fantastic recipe! Will definitely make again!
★★★★★
Amber
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!
★★★★★
Kay
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.
★★★★★
Ramona
This is a gorgeous recipe - will make it again!
★★★★★
Sondra
Would love to try this.
★★★★★