Description
This comforting Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal is a warm and nutritious breakfast made with rolled oats simmered to creamy perfection, topped with sautéed cinnamon-spiced apples and crunchy pecans. Sweetened naturally with maple syrup, this quick and easy recipe is perfect for a wholesome start to your day.
Ingredients
Oatmeal
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup water or milk
- ½ tablespoon maple syrup (or brown sugar or coconut sugar, optional)
- ¼–½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of sea salt
Cinnamon Apples Topping
- ½ cup diced apples
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Toppings
- 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
- Additional ground cinnamon (optional)
- Additional sweetener such as maple syrup (optional)
Instructions
- Cook Apples: In a small saucepan, combine the diced apples, 2 teaspoons maple syrup, and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon. Sauté the mixture over medium heat for a few minutes until the apples soften and develop a texture similar to baked apples. Once cooked, set aside.
- Cook Oats: In another saucepan over medium-high heat, add the rolled oats, 1 cup water or milk, ½ tablespoon maple syrup, ¼–½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, and a pinch of sea salt. Bring the mixture to a low boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer. Continue cooking for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the oats absorb most of the liquid and the oatmeal becomes creamy.
- Serve: Transfer the cooked oatmeal to a bowl. Top it with the sautéed cinnamon apples, chopped pecans, a sprinkle of additional cinnamon, and extra sweetener if desired. Enjoy warm.
Notes
- You can substitute water with milk (dairy or plant-based) for creamier oatmeal.
- Adjust sweetness to taste by adding more or less maple syrup or your preferred sweetener.
- Chop pecans roughly for a nice crunchy texture in contrast to the softness of the oatmeal.
- This recipe is easily doubled or tripled for multiple servings.
- Use fresh firm apples like Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp for best results.
- For a vegan version, ensure the milk used is plant-based and use maple syrup only.