Apple Baked Oatmeal

This apple baked oatmeal is warm, hearty, and just the right amount of sweet. Made with brown sugar, cinnamon, fresh apples, and a crunchy walnut topping, it's oatmeal with a serious upgrade.

In this Article:

• Key Ingredients & Substitutions
• Variations
• Recipe FAQs
• More Recipes to Try
• Recipe

This oatmeal may not be as sweet as a donut, but it's just sweet enough to satisfy any sweet tooth who's also trying to eat healthy. And it's super simple to make too!

Just mix together the ingredients, pop it in the oven, and come back to it after you're done getting ready for the day! And there you have a delicious baked oatmeal made from scratch!

This apple baked oatmeal recipe is... 

• vegetarian
• plant-based
• gluten-free
• ready in 1 hour
• a hearty, warm breakfast

Key Ingredients & Substitutions

Here is what goes into this apple baked oatmeal, plus easy swaps if you need them.

• Old-fashioned rolled oats. Rolled oats give this baked oatmeal its hearty, chewy texture. Quick oats work in a pinch and bake up a little softer, but skip steel-cut oats here, since they need far more liquid and time. If you want to keep this gluten-free, look for oats labeled certified gluten-free. Craving steel-cut oats instead? Try our Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats.
• Apples. Two diced apples add natural sweetness and juicy little pockets in every bite. Any variety works, but firm baking apples like Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Pink Lady hold their shape best. Have extra apples on hand? Turn them into Slow Cooker Apple Butter.
• Brown sugar. Light or dark brown sugar adds a warm, caramel-like sweetness. For a lighter version, swap it for ¾ cup of unsweetened applesauce (see the reduced sugar variation below).
• Eggs. The eggs bind the oats and give the baked oatmeal its custardy, sliceable texture. To make it egg-free, use ¼ cup of applesauce or 1 mashed ripe banana per egg.
• Whole milk. Whole milk makes the oatmeal creamy and rich. Any milk you have will work, though lower-fat milk gives a slightly less rich result. For a dairy-free version, canned coconut milk is the best swap because of its thickness and fat content.
• Baking powder. A little baking powder lifts the oatmeal so it bakes up tender instead of dense. Make sure yours is fresh for the best rise.
• Cinnamon. A teaspoon of ground cinnamon is what makes this taste like apple pie for breakfast. A pinch of nutmeg or allspice is a nice addition if you like extra spice.
• Walnuts. Chopped walnuts add crunch and a toasty flavor. They are optional, so leave them out for a nut-free version, or swap in chopped pecans.

Variations

Make it bite-sized!

It's easy to separate this baked oatmeal into individual portions. But if you want to make it even easier, place your batter into muffin tins. That way, your apple baked oatmeal comes out perfect for on-the-go eating! 

This will also cut your baking time down to 25-30 minutes, so make sure to watch them. When they're golden brown, remove them from the oven. Looking for another grab-and-go breakfast? Try our Oatmeal Muffins.

Make It Vegan

To make this recipe vegan, just replace the eggs and milk. Replace each egg with either ¼ cups of applesauce or 1 medium, ripe smashed banana. 

Replace the milk with any non-dairy milk. I suggest using coconut milk because of the thickness, richness, and fat content. Though it still has less fat than whole milk, it comes closer than other non-dairy milks and will make your baked oatmeal thicker.

Reduced Sugar

For a lighter version, you can replace the brown sugar, with ¾ cup of homemade applesauce. The final result is much softer, but still delicious!

Recipe FAQs

How long can you keep baked oatmeal?

Your baked oatmeal will keep well for 4 days covered in the fridge. Since this recipe can take just over an hour, you may choose prep it the night before so you can have it for breakfast. Because the recipe contains eggs and milk, make sure you refrigerate it. 

This recipe also stores well in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

What are the best apples to bake with?

Really any type of apple will work for this recipe, but some hold up better in the oven than others. You might try using Jonagold, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Pink Lady. Each will have a slightly different sweetness and a slightly different crunch and texture. Try out a couple and let me know your favorite!

More Recipes to Try

If you love this baked apple oatmeal, be sure to check out these other delicious recipes:

• Easy Apple Crisp
• Overnight Apple Cinnamon French Toast Bake
• Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
• Stuffed Baked Apples

Recipe