We all know people go nuts for pumpkin spice everything once September hits, but we can’t forget about apple! It’s one of the first things I think of when I think of fall produce. This baked apple cinnamon oatmeal is a cozy and delicious recipe to kick off fall.
It’s made with chewy rolled oats, applesauce to help sweeten it, lots of fresh apples, walnuts for a little crunch, and warming spices. Plus, it’s all made in one bowl and has a good balance of complex carbs, protein, healthy fats, and fiber.
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This baked apple cinnamon oatmeal is great out of the oven, especially topped with some greek yogurt, nut butter, and cinnamon as a snack, but also for dessert with some ice cream! Plus, it’s a great addition to your weekly meal prep!
Why you’ll love this apple cinnamon baked oatmeal recipe
- made in one bowl
- packed with apple flavor
- lightly sweetened – just 1 tablespoon of honey is used, plus unsweetened applesauce!
- macro-balanced – a good balance of complex carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and healthy fats.
Is baked oatmeal healthy?
Baked oatmeal can make a healthy and delicious breakfast or snack. Rolled oats are loaded with fiber, complex carbs, and whole grains, have plant-based protein, and are low in fat. By making baked oatmeal at home, you can easily customize it to fit your liking and nutrition goals.
Each one of these baked apple oatmeal bars has 216 calories, 31 grams of carbohydrates, 7 grams of protein, 7.5 grams of fat, and 4.6 grams of fiber for a balanced snack.
Apple cinnamon baked oatmeal ingredients
- eggs
- milk – dairy or non-dairy work.
- unsweetened applesauce – for natural sweetness and more apple flavor!
- honey
- vanilla extract
- rolled oats – I recommend old-fashioned rolled oats.
- cinnamon
- nutmeg
- baking powder
- salt – to help bring the flavors together.
- fresh apples
- walnuts
- oil, for greasing
How to make apple baked oatmeal
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease an 8×8 baking dish with oil and set aside.
- Mix ingredients. In a large bowl, add the wet ingredients of eggs, milk, apple sauce, honey, and vanilla and mix well to combine. Add your dry ingredients of oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt, and mix well to combine. Stir in diced apples and walnuts. I like to save a few walnuts for topping.
- Bake. Pour the oat mixture into the greased pan. Top with sliced apples and remaining walnuts. I like to sprinkle a little cinnamon on top. Bake for 35-40 minutes until firm and a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes and slice into 9 equal-sized bars.
- Enjoy! Serve as is or with a dollop of greek yogurt and a drizzle of nut butter.
Storage and reheating
- fridge – first, let the bars cool completely. Add to a sealable airtight container, or wrap the pan you baked it in with tin foil or Saran Wrap. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to a week.
- to freeze – let cool completely and place individual bars on a large plate or baking sheet. Place in the freezer and let freeze for 2 hours or until hardened. This will help ensure they freeze individually and won’t stick together. Transfer to a large bag (we love these reusable silicone bags) and freeze for up to 3 months. You can also wrap each one in individual portions and throw them right in the freezer after they have cooled. Defrost by placing them in the refrigerator and then warming up the microwave if desired.
- reheat – pop it in the microwave for 30-45 seconds until warm/hot. You can also eat it cold right out of the fridge.
Substitutions and additions
- eggs – I haven’t tried this, but flax eggs might work instead.
- milk – any kind of dairy or non-dairy milk (almond milk, coconut milk…) will work.
- unsweetened applesauce – mashed banana would work instead, but it should change the flavor and I feel overpower the other flavors.
- honey – any kind of liquid sweetener will work (maple syrup, agave…). You can also leave it out if you don’t want any sweetener.
- vanilla extract – vanilla bean paste will work the same and be delicious.
- rolled oats – quick oats will work instead of rolled oats. Steel-cut oats will not work as the texture is different. Use certified gluten-free oats if needed.
- spices – feel free to mix up the spices or add more. Ginger, cloves, and allspice would all be good additions, or you could use apple pie spice.
- fresh apples – use your favorite kind!
- walnuts – pecans or almonds will work instead. You can also leave the nuts out to make it nut-free.
Here are some additions you can do to change up the recipe:
- dried fruit – try raisins or cranberries.
- protein powder – if you’re looking to up the protein a little more, you can stir in some protein powder (vanilla would be delicious). Depending on what kind you use, if the batter looks too thick, I would stir in a little more milk.
More oatmeal recipes
- pumpkin baked oatmeal with cranberries
- brownie batter baked oatmeal
- peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip bars
- protein baked oatmeal
- peach baked oatmeal
If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!
Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
equipment
ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups rolled oats (250 grams)
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups diced apples (235 grams – 1 large apple)
- 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped (50 grams)
- 1/3 apple, thinly sliced (about 60 grams)
- oil, for greasing
instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease an 8×8 baking dish with oil and set aside.
- Mix ingredients. In a large bowl, add the wet ingredients of eggs, milk, apple sauce, honey, and vanilla, and mix well to combine. Add your dry ingredients of oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt, and mix well to combine. Stir in diced apples and walnuts. I like to save a few walnuts for topping.
- Bake. Pour the oat mixture into the greased pan. Top with sliced apples and remaining walnuts. I like to sprinkle a little cinnamon on top. Bake for 35-40 minutes until firm and a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes and slice into 9 equal-sized bars.
- Enjoy! Serve as is or with a dollop of greek yogurt and a drizzle of nut butter.
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nutrition
Recipe by Kelly Nardo, Eat the Gains | Photography by Sierra Inn
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Love this recipe. Great for breakfast or a snack!
Thanks, Kelley!
Love this recipe because it’s not too sweet but very satisfying and fills you up!! Easy to make too!!
So glad you enjoyed it, Nancy!
So good and so easy! I love a recipe that I can whip up in one bowl! I made this for breakfasts this week. Served it up with some Siggi’s vanilla yogurt on top and chicken breakfast sausage on the side!
Yum, that sounds like such a good breakfast! So glad you enjoyed it Rochelle and thanks for trying it!