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If you could go for apple pie for breakfast, this vegan apple cinnamon oatmeal is for you! Tender cinnamon apples, creamy oats, a hint of maple, and a sprinkle of hemp seeds come together in just 10 minutes. It’s dairy-free, has no refined sugar, and can easily be gluten-free. Make it on the stovetop, in the microwave, or in a crockpot to feed the whole family.
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Looking for more fall breakfast ideas? Try my pumpkin spice oatmeal or vegan apple cinnamon pancakes, or browse all of my vegan apple recipes. Thank you to Renee Press for developing this delicious recipe!
Quick Glance
- Recipe Name: Vegan Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- Why You’ll Love It: It tastes like apple pie in a bowl, and it’s warm and filling.
- Time and Difficulty: 5 minutes of prep and about 10 minutes of cooking. Easy.
- Main Ingredients: Rolled oats, an apple, cinnamon, maple syrup, salt, hemp seeds, and a little oil.
- Method: Sauté the apples with cinnamon, then simmer the oats right in the same pot.
- Texture and Flavor: Creamy, warm oats with soft, sweet cinnamon apples and a nutty crunch from the hemp seeds.
- Quick Tip: Set a few spoonfuls of the cinnamon apples aside to spoon over the top.
Table of Contents
What Makes This Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal So Good
Warm, filling breakfasts hit the spot as the weather turns cooler, and this apple pie oatmeal is one of my favorites. Oatmeal is such a budget-friendly breakfast that the whole family can enjoy.
Oats are high in soluble fiber, so a bowl keeps you full all morning. The hemp seeds add even more staying power, with almost 10 grams of protein in a 30-gram serving (about 3 Tablespoons). The sweet apples and warm cinnamon make every bite taste like fall.
Want to keep your oatmeal options rolling (see what I did there?)? Check out my carrot cake oatmeal or chilled apple cinnamon overnight oats. New to oatmeal? Here’s my guide to cooking oatmeal on the stove.
- Apple pie for breakfast: Sautéed cinnamon apples give it that warm, spiced apple pie flavor.
- Ready in 10 minutes: Everything cooks in one small pot.
- Three ways to make it: Stovetop, microwave, or crockpot.
- Easy to customize: Swap the sweetener, spices, milk, and toppings to suit your taste.
- Meal prep friendly: Make a big batch and reheat it all week.
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need for this apple oatmeal. You’ll find the full amounts in the recipe card below.
The Oatmeal Base
- Oats: Use rolled oats or instant oats. If you need this gluten-free, use certified gluten-free oats.
- Liquid: Water, plant-based milk, or apple juice. Use 1 ½ cups of liquid for every 1 cup of rolled oats. Milk makes the creamiest oatmeal, and apple juice adds extra apple flavor. Use unsweetened, unflavored milk so it doesn’t change the flavor.
- Salt: Just a pinch brings out all the flavors.
- Maple syrup: Use pure maple syrup, not pancake syrup. Brown sugar, coconut sugar, or finely chopped dates work too.
- Hemp seeds: Optional, for a nutty crunch. Flax meal or chia seeds work too.
The Cinnamon Apples
- Apple: Use crisp apples that hold their shape, like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Gala, or Pink Lady.
- Cinnamon: Apple pie spice works too, since it combines cinnamon with nutmeg, ginger, and allspice.
- Oil: Olive oil, coconut oil, or vegan butter. For an oil-free version, use a splash of water to soften the apples.
Add-Ins and Recipe Variations
- Other warming spices: No apple pie spice? Add a pinch (⅛ teaspoon) each of ground ginger and nutmeg. Cardamom or pumpkin pie spice are also delicious.
- Vanilla extract: Just a few drops add even more apple pie flavor.
- Lemon juice: A small splash brings out the apple flavor.
- Other fruit: I haven’t tested it, but pears would make a delicious cinnamon pear oatmeal, and peaches should work well in the summer.
- Grated apple: Grate the apple in place of dicing it and stir it in at the end, so it spreads through every bite.
- Nuts or seeds: Toasted pecans or walnuts are perfect here. For a nut-free option, use toasted sunflower seeds or pepitas. About 2 Tablespoons is plenty.
- Nut butter: Stir in a spoonful of peanut butter or almond butter for a creamier bowl.
- Dried fruit: Add a couple of Tablespoons of raisins, dried cranberries, or chopped dates.
- Yogurt: Add a dollop of dairy-free yogurt when serving for an even creamier, more filling bowl.
- Protein boost: Stir in a scoop of unflavored or vanilla protein powder right before serving, with an extra splash of milk if the oats get thick.
- More toppings: Banana slices, granola, shredded coconut, a spoonful of Instant Pot apple butter, or a drizzle of date caramel sauce.
How to Make Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Here’s how to make it on the stovetop. You’ll find the microwave and crockpot methods right after the steps.
Step 1: Dice the apple. Core the apple and cut it into small cubes. Peel it first if you like.
Step 2: Add the apples and cinnamon. Heat the oil, vegan butter, or a splash of water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the cubed apple and cinnamon (or apple pie spice).
PRO TIP: Want extra apples on top? After sautéing, set a few spoonfuls aside to spoon over your bowl.
Step 3: Sauté the apples. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring, until the apple starts to soften and turn golden.
Step 4: Add the oats and liquid. Add the oats and 1 ½ cups of water or plant-based milk, and stir.
Step 5: Simmer. Cook according to the package directions until the oats are tender and the liquid is absorbed, usually 3 to 4 minutes for instant oats or 6 to 8 minutes for rolled oats.
Step 6: Stir in the rest. Stir in the salt, hemp seeds, and maple syrup. Sprinkle with extra cinnamon and serve right away.
PRO TIP: If you cook the oatmeal with water, stir in a splash of plant-based milk when serving for a creamier bowl.
Microwave and Crockpot Apple Oatmeal
Microwave apple cinnamon oatmeal:
- Use a large microwave-safe bowl, so the oatmeal doesn’t bubble over.
- Add the cubed apple, cinnamon, and a sprinkle of water. Cover and microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, until the apple starts to soften.
- Add the oats, milk or water, and salt. Stir, then microwave for 2 to 3 more minutes in 40-second bursts, stirring in between, until the oats are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Stir in the maple syrup and hemp seeds, and add your favorite toppings.
Crockpot apple oatmeal:
- I haven’t tested this crockpot version, but steel-cut oats should work best, since they hold up to the long cooking time. Rolled oats can turn soft and soupy, and instant or quick oats aren’t a good fit here. Try it during the day the first time, so you know how long your slow cooker needs.
- Lightly oil the inside of your slow cooker, then add all the ingredients. Use at least 1 cup of oats to 2 to 3 cups of liquid, depending on how thick you like your oatmeal. Cover.
- Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, until the oats are tender. As a starting point, plan on about 5 to 6 hours for rolled oats and 7 to 8 hours for steel-cut oats, since every slow cooker is a little different.
Toni’s Recipe Tips
- For softer, applesauce-style oatmeal: Cook the apples longer with a little water and maple syrup, as you would for homemade applesauce. A spoonful of unsweetened applesauce works too.
- Adjust the sweetness: Add sweetener to taste, based on how sweet your apples are.
- Check your brown sugar: Not all brown sugar is vegan (some is processed with bone char), so check the package.
- Stir often: Stirring keeps the oats from sticking and makes them extra creamy.
- Adjust the texture: For thicker oatmeal, cook it a little longer. If it gets too thick, stir in a splash of milk or water. It thickens more as it cools, so take it off the heat while it’s still a little loose.
- Serving size: This recipe makes 1 large serving or 2 smaller portions.
- Feeding more people: Double or triple the recipe in a larger pot. Add a few extra minutes for the oats to cook.
Make Ahead and Storage
- Meal prep: Make a big batch at the start of the week and portion it into jars or containers. You can also cook the cinnamon apples ahead and store them separately.
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 6 days.
- Reheat: Warm it on the stovetop over medium-low heat, or in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring in between. Add a splash of milk or water to make it creamy again.
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal FAQs
Crisp apples that hold their shape work best, like Honeycrisp, Gala, Pink Lady, or Granny Smith. Use whatever you have on hand, though.
No. You can cook them with the peel on or off, based on what you like.
It comes down to what you like. For 1 cup of rolled oats, use 1 ½ cups of water or plant-based milk. Plant-based milk makes the creamiest, softest oatmeal. Water gives a lighter oatmeal with a little more texture. Apple juice is much sweeter, so you can use less sweetener or skip it.
Yes, but they take longer. Use about 1½ cups of liquid for every ½ cup of steel-cut oats, and simmer for about 20 minutes. To keep the apples firm, take them out after sautéing and stir them back in 5 minutes before the oats are done. You can also use the crockpot method above.
Yes. Skip the maple syrup and use a sweet apple like Fuji or Honeycrisp. Stir in a few finely chopped dates or a little mashed banana if you want more sweetness.
More Vegan Oat Recipes
Vegan Breakfasts
Easy Coffee Oatmeal
Vegan Breakfasts
Strawberry Oatmeal
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Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
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Ingredients
- 1 cup (90 g) rolled oats or instant oats, certified gluten-free if needed
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) water or plant-based milk or apple juice
- 1 apple cored and cubed
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon or apple pie spice
- 1 to 2 Tablespoons (15 to 30 ml) maple syrup or coconut sugar, brown sugar, or finely chopped dates
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 to 2 Tablespoons (10 to 20 g) hemp seeds or flax meal, optional
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) olive oil or coconut oil or vegan butter, or a splash of water for oil-free
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. For an oil-free version, use a splash of water.
- Add the cubed apple and cinnamon. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, until the apple starts to soften and turn golden. Set a few spoonfuls aside for topping, if you like.
- Add the oats and water, and stir. Cook according to the package directions until the oats are tender and the liquid is absorbed, about 3 to 4 minutes for instant oats or 6 to 8 minutes for rolled oats.
- Stir in the salt, hemp seeds, and maple syrup.
- Sprinkle with extra cinnamon and serve right away.
Notes
- If you don’t have apple pie spice, add a pinch each of ground ginger and nutmeg.
- This recipe makes 1 large serving or 2 smaller portions.
- A few drops of vanilla extract add even more apple pie flavor.
- A small splash of lemon juice brings out the apple flavor.
- Top the oatmeal with a pat of vegan butter, toasted pecans or walnuts, or a spoonful of nut butter.
- For a nut-free topping, use toasted sunflower seeds or pepitas.
- Add a splash of apple juice to the pan with the apples for more apple flavor.
- The oatmeal thickens as it sits, so stir in a splash of milk or water to loosen it.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 6 days.
