Apple Pie Oatmeal Bowl (Printer-friendly)

Creamy oats infused with cinnamon and topped with warm sautéed apples and nuts.

# What You'll Need:

→ Oatmeal Base

01 - 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 2 cups milk (dairy or unsweetened non-dairy)
03 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
05 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Apple Topping

07 - 1 medium apple, peeled, cored, and diced
08 - 1 teaspoon unsalted butter or coconut oil for vegan
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
10 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or brown sugar
11 - Pinch of salt

→ Optional Garnishes

12 - 2 tablespoons chopped toasted walnuts or pecans
13 - Extra maple syrup or honey, to taste
14 - Pinch of ground nutmeg

# Directions:

01 - In a medium saucepan, combine oats, milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla. Stir and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
02 - Reduce heat and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes until oats are creamy and tender.
03 - Heat butter or coconut oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add diced apple, cinnamon, maple syrup, and salt. Cook, stirring, for 5 to 7 minutes until apples soften and caramelize lightly.
04 - Divide cooked oatmeal between two bowls and spoon warm apple topping over each portion.
05 - Top with chopped nuts, drizzle with maple syrup or honey if desired, and sprinkle ground nutmeg. Serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like dessert for breakfast, which means you'll actually look forward to eating a wholesome meal.
  • The whole thing takes about twenty minutes, perfect for when you want cozy comfort but don't have all morning.
  • It's endlessly adaptable—swap the apples for pears, change your milk, or load it with whatever nuts you have on hand.
02 -
  • Toast your nuts in a dry skillet for two or three minutes before adding them—it transforms them from pleasant to genuinely delicious and only takes an extra few minutes.
  • Don't skip cooking the apples separately; if you dump them into the oats, they disappear and lose that caramelized sweetness that makes the whole bowl come alive.
03 -
  • If your oats start looking too thick while cooking, add milk a quarter cup at a time rather than all at once—it's easier to adjust than to thin out a watery bowl.
  • The secret that changes everything is cooking your apples in a separate pan; you get caramelization instead of steaming, which means actual flavor development instead of just soft fruit.
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