Apple Baked Oatmeal is a warm, filling, wholesome breakfast. This fall-flavored version features tender apples, warm cinnamon, and sweet maple syrup for a cozy breakfast that’s sure to become a new favorite! It’s easy to make ahead of time and reheat on busy mornings!

Baked oatmeal topped with apple slices.

Apple Baked Oatmeal is such a satisfying, nutritious morning meal and makes for a super convenient make-ahead breakfast. We bake it on Sunday and have plenty of oatmeal for 6 mornings throughout the week. It’s loaded with healthy ingredients — oats, applesauce and apples. The eggs bind it all together, and a light drizzle of coconut oil (or butter) makes it taste like a treat.

Our healthy almond joy baked oatmeal is such a great oatmeal recipe, we used it as a guide for this apple version. It turned out so good! It’s thick, creamy, warm and full of apple-cinnamon flavor. It’s so scrumptious, there is really no need for a topping! Just one serving is super satisfying and always keeps me full until lunch with plenty of fiber and protein.

Everything to love about this recipe

  • Tastes like dessert. This apple cinnamon flavor is warm, cozy and tastes just like dessert for breakfast. Yum!
  • Filling and nutritious. A slice of this baked oatmeal is super satisfying and will keep you fueled for hours. It’s full of fiber and loaded with antioxidants.
  • Easy and so tasty. This recipe is truly so easy to make in just 1 bowl and it’s so good you’ll be begging for another slice.
  • Great for holiday brunches. Because this can be ready-to-go ahead of time, it’s great for the holidays, particularly when hosting guests. It’s the ultimate warming, comfort food. Simple, hearty, wholesome, perfectly sweet, healthy and delish!

Just made this recipe and it was awesome. I was a little nervous because I used Unsweetened Vanilla Almond milk which my go to (Cashew Milk) yet, it was PERFECT! Kids and hubby topped it with fruit, greek yogurt, and a drizzle of honey. I think we found a new breakfast fav!

— CJ
Apple cinnamon baked oatmeal on a white plate with a fork.

Ingredients needed

This easy apple baked oatmeal recipe uses simple ingredients with cozy mix-ins, like juicy apple chunks, maple syrup and warm spices. Here’s what you need to make it:

  • Milk. We typically use either unsweetened vanilla almond milk or cashew milk in this recipe, but any milk variety will work great.
  • Eggs. We’re using 2 eggs to provide structure and bind all of the ingredients together. I haven’t tried using flax eggs, but I think it would work fine. I did have a reader let me know that my almond joy baked oatmeal worked great without any eggs at all and this is a very similar recipe.
  • Maple syrup. To naturally sweeten the dish. Honey or agave would work great as a substitute.
  • Butter or coconut oil. Just 1/4 cup melted butter or coconut oil will add richness. We have successfully made this without adding butter or coconut oil and it worked fine.
  • Applesauce. Gives the oatmeal extra apple flavor! If you don’t have applesauce on hand, use mashed banana or pumpkin puree.
  • Oats. The base is made with old-fashioned rolled oats. Use gluten-free oats if you’d like. However, do NOT use quick oats or steel cut oats because the texture will not be good.
  • Baking essentials. We’re adding in baking powder and salt to give this baked oatmeal a little lift and ensure it bakes properly.
  • Spices. Add ground cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice for warm cozy flavor!
  • Apple. You’ll need one small apple chopped. We like using Honeycrisp apples best, but braeburn, pink lady, gala or fuji would be great choices too!
stirring together oatmeal with milk and chopped apple

How to make this recipe

This oatmeal recipe is so easy because all of the ingredients get mixed together in one large bowl. You can find the full printable recipe at the bottom of this page, but here’s the key steps:

  1. Prep. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9×9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Mix the wet ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, maple syrup, butter or coconut oil and applesauce.
  3. Add the dry ingredients. Stir in the oats, baking powder, spices and salt with the liquid ingredients until fully combined. Now, stir in the chopped apple and feel free to stir in other favorite mix-ins, like chocolate chips, walnuts, pecans, cranberries or raisins.
  4. Bake. Pour the oat mixture into your baking dish. Top with nuts and/or apple slices, if desired. Place in the oven and bake until just set and golden brown, about 35 minutes.
  5. Serve & enjoy! Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool for about 5 minutes. Cut it into 6 individual portions for serving. Top with maple syrup, yogurt, almond butter or you can even serve it in a bowl with a splash of milk.

Should I peel the apple? Not necessary! You can slice and chop up the apple without peeling it. Once it’s baked, you won’t even notice the peeling. However, feel free to peel it, if preferred.

adding oatmeal and apple slices to a baking pan

Optional recipe swaps

This baked apple oatmeal recipe is a super versatile dish! Feel free to swap some of the ingredients listed with your favorites!

  • Sweetener. Instead of maple syrup you can use honey, coconut sugar or brown sugar.
  • Dairy free. Make this breakfast dairy free by using a vegan butter or coconut oil and a non-dairy milk.
  • Fruit. Want to change things up? Feel free to use another type of fruit. Pears would be delicious, but berries or peaches would totally work too! Or try our Banana Baked Oatmeal or Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal.
  • Spices. Apple pie spice would be tasty. Feel free to leave out the nutmeg and allspice and only use cinnamon, if that’s what you have on-hand. You could also add in ginger and/or vanilla extract.
  • Fun mix-ins. Any of these extras would be super tasty baked into this oatmeal – chocolate chips, shredded coconut, walnuts, pecans, or raisins. I would use about 1/2 to 1 cup of any of these or a combination.
Apple baked oatmeal in a baking pan.

Expert tips

  • Bake soon after assembly. Don’t make the batter ahead of time and let it sit. The oats will absorb the liquid and bake up dry. As soon as everything is mixed together, pop it in the oven!
  • Double the recipe. If you’re serving a crowd, feel free to double the recipe and use a 9×13 inch pan. The baked oatmeal might be extra thick and require at least 10 extra minutes in the oven. Tent with aluminum foil if the edges are browning too quickly.
  • Let it cool. This smells AMAZING when it comes out of the oven, so it might be tempting to dig in right away. However, it’s actually best if you let it cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. The sweet, spiced flavor will intensify in those few minutes out of the oven. The texture gets better too—the topping crisps up and the middle becomes firmer.

Frequently asked questions

What is baked oatmeal?

Baked oatmeal is a warm breakfast casserole made from oats, milk, and other kitchen staples. Whereas stovetop or instant oatmeal has a creamy porridge consistency, baked oatmeal is more cakey, like bread pudding. It’s basically like regular oatmeal with even more texture. If you’re looking for individual serving sizes, try my pumpkin baked oatmeal cups. 

How healthy is baked oatmeal?

This apple baked oatmeal recipe is very nutritious! It’s loaded with fiber, healthy carbs, and whole grains! You can customize it to be higher in protein or healthy fats depending on what you add, but overall it is a great well-balanced meal! This particular recipe has 323 calories per serving and 46 carbs. See the recipe card for more nutrition information.

Can you serve baked oatmeal cold?

Definitely! Baked oatmeal is awesome cold. Sometimes we even eat this apple baked oatmeal right out of the refrigerator. It’s surprisingly tasty that way, especially if you need a quick bite after a workout or an easy, quick snack.

Serving suggestions

We typically enjoy this on its own because it’s plenty satisfying. We especially love it warm, kind of mashed up with an extra splash of milk. So good! But it does pair well with a variety of breakfast sides. Below are some tasty options:

  • Hash browns or breakfast potatoes
  • Fresh fruit or fruit salad
  • Yogurt
  • Bacon, sausage, or ham
  • Eggs
baked oatmeal with apples topped with peanut butter

Topping ideas

This is pretty amazing served with just a splash of milk or a drizzle of maple syrup, but here are some other fun topping ideas:

  • chopped pecans or walnuts
  • yogurt or whipped cream
  • vanilla ice cream
  • nut butter or Nutella
  • shredded coconut

How to store, reheat & freeze 

  • To store in the refrigerator. Cool completely, and then cover the pan with aluminum foil or plastic wrap before storing it in the refrigerator. Stored properly, it will stay fresh for up to about 7 days, and you can reheat individual slices in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. For a meal prepped breakfast that’s ready-to-go, store individual slices in separate glass meal prep containers.
  • To freeze & reheat. Once completely cooled, cut into 6 individual servings and wrap each serving in plastic wrap and then tinfoil. When you’re ready to eat, unwrap it and place it on a microwave-safe dish and microwave in 30 second intervals for 1-2 minutes. If you wrap and freeze the entire baked oatmeal for later, reheat it in the oven, covered with foil, for 20-25 minutes at 350ºF.
serving of apple cinnamon baked oatmeal on a white plate

More breakfast recipes you’ll love:

Other baked oatmeal recipes from my friends:

If you try this, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.

Baked oatmeal topped with apple slices.
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Healthy Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Baked Oatmeal is a warm, filling, wholesome breakfast. This fall-flavored version features tender apples, warm cinnamon, and sweet maple syrup for a cozy breakfast that’s sure to become a new favorite! It’s easy to make ahead of time and reheat on busy mornings!
Author: Kim

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond or cashew milk , (any milk product can be used)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup butter or coconut oil, melted
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce, (can sub with mashed banana)
  • 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, (gluten-free as needed)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups finely chopped apple , or 1 small apple (I like Honeycrisp)
  • Optional for topping: 1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
  • Optional garnish: whipped topping, ice cream, yogurt, nut/seed butter, drizzle of chocolate, maple syrup, and/or fresh fruit

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×9-inch or 11×7-inch (or other similar size) baking pan with nonstick spray. Stir the liquid ingredients (milk, eggs, maple syrup, melted butter and applesauce) together in one large bowl.
    stirring oats and apple chunks with milk in a large bowl
  • Add the dry ingredients (oats, baking powder, spices and salt) to the bowl with the wet ingredients and mix until fully combined, then stir in diced apple. Pour the mixture into prepared baking pan. If desired, top with additional apple slices and/or nuts (or stir nuts into the oatmeal, if using).
    pour oatmeal into a square baking dish
  • Bake oatmeal for 35 minutes or until the center appears *almost* set, which will give you a soft oatmeal. For drier and more solid baked oatmeal, bake until center has set. Cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. Spoon or slice and serve with yogurt, almond butter or maple syrup, if desired.
    Baked oatmeal topped with apple slices in a baking dish.

Notes

Storing leftovers:
Before storing, allow it to cool completely, and then cover the pan with aluminum foil or plastic wrap before transferring it to the refrigerator. It will stay good covered in the refrigerator for up to about 7 days, and you can reheat individual slices in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. 
Freezing:
Once it has completely cooled, cut it into 6 individual servings and wrap each serving in plastic wrap and then tinfoil. When you’re ready to eat it, unwrap the oatmeal and place it on a microwave-safe dish and microwave in 30 second intervals for 1-2 minutes. If you wrap and freeze the entire baked oatmeal for later, reheat it in the oven, covered with foil, for 20-25 minutes at 350ºF.
Photos by Sasha at Eat Love Eats
Author: Kim
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 323kcal, Carbohydrates: 46g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 82mg, Sodium: 240mg, Potassium: 323mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 15g, Vitamin A: 348IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 87mg, Iron: 2mg

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