A Different Way to Make Oatmeal
What makes this apple cinnamon oatmeal excellent is the method – a little oil is heated in the pot before adding the oats and spices to give it a little toasted flavour, before adding milk, fruit, and toppings.
This idea came from an old friend who used to make stovetop granola whenever I stayed with her, so I combined the porridge that I eat almost every morning with that concept. It’s cosy, warming, and takes very little extra time compared to a normal bowl of oatmeal, but with a far better flavour.
This is adaptable, of course; you can change all the toppings to suit your tastes, maybe adding some frozen berries, nut butter, or dates. If you’re an oatmeal fanatic like we are, definitely try this different method and let me know how you like it.
I first shared this recipe in 2018. It’s been updated with improvements to the recipe instructions and a retested and improved recipe, new photos, including step-by-step photos, and more helpful information.
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Ingredients You’ll Need and Why
It’s a simple recipe, with pretty standard porridge ingredients. The difference really lies in the way it’s cooked. These are my notes from recipe testing, and you can find the full recipe card below with complete measurements and instructions.
- Oats: rolled oats are the best for this recipe if possible, but quick-cook will work in a pinch. Don’t use steel cut oats, which require a different cooking method. Choose certified gluten-free oats if needed.
- Apple: use a good cooking apple, preferably a variety with plenty of flavour. I recommend choosing an apple with thin skin so that it doesn’t need to be peeled before grating.
- Oil: this can be any oil you like the taste of, or even butter.
- Milk: the porridge can be cooked in water if preferred, or any non-dairy or dairy milk. I like cashew milk here as homemade oat milk can thicken a bit when boiled.
- Spices: use all cinnamon, or try the version with nutmeg and ginger, depending on what you feel like that day. Cardamom is another good addition, or apple pie spice.
- Add-ins: anything you like – use cranberries instead of raisins, or add extra fruit, and any toppings you like. Try sliced almonds, walnuts, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, hemp hearts, and nut or seed butter.
How to Make Apple Oatmeal
The most important thing to do for this recipe is toasting the oats in oil before adding the milk. It adds another layer of flavour that most porridge recipes miss out on, lending a real nuttiness and depth. Lightly toasting the spices helps them to release their natural oils, too.
Step 1: heat the oil in a pot until hot, then add the oats and stir. Toast for a couple of minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning. The oats will making popping sounds and might jump as they cook.
Step 2: add the spices and cook for a few seconds longer. You don’t want to risk burning the spices, just release more flavour through heating them this way. It should be fragrant.
Step 3: add the milk, shredded apple, and optional raisins. Cooking the raisins with the oats helps to plump them up, making them juicier and (I think) much tastier.
Step 4: simmer, stirring frequently, until the oats have absorbed most of the milk and are tender. Don’t overcook, which will make the oatmeal dry, and make sure the heat isn’t too high, which will cause sticking.
Related: Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats
Expert Tips for the Best Oatmeal
- Preheat the pot: the oats should immediately sizzle when added to the pot. You want to lightly toast them, so there must be a hot surface there.
- Stir frequently: not constantly, but the more you stir, the creamier the porridge will be. It also helps to prevent the oats from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Grate the apple: shredding the apple is chosen instead of cutting into pieces for this recipe because it makes for an evenly sweet porridge that tastes more strongly of apple. If you want some apple pieces, do both rather than leaving out the shredded fruit.
- Top with apples: the pictured topping is simply a diced apple stewed with a splash of water and cinnamon. Also try this unsweetened applesauce or raw apple slices.
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Description
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil or another oil or butter
- 100 grams (1 cup) rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger optional
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg optional
- 500 ml (2 cups) non-dairy milk or dairy
- 1 medium apple cored and grated
- 2 tablespoons raisins optional
Instructions
- In a small pot over medium heat, melt the coconut oil. Once hot, add the oats and cook for two minutes, stirring frequently.2 teaspoons coconut oil, 100 grams (1 cup) rolled oats
- Add the cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Cook for another 30 seconds to help the spices release their oils.1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- Stir in the milk, grated apple, and raisins.500 ml (2 cups) non-dairy milk, 1 medium apple, 2 tablespoons raisins
- Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the oatmeal to a low boil before reducing the heat and simmering for eight minutes, uncovered and stirring frequently, or until the oats have absorbed all the milk. Serve hot with desired toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate. If this information is important to you, please have it verified independently.
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About Alexandra Daum
Alexandra Daum is a professional recipe developer, food photographer, and cookbook author. She started sharing carefully tested vegetarian recipes in 2014 and has since published hundreds of recipes with seasonal ingredients and whole grains as the focus. Her work has been featured on CTV, in House & Home and Chatelaine, on popular websites like Buzzfeed and Best Health, and in countless other publications.