Crockpot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal with steel-cut oats is as warm, cozy, and delicious as apple pie. And a super easy way to meal prep a big batch of wholesome breakfasts you can heat up all week with little effort on your part.
For more delicious breakfast ideas for busy mornings, try Cinnamon Applesauce Overnight Oats and Peanut Butter and Jelly Overnight Oatmeal.
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There's nothing like a comforting breakfast of cinnamon apple oatmeal to warm your belly and soothe your soul on a chilly morning. This slow cooker apple cinnamon oatmeal recipe is made with steel-cut oats for hearty texture, and chunks of apple, cinnamon, maple syrup, and vanilla for a cozy apple pie vibe. It's an easy recipe you'll make in big batches week after week.
For more cozy fall breakfast ideas, be sure to try my friend's Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal recipe next!
❤️You're Going to Love This
- Warm & cozy: Like a hug in a bowl. Perfect for chilly mornings.
- Tastes like apple pie: Packed with apples, cinnamon, and a touch of maple syrup.
- Wholesome & feel-good: Dairy-free, gluten-free, and naturally sweetened.
- Hearty steel-cut oats: Great texture that holds up beautifully in the slow cooker.
- Set it & forget it: Just chop, stir, and let your crock pot do the work, either overnight or during the day.
🍎Ingredients
See recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full list of ingredients and exact amounts.
- Steel-cut oats (Irish oats or Scottish oats): Steel-cut oats are the best choice for slow cooker oatmeal because they stay hearty and never turn to mush. Rolled oats (old fashioned oats), instant oats, and quick oats are not recommended.
- Water + almond milk: A mix gives the oats a creamy texture. You can use any kind of dairy or non-dairy milk.
- Apples: Fuji apples hold their shape, but any firm, sweet-tart apple like Winesap, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady, or Granny Smith apples.
- Cinnamon: Cozy, classic flavor—but feel free to mix in your favorite warm spices like apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, mace, cardamom, or even a little black pepper or cayenne!
- Maple syrup: Just enough natural sweetness, so you can customize with more sweet toppings like brown sugar and chocolate chips later :).
🥣How to Make Crock Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- Step 1: Spray slow cooker insert well with nonstick cooking spray. Combine steel-cut oats with the rest of the ingredients in the crock pot insert. Stir until combined.
- Step 2: Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 7-8 hours. Serve apple cinnamon oatmeal with your favorite toppings. We like raisins, almonds, a splash of milk, and a drizzle of maple syrup.
✅Expert Tips
- Cooking time may vary with different slow cookers. I recommend making slow cooker apple oatmeal during the day (vs. overnight), then reheating the next day for a ready-made breakfast.
- If the oatmeal seems too creamy after the cooking time is up, let it cool -- it will thicken as it cools.
- For thicker oatmeal, use less liquid, about 3 ½ cups per cup of oats. Less liquid may also reduce cooking time.
🎁Storage
Store crock pot apple oatmeal in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
🔥Reheating
To reheat leftover oatmeal, add a little milk or water and reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop until it is fully warmed through.
❓FAQs
Yes! Slow cooker steel cut oats freeze well. Portion cooked oatmeal into freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to six months. Thaw in the refrigerator or microwave and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop with a little milk or water.
I use a ratio of 3 ½ to 4 cups of liquid to 1 cup of steel-cut oats. 3 ½ cups creates a thicker oatmeal, while 4 cups gives it a creamy texture. Adjust the liquid, depending on how you like your oatmeal.
Steel-cut oats are hearty enough to stand up to the long cooking time in a slow cooker. Old fashioned oats or instant (quick) oats are not recommended because they will turn to mush.
I like to use a 50/50 split of almond milk and water. Too much water is just too bland, and all milk could create a gluey consistency or even burn in the slow cooker.
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📖 Recipe
Crock Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 2 cups steel-cut oats
- 2 cups Fuji apple, chopped
- 4 cups water*
- 4 cups almond milk*
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- dash salt
Instructions
- Peel and chop 2-3 Fuji apples into 2 cups of 1-inch pieces.
- Spray your slow cooker insert with cooking spray.
- Add the oatmeal, apples, water, almond milk, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and maple syrup to your slow cooker. Stir until combined.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 7-8 hours. Don't be alarmed if it looks too watery, the oatmeal will thicken as it cools.
- Serve your apple cinnamon oatmeal with your favorite toppings like maple syrup, almond milk or cream, peanut or almond butter, brown sugar, dried fruit, toasted nuts or seeds, coconut flakes, chocolate chips, fresh berries or fruit.
Tips
- *This recipe makes oatmeal that is very creamy --- and it will thicken as it cools. If you prefer thicker oatmeal, use less liquid, about 3 ½ cups per cup of oats. Less liquid may also require less cooking time.
- Store your oatmeal in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat oatmeal, add a little milk or water and reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop until it is fully warmed through.
- Freeze oatmeal for up to six months. Thaw in the refrigerator or microwave. Reheat with a little milk or water in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Can applesauce be used instead of fresh apples? If so, what would be the amount to use?
Hi, Ellen! Thanks for the question. I've never tried this substitution, but I'm guessing it would be absolutely delicious! If I were going to try this, I would substitute about half the amount of applesauce for apples, so 1 cup. This way, you're not adding a lot more liquid to the party. You can always stir some more in later if it seems like it needs it -- and/or add a little more at the end if the applesauce breaks down too much during cooking. I hope this helps -- and works! Let me know what you try and how it turns out. Thanks, again, Ellen. Enjoy! Cara 🙂
I can't wait to make this over the holidays when the family comes! What a great way to have breakfast ready when everyone gets up at different times! Thanks Cara!!
I hope everyone enjoys it -- and your time together during the holidays! I'm so happy to share this with you and your family :).