Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

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Start your morning with a slice of Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal! It’s a vegan breakfast recipe that celebrates all of the delicious flavors of Fall.

baked oatmeal sliced and served on a white plate

If you love healthy vegan breakfast recipes, add this Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal recipe to the rotation! It’s naturally- sweetened and made with juicy apples, warm cinnamon, tart cranberries, and crunchy pecans. I love that it can be made ahead of time or served family-style at brunch.

This easy baked oatmeal recipe is made without eggs. It’s also diary-free, and loaded with fiber. For more Fall breakfast recipes, check out my Vegan Pumpkin Pancakes, this delicious Orange Chai Spiced French Toast, or my naturally-sweetened Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal.

baked oatmeal topped with dried cranberries and pecans

THIS POST IS A APPLE CINNAMON BAKED OATMEAL RECIPE.

What is Baked Oatmeal?

Baked oatmeal is a healthy breakfast recipe that you can slice. Think of it as a healthy bread pudding, but it’s made with hearty oatmeal instead of bread. It’s typically made by combining oats with milk, fresh fruit, and nuts. Then it’s baked it in the oven until it’s slightly golden-brown, and served it in slices.

I’m a big fan of vegan baked oatmeal recipes like this one because it’s a hearty and filling breakfast that helps make busy mornings a little sweeter (largely thanks to the fact that it can be made ahead of time!) I usually make this recipe on the weekend – ideally one when the weather is a little chilly and I can have the windows open. The best kind of morning in my opinion! I’ll just mix together pantry staples like oats, apples, cinnamon, ginger, applesauce, and some crunchy pecans, pop it in the oven, and get some coffee brewing. Then all that’s left to do is enjoy the cozy the aroma of baked cinnamon apples filling my kitchen.

It’s perfect for meal prep, or when feeding a crowd. I also love serving this tasty breakfast treat around the holidays because it’s so cozy and comforting!

Reasons to Love this Fall Breakfast Recipe

  • Healthy Vegan Breakfast Recipe
  • Meal – Prep Friendly
  • Cozy Fall Flavors
  • No Eggs and Dairy-Free
  • Naturally – Sweetened

Ingredients to Make Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Old Fashioned Oatmeal I use for old fashioned oats, instead of quick cooking oats, for best results.

Apples I like to use a firm, sweet apple like Fuji or Honey Crisp apples, but use any type of apple you like.

Apple Butter this is such a rockstar ingredient, and totally underrated in my opinion! Apple butter provides a concentrated apple flavor that is irresistible in this recipe. I also use it to make these delightful Vegan Apple Muffins, which is another great fall breakfast recipe you might enjoy!

Dried Cranberries the perfect sweet and tart compliment to the cinnamon apples.

Pecans crunchy pecans add great texture, and they taste so good with cranberries and cinnamon.

Fall Spices Cinnamon, ground ginger, allspice, and sea salt create the perfect blend of cozy Autumn flavors.

Baking Powder a touch of baking powder will creates lift for a delicious texture in these baked oats. It also prevents the slices from being too dense.

Ground Flax Seeds I use Bob’s Red Mill Golden Flax Seed Meal instead of chicken’s eggs to help hold everything together. Adds extra nutrients too!

Vanilla – a touch of vanilla extract adds warmth and compliments the spices perfectly.

Applesauce another all-star ingredient! In this recipe, applesauce also works as an egg replacer as well as adding moisture and lots of apple flavor!

Soy Milk this dairy-free milk boosts the protein in this tasty breakfast recipe.

Maple Syrup – the best part about this baked oatmeal is that it’s not too sweet. Making it perfect breakfast. You can adjust the sweetness by adding fun toppings like maple syrup and fresh fruit.

How to Make Baked Oatmeal

The full recipe can be found on the recipe card below, but here’s a quick overview to give you an idea!

Step One

Start by combining the ground flax seeds and water. Mix well and set aside to thicken.

Step Two

Combine the oats, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, salt, and baking powder in a mixing bowl. Toss to combine and then add the thickened flax mixture, along with the vanilla, applesauce, apple butter, maple syrup, and soy milk. Mix well.

Step Three

Mix in the apples, dried cranberries, and chopped pecans, and transfer to a lightly greased 9x13in baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes, or until lightly golden and set in the middle.

Step Four

Remove from the oven, and allow to cool for 20 minutes before slicing. Then slice and serve with almond butter and a drizzle of maple syrup.

Topping Ideas for Baked Oatmeal

I like a lot of toppings – they just make breakfast more fun! I usually top each slice with a dollop of vegan vanilla yogurt, a drizzle of almond butter, and a little bit of maple syrup. Sometimes I’ll add extra pecans or pumpkin seeds on top for extra crunch too! Sounds like a lot, but it takes less than a minute to dress up, and wow does it make breakfast taste like an extra special treat!

This baked oatmeal is not overly sweet, so you can adjust the sweetness by adding a drizzle of maple syrup on top.

Other fun toppings include fresh fruit, like crisp apples or pears. Berries are great too! I also like adding sunflower seeds, or sunflower seed butter, with some extra cranberries on top. It gives a trail-mix kind of flavor that is so delicious!

Tips for Recipe Success

Chop the apple into small pieces – you want to dice the apple into small cubes so that it gets evenly distributed throughout the oats. This is a small thing that actually makes a big difference!

Lightly grease the baking dish – I use coconut oil to lightly grease the bottom and sides of the dish. Vegan butter or cooking spray work well too.

Don’t cut the baked oatmeal when it’s hot – like most baked goods, it needs to rest for a few minutes once it comes out of the oven. I know it’s annoying to wait, but think of this way: it’s not actually done cooking when it’s out of the oven. The residual heat continues to cook the oats and as it cools, it sets and forms a sliceable texture. The result is so much better if you don’t rush this step, so go ahead and brew some coffee, and gather your toppings while you wait. It will be ready to slice in no time!

RECIPE FAQs

Can I use quick cooking oats for this recipe?

I would recommend using old fashioned oatmeal for best results. Quick cooking oats are much smaller and absorb liquid differently, so the texture will be different in the final result.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Absolutely! That’s the beauty of this recipe – it’s very meal-prep friendly! I like to make this on the weekend when I have a little more time to enjoy the coziness of apple cinnamon oatmeal baking in the oven, and then I have it ready to go for the week ahead. Simply heat and eat!

Can I use different fruits in this baked oatmeal?

Use what you like and have on hand! I love using fresh apples and dried cranberries, but you could swap the apples with any variety of pears and switch the cranberries to raisins, chopped dates, or dried cherries.

How can I make this nut-free?

Make this a nut-free breakfast recipe by omitting the pecans and almond butter. Use sunflower seed butter or tahini instead of almond butter, and swap the pecans for crunchy sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds.

Note: I would recommend using a little more maple syrup to balance the slightly more bitter flavors of seed-butters and tahini. You can do this to taste or add it on top when serving!

What can I use instead of apple butter?

If you don’t have apple butter, fig or apricot jam would be a great substitute! You could also omit the apple butter and swap it for an additional 1/4 cup of maple syrup.

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Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

By: Nicole Vranjican
Start your morning with a slice of this cozy Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal! It a delicious and healthy Fall breakfast that's meal-prep friendly.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Save Recipe
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Equipment

  • 1 9×13 in baking pan
  • 1 mixing bowl

Ingredients 

  • 1 large Fuji apple
  • 2 tbsp ground flax seeds
  • 4 tbsp water
  • 2 cups old fashioned oatmeal
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ½ tsp kosher salt, I use Morton's
  • ¼ tsp allspice
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup apple butter
  • ¾ cup unsweetened applesauce
  • ¼ cup maple syrup
  • cup unsweetened soy milk
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • ½ cup chopped pecans

Toppings

  • almond butter and maple syrup for topping

Instructions 

Prep

  • Start by pre-heating the oven to 375 degrees. Then lightly grease a 9×13 in baking pan and set aside it aside for later. Next, dice the apple into small pieces and set aside.
  • Then combine the ground flax seeds and water. Mix well and set aside to thicken for 5 minutes.

Assemble

  • In the meantime, combine the oats, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, salt, and baking powder in a mixing bowl. Toss to combine and then add the thickened flax mixture, along with the vanilla, applesauce, apple butter, maple syrup, and soy milk. Mix well.
    baked oatmeal ingredients before going in the oven

Bake

  • Mix in the apples, dried cranberries, and chopped pecans, and then transfer the baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes, or until lightly golden and set in the middle.
    baked oatmeal after being in the oven

Serve

  • Remove from the oven, and allow to cool for 20 minutes before slicing. Then slice and serve with your favorite toppings.
    sliced baked oatmeal on a white plate

Notes

Tips for Recipe Success

Chop the apple into small pieces – you want to dice the apple into small cubes so that it gets evenly distributed throughout the oats. This is a small thing that actually makes a big difference!
Lightly grease the baking dish – I use coconut oil to lightly grease the bottom and sides of the dish. Vegan butter or cooking spray work well too.
Don’t cut the baked oatmeal when it’s hot – like most baked goods, it needs to rest for a few minutes once it comes out of the oven. I know it’s annoying to wait, but think of this way: it’s not actually done cooking when it’s out of the oven. The residual heat continues to cook the oats and as it cools, it sets and forms a sliceable texture. The result is so much better if you don’t rush this step, so go ahead and brew some coffee, and gather your toppings while you wait. It will be ready to slice in no time!
Don’t have apple butter? Apple butter creates a concentrated apple flavor in this recipe that is so tasty. But if  you don’t have it, fig or apricot jam would be a great substitute! You could also omit the apple butter and swap it for an additional 1/4 cup of maple syrup. 

About Nicole Vranjican

Hey! I'm Nicole and I make practical vegan recipes for REAL life. I cook with simple, easy to find ingredients and I'm passionate about creating delicious plant-based meals that everyone will love!

I hope you enjoy my recipes and videos :) Happy Cooking!

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2 Comments

    1. Hey Gigi! That’s a plug-in upgrade that I’m saving up for. Hopefully that feature will be on the blog soon! Hope you enjoy this recipe in the meantime 🙂