Maple Apple Steel Cut Oats (Make Ahead)

These maple apple steel cut oats have the perfect texture: with a bit of a chew, they are never mushy. Loaded with apples and easy to reheat through the week, they are perfect for meal prep!

Steel-cut oats are my favorite meal prep breakfast: they are nutritious, delicious, and super easy to make! I have step by step photos and 7 steel cut oats flavors on the blog.

Maple apple steel cut oats are loaded with chunks of apple, with a hint of maple and cinnamon. They are tender, but not mushy, and keep great for up to 4 days.

Top with toasted pecans for a breakfast that will warm you up and fuel your body for the day!

Let's Talk Ingredients!

For this apple cinnamon steel cut oat recipe you'll need:

• steel-cut oats: not to be confused with rolled or instant oats- they are minimally processed and denser than processed oats which means they have a longer cook time (and a less mushy texture)
• apples: 1-2 apples cut into large chunks. Peel if you'd like.
• spices: cinnamon + cardamom (optional)
• to serve: maple syrup + seeds

FAQ's

Does sauteeing the oats give extra flavor?
Sauteeing the oats can add depth of flavor and a 'nuttiness' to the oatmeal. To do this, melt 1 tablespoon of butter in the pan, add the oats, and toast for 5 minutes, until golden. Add the rest of the ingredients to the pot, and cook as directed.

Does cooking in milk or almond milk make them creamier?
No, it does not, and it actually makes the oats more bubbly and prone to boiling over. These apple steel-cut oats are plenty creamy as written.

Can I cook these in the instant pot?
Yes, you can! Cook on high pressure for 2 minutes + full pressure release (20 or so minutes). This is actually my favorite way to cook them as you don't need to stir or watch the pot.

Can I swap the apples for anything else?
Yes, swap for pears, peaches, cherries, bananas or berries. Check out these spiced pumpkin steel cut oats for another alternative.

More healthy & delicious breakfast recipes!

• 49 Make Ahead Breakfast Recipes
• Fruit On The Bottom Overnight Oats
• How to Make Overnight Steel Cut Oats
• Peach Baked Oatmeal
• Easy Baked Oatmeal Muffins (+7 Flavors!)

Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!

Maple Apple Steel Cut Oats

5 from 4 votes

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 25 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

• Pin

Print Rate

These maple apple steel cut oats have the perfect texture: with a bit of a chew, they are never mushy. Loaded with apples and easy to reheat through the week, they are perfect for meal prep!

4

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 cup steel cut oats (NOT instant steel cut oats)
• ▢ 3 cups water
• ▢ 2 apples (peeled + cut into chunks)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ▢ ½ teaspoon ground cardamom

After cooking

• ▢ 2 tablespoons maple syrup or more to taste
• ▢ ⅓ cup chopped pecans

Instructions 

• Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized pot and stir to combine.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally for 20-35 minutes. I pulled mine off after 25 minutes, and the oats were 'al dente'. For softer oatmeal, cook longer, adding additional cooking liquid if desired.
• To Re-heat: Add milk or additional liquid, if desired. Heat in the microwave until lightly heated (80% for 1 minute on my microwave).

Would you like to save this?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

Tips:

Storage

After cooking, portion out into four meal prep containers, and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Reheat

Heat in the microwave until steaming hot. 

Add a splash of almond milk and stir to help loosen up the oats. Add syrup, peanut butter or other toppings and enjoy.

Sauteeing- optional

Sauteeing the oats can add depth of flavor and a 'nuttiness' to the oatmeal. 

1. melt 1 tablespoon of butter in the pan
2. add the oats, and toast for 5 minutes, until golden
3. add the rest of the ingredients to the pot, and cook as directed

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1/4 batch, Calories: 295kcal, Carbohydrates: 48g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 9g, Sodium: 12mg, Potassium: 153mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 16g, Vitamin A: 40IU, Vitamin C: 2.7mg, Calcium: 51mg, Iron: 2.1mg

Author: Denise Bustard

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.