This Cinnamon Apple Baked Oatmeal is an easy breakfast casserole made with oats, cinnamon apples, maple syrup, and walnuts. Prep it the night before baking for a quick make-ahead breakfast!
Are you searching for more easy vegan make-ahead breakfast recipes? Check out my Vegan Breakfast Casserole, Vegan French Toast Casserole, and Vegan Breakfast Burritos.
In the mood for a warm and cozy breakfast? Give this Vegan Apple Baked Oatmeal Recipe a whirl!
It’s an easy vegan breakfast recipe that transforms chewy oats, cinnamon apples, and sweet maple syrup into a warm and gooey casserole. Make it during Sunday meal prep to enjoy throughout the week or bake it fresh for special weekend breakfasts. With only 10 minutes of prep and a 30-minute bake time, you’ll have this cozy recipe on repeat throughout fall and winter!
Why you need to make apple pie baked oatmeal for breakfast
- Making breakfast easy – Baked oatmeal is even easier to make than overnight oats because there are no small jars to deal with and the oven does most of the work for you.
- Tastes like apple pie! With warm cinnamon apples in every bite and a dollop of vegan whipped cream on top, you’ll swear you’re eating a slice of vegan apple pie or a scoop of apple crumble.
- A one-bowl recipe – Because meal prep doesn’t always have to be about spending hours cooking and cleaning!
Ingredients needed (with substitutions)
- Rolled oats – I like making my oatmeal and baked oatmeal recipes with old-fashioned rolled oats because they hold their shape well and yield a chewy texture. Quick oats may work as a substitute but they’ll likely be softer after baking. Do not use steel-cut oats.
- Baking powder
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Maple syrup – Use real maple syrup for the best flavor. If you’re all out, substitute brown sugar.
- Applesauce – This adds moisture, sweetness, and more apple flavor to the vegan baked oats. Make sure you use unsweetened applesauce!
- Milk – I like to use soy milk for the extra protein but oat milk or almond milk are just as tasty.
- Vanilla
- Ground flaxseeds – They’re what hold the oats together. If you don’t have ground flaxseed, ground chia seeds should work just as well.
- Walnuts – They add a nice crunch to every bite. Feel free to substitute them with chopped almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, or pepitas. Or, leave them out entirely.
- Apples – Any apples you like or have on hand will work well in the oats. Leave the peel on for some texture or peel the apples to help them almost melt into the oats.
How to make apple baked oatmeal
Find the complete recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.
Combine the oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl.
Pour the maple syrup, applesauce, milk, vanilla, and flaxseeds into the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir well until combined.
Fold the chopped walnuts and some of the diced apples into the oat mixture.
Pour the oat mixture into a prepared baking dish and sprinkle the remaining apples on top.
Bake the apple oats until they’re golden on top and puffed around the edges.
Set it aside to cool for a few minutes, then scoop the oats into bowls and top them with more maple syrup, walnuts, or even a dollop of vanilla yogurt or whipped topping. Enjoy!
Frequently asked questions
You can add a few tablespoons of chia seeds, extra nuts (almonds, pecans, etc.), seeds (pepitas, sunflower seeds, etc.), vegan chocolate chips, fresh or frozen berries, or dried fruit (cranberries, apricots, cherries, raisins, etc.) when you fold in the chopped walnuts and apples.
Yes, you can assemble the oats in the baking dish (without the extra apples and walnuts on top) and keep them covered in the fridge overnight. Bake fresh the next morning after adding the remaining apples and walnuts.
This recipe is inherently gluten-free only if you use certified gluten-free rolled oats. Remember that not all oats are naturally gluten-free, as they’re often processed with other wheat products.
Once the oats are baked and cooled, they’ll keep for up to 4 days in the refrigerator or up to 2 months in the freezer. Store the whole batch or individual slices in airtight containers to keep them fresh and gooey.
Apple Baked Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup or brown sugar
- 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 1/4 cups soy milk or other plant milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts optional
- 2 cups diced apples, divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and spray a 9×9 (or 8×8) baking dish with nonstick spray.
- In a medium sized bowl, combined the rolled oats, baking powder, cinnamon and salt and stir.
- Now add the maple syrup (or brown sugar), applesauce, plant milk, vanilla and flaxseeds to the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir well to combine.
- Fold in the chopped walnuts and 1 cup of the diced apples. Transfer to the prepared pan and sprinkle the rest of the apples on top. Press them into the oatmeal mixture a bit.
- Place in the center rack of the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the oatmeal is golden on top and puffed around the edges.
- Let cool for 20 minutes, then serve with optional toppings, such as more maple syrup, walnuts, or even a dollop of vanilla yogurt or whipped topping. Enjoy!
Notes
- For gluten free, make sure to use gluten free certified rolled oats.
- May leave out the maple syrup/brown sugar if desired.
- To add a bit more protein, try adding 2-4 tablespoons of unflavored protein powder.
