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.
Just made this for New Year’s Day brunch! So delicious and hearty and healthy. It will be a holiday breakfast staple from now on. Prepped the day before which made it so easy! Thanks, Nora, for all the amazing recipes. I knew that I could count on you! Happy New Year💜
You are welcome, Lorraine! I love that you are adding this recipe to your holiday meal rotation! I appreciate you using my recipes, as well as your encouraging words and stellar review! Wishing you happy cooking in this new year!
Long-time Nora Cooks fan, first time commenting – I just made this and it turned out amazing! It’s hearty and filling, just the right amount of sweetness.
I bought the apples last week but chopped them up and froze them until I was ready to use for this. I didn’t thaw them before adding to the mixture, but they still baked well in the 30 minutes.
This will be a new breakfast/brunch staple, for sure!
Hi Skylar. I appreciate you using my recipes, and am so honored you are loving them! Thanks for taking time to share your stellar review and feedback regarding the baked oatmeal! I’m thrilled you loved the recipe! Wishing you lots of happy cooking!
Came out great! I made it for our Christmas Eve breakfast and it was delicious. I prepped it the night before, added a little more chopped apple to the top in the morning before throwing it in the oven. Family was raving about how great the house smelled and even more about how delicious it was. Such a simple and delicious recipe!
Hi Jenna. What a perfect Christmas Eve breakfast! I can smell the wonderful scent in my mind! I’m so glad you and your family enjoyed the baked oatmeal! Wishing you so much happy cooking!
I make a LOT of baked oatmeals, and my whole family thinks this is the best one I’ve ever made. Looking forward to making it again next week. I will double it (except for the maple syrup) and bake it in a 9×13 for a little longer. Takes 5 minutes to put together a week of family breakfasts.