Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Name: Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 3/4 cups old fashioned oats; 1/4 cup ground flaxseed (or substitute more oats); 2/3 cup brown sugar; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 3/4 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 cup butter, melted; 2 eggs; 1 cup milk (your choice); 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional); 1 apple, peeled, cored and finely diced; 1/4 cup raisins (sub: dried cranberries)

★★★★★ 5 /5

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By: Polly ConnerPosted: 9/11/23Updated: 9/25/23

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Enjoy the cozy flavors of fall with our scrumptious Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal recipe! Filled with sweet, tender apples and warm spices, this comforting breakfast treat is a must-try for cool mornings. Take it over the top with our Maple Whipped Cream on top!

Apple cinnamon baked oatmeal being scooped out of a dish.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Oatmeal is incredibly good for you. It’s a whole grain loaded with fiber and keeps you full longer.
It’s kid-friendly. Like in our Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oatmeal, kids love the apples, cinnamon, and brown sugar combo.
It’s a great meal to take new moms.
It’s freezer-friendly. Like most of our make-ahead breakfast recipes, Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal can be prepped and frozen before baking.
Or, it can be prepped ahead of time and stored in the fridge for a few days until you’re ready to use it.

Apple cinnamon baked oatmeal in a white bowl.

Ingredients

This baked breakfast treat is sweet but not too sweet, autumnal (I love that word), and packed full of sneaky nutrition. You likely have all of the ingredients in your pantry! Here is what you will need to make it.

Ingredient Notes

Oats – Like our Mixed Fruit Baked Oatmeal, you can use quick oats or rolled oats.
Ground flaxseed – This purely for nutrition. It can be left out or replaced with more oats if you don’t have it.
Milk – Any kind will work, including plain non-dairy milk.
Apple – You can use a peeled or unpeeled apple. Leaving the peel on adds a little more nutrition.

Note: Find our full printable recipe with ingredient amounts and directions at the bottom of this post.

Variations and Substitutions

- Dairy-Free Option: Use plain dairy-free milk in the recipe.

- Gluten-Free Option: Make sure your oats say “gluten-free” on the package.

- You can omit the flaxseed or replace it with more oats.

- You can use quick oats instead of old fashioned oats in the recipe, but the recipe will be a bit denser.

- Top with nuts like sliced almonds or chopped pecans for additional protein and crunch.

- If raisins aren’t your thing, feel free to leave them out or replace with dried cranberries instead.

- Take it over the top with our Maple Whipped Cream on top!

A spoon scooping a bite of apple cinnamon baked oatmeal.

How to Make Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Combine ingredients

Similar to other baked oatmeal recipes like Banana Baked Oatmeal and Blueberry Baked Oatmeal, you will mix the dry ingredients together and the wet ingredients in a separate bowl.

Dry ingredients for apple cinnamon baked oatmeal in a bowl.

Wet ingredients for apple cinnamon baked oatmeal in a bowl.

Stir together all ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, combine dry and wet ingredients. Stir in the apples and raisins until evenly distributed.

Bake

Bake the oatmeal as directed. This recipe doesn’t rise much, but you can tell it’s done when the top starts to brown a little.

Serve warm in bowls with a little milk over the top.

How to Freeze Baked Oatmeal

We are big fan of freezer meals. In fact, we’ve worked hard to create valuable freezer meal resources for you–including two cookbooks, 1 Hour Freezer Prep sessions, and an index of tried and true freezer meal recipes.

Here’s the best way to freeze baked oatmeal:

Freeze For Later: Assemble the baked oatmeal but don’t bake it. Tightly wrap the dish in a few layers of plastic wrap or foil (or a tight-fitting lid) and freeze.

Prepare From Frozen: Thaw completely in the refrigerator. Bake according to instructions.

A casserole dish covered with foil and labeled Baked Oatmeal.

Recipe FAQs

Can you prep Baked Oatmeal ahead of time?

Yes, you can prep baked oatmeal (unbaked) ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3-6 months. Thaw and bake per instructions.
You can also fully cook and cool the baked oatmeal ahead of time and store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Just rewarm individual portions in the microwave. Our readers have told us that they freeze fully cooked, individual portions of baked oatmeal in the freezer, as well, and rewarm in the microwave.

Can you use quick oats in baked oatmeal?

While you can use quick oats in baked oatmeal, it’s best to use rolled oats because they give the dish a heartier texture. Quick oats or instant oats can result in a denser, mushier result.

Is baked oatmeal gluten-free or dairy-free?

Baked oatmeal can be made gluten-free or dairy-free with these substitutions:
Dairy-Free Option: Use dairy-free milk in the recipe.
Gluten-Free Option: Make sure your oats say “gluten-free” on the package.

Can I make this in an 8×8-inch square dish?

Yes, this recipe will also work in a smaller dish. Just cook it 10-15 minutes longer or until it’s set in the middle.

What Goes Well With Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal?

Here are some easy recipes that would go well with this baked oatmeal:

Baked Omelette
Baked Ham & Egg Cups
Oven Baked Bacon
Maple Whipped Cream – Top your bowl with this for a decadent treat!
Crock Pot Pumpkin Spice Latte

More Baked Oatmeal Dishes You’ll Love

If you enjoy baked oatmeal as much as our families do, give a few of these others a try. They all work well to freeze before baking, as well.

Blueberry Baked Oatmeal

Brownie Baked Oatmeal

Slice of Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal on a white plate with banana slices and mini chocolate chips on top and maple syrup being poured on it.

Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal (with Chocolate Chips)

Banana Baked Oatmeal

Polly Conner

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Polly’s passionate about helping busy parents get dinner on the table. With a house full of kids, dogs, and (usually) a DIY project in the works, she knows firsthand how every minute (and every dollar) counts. As a business owner, she enjoys wearing multiple hats and serves best as a project manager for Thriving Home.