Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats (in the Instant Pot)
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With just 5 main ingredients, Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats deliver sweet, warm flavors in every bite. We love an easy Instant Pot recipe that makes both adults and kids happy. Steel cut oatmeal even works beautifully to prep ahead for the freezer.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
You can’t beat a wholesome breakfast that smells like heaven. The beauty of this apple cinnamon steel cut oatmeal is that you can easily adjust it at the end to your preferences. Add toasted pecans for a little crunch or additional maple syrup to sweeten it up to your heart’s delight.
Ingredients Needed
Here are the 5 main ingredients you’ll need to whip up this recipe:
- Steel cut oats – Look for gluten free variety, if needed. Don’t use rolled oats in the Instant Pot. They won’t hold up well in a pressurized environment
- Apples – Any variety will work. No need to peel them. The peel adds a little more nutritious and it softens a lot during cooking.
- Pure maple syrup – You can substitute brown sugar or coconut sugar. Under no circumstances do we approve of the fake syrup for this recipe. 😉
- Ground cinnamon
- Pure vanilla extract
Of course, you’ll also need liquid which can just be water. However, we’ve tested this with whole milk and almond milk, and they work well too. Milk produces a little creamier outcome.
Butter is optional. This is for toasting the oats. You can omit this step if you want or use ghee or avocado oil if avoiding lactose.
Step-by-Step Tutorial
Toast the Steel Cut Oats (Optional)
Toasting the steel cut oats at the get-go isn’t a necessity, but it gives them a nutty flavor that sets them apart from other types of oats. I really like it this way!
If you’d like to toast the oats, set the Instant Pot to “Sauté.”
Place the butter (or ghee or avocado oil) in the pot.
When the butter has melted, add the oats and cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes, until fragrant. I LOVE this smell.
Press “Cancel” once they are done.
Pressure Cook the Oats
Add the water or milk, apples, maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla to the pot and stir until well combined.
Lock and seal the Instant Pot lid.
Cook the oats at high pressure for 12 minutes. It’s important to allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes after the cook time is up. After this, you can quickly release the remaining pressure.
When you open the pot, you’ll notice there is excess liquid. Give it a stir to incorporate.
Serve and Enjoy!
You can stir in additional milk to reach the desired consistency. In my opinion, this recipe needs a drizzle of maple syrup at the end to make it extra tasty.
I also like to sprinkle pomegranate seeds and extra fresh apple pieces and toasted pecans for some crunch. Yum!
How to Freeze Steel Cut Oats
A wise use of your time in the kitchen is to prep all or at least part of this batch for the freezer. That way you have a fast, healthy breakfast on hand anytime.
Here’s how to best freeze these oats…
Freeze for Later: Fully cook the oatmeal as directed. Let the oatmeal cool, then divide it evenly among two 6-cup jumbo muffin tins that have been greased (or 12 jumbo silicone muffin liners) to create single-serving portions. Freeze until frozen solid, then pop out the oatmeal portions and transfer them to a gallon-size freezer bag or container. Seal and freeze.
Prepare from Frozen: Place a serving of frozen oatmeal in a microwave-safe bowl. Add about 1/3 cup milk and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until warmed through. Follow step 4 in the recipe for serving.
Want More Make Ahead Breakfast Ideas?
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Can I Double the Recipe in the Instant Pot?
I recently tested doubling this recipe for the Instant Pot and am happy to report that it works beautifully to double!
No need to change any of the cook time either. It does take a bit longer to come to pressure but, other than that, you can double all of the ingredients, follow the cooking instructions, and have twice as many steel cut oats!
Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!
Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats
Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats delivers the classic fall flavors into every bite. We love a recipe that makes both adults and kids happy. Steel cut oatmeal even works beautifully to prep ahead for the freezer.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter (optional, for toasting the oats)
- 1 1/2 cups steel cut oats (gluten-free, if necessary)
- 4 1/2 cups water, whole milk, or dairy-free milk (i.e. almond milk)
- 1 large apple, cored and diced (no need to peel), plus more for serving
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup, plus more for serving
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Optional for serving: pomegranate seeds, toasted pecans
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Instructions
Make It Now:
- Optional: If you’d like to toast the oats, set the 6-quart Instant Pot to “Sauté.” Place the butter in the pot. When the butter has melted, add the oats and cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes, until fragrant. Press “Cancel.”
- Add the water or milk, apple, cinnamon, maple syrup, and vanilla to the pot and stir. Make sure all the oats are submerged in the liquid. You can also add raisins in at this point.
- Lock and seal the lid. Cook at high pressure for 12 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then quick release the remaining pressure. When you open the pot, you’ll notice there is excess liquid. Give it a stir to incorporate. (Freezing instructions begin here.)
- Stir in additional milk to reach the desired consistency. Optional: serve topped with an additional diced apple, toasted pecans, and pomegranate seeds.
Freeze for Later: Follow steps 1 through 3. Let the oatmeal cool, then divide it evenly among two 6-cup greased jumbo muffin tins (or 12 jumbo silicone muffin liners) to create single-serving portions. Freeze until frozen solid, then pop out the oatmeal portions and transfer them to a gallon-size freezer bag or container. Seal and freeze.
Prepare from Frozen: Note: You will need milk to complete this meal. Place a serving of frozen oatmeal in a microwave-safe bowl. Add about 1/3 cup milk and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until warmed through. Follow step 4.
Notes/Tips
Dairy-Free Version: Either skip step 1 or use avocado oil in place of the butter. Use dairy-free milk (i.e. almond milk or oat milk) instead of milk.
Gluten-Free Version: Be sure to buy gluten-free steel cut oats like the ones from Bob’s Red Mill.
Delicious breakast! I love the apple and cinnamon flavor. This a great way to use an extra apple. My house smelled SO good when I made this. I modified it slightly. I used 2 parts water to 1 part almond milk, and also used less maple syrup (3 TB), and it turned out beautifully. Delicious fall recipe!
★★★★★
Thanks for the feedback and for sharing your tweaks. Glad it turned out well for you!