Easy Apple Overnight Oats (So Good!)
This recipe for Apple Overnight Oats is flavored with the apple pie flavors, has chunks of real honeycrisp apples, and is super simple to make thanks to soaking overnight! With a little prep work the night before, you can have this Apple Pie Oatmeal in less than 10 minutes for your morning breakfast.
Creating this Recipe for Apple Overnight Oats
I love overnight steel cut oats. Soaking the steel cut oats overnight makes them cook up especially fast in the morning. And who doesn’t want to eat something that tastes like Apple Pie for breakfast?
If you find yourself rushed to get in a good breakfast in the morning before work or dropping kids off at school, you need to give this recipe for Overnight Apple Pie Steel Cut Oats a try!
I’ve had this recipe idea for Apple Pie Overnight Oats in my head for months but it’s only just recently been cool enough for me to want a bowl of hot cereal for breakfast. For the base recipe I used Cherry and Tangerine Oatmeal, another recipe that we love.
I definitely prefer steel cut oats to regular oatmeal, with the exception of my Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal.
I like texture in my oatmeal, something that I can chew. Steel cut oats provide that crunch. As far as nutrition benefits, from what I can see the steel cut oats have more fiber and they take longer to digest so you stay feeling full longer.
What I Love About Apple Overnight Oats
This is the perfect no-effort breakfast for me. I like to eat a healthy and delicious breakfast, but that doesn’t mean I always do it. What’s so great about this base is that it’s an overnight recipe, so the oats hardly take any time in the morning to cook.
We’re usually rushing to get out the door in time for school and if I haven’t eaten before the kids get up I’ll grab a string cheese and a granola bar to tie me over until I get home.
I like that this is easy to put together the night before and only takes a few minutes to cook in the morning.
What You Need to Make Apple Overnight Oats
Youβll need the following simple ingredients to prepare this recipe for apple oatmeal:
- Steel Cut Oats
- Milk
- Brown Sugar
- Unsweetened Applesauce
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Cardamom
- Apple
- Pecan
For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.
What are the Best Apples to use in Apple Overnight Oats?
I like to use Honeycrisp apple in my apple pie overnight oats because they are my favorite variety of apple to enjoy during apple season, but Pink Lady, or Granny Smith would also work well. You want a crisp apples that have a nice crunch to it.
What Other Fruit Could I Use in this Overnight Oat Recipe?
You can easily substitute other spices and fruit using the same proportions featured in this cinnamon apple oatmeal recipe for different flavors of overnight steel cut oats.
Try pureed pears or homemade pearsauce instead of applesauce and chunks of fresh, ripe pears for another fall breakfast idea.
If you have a craving for oatmeal in the summer, try substituting pureed peaches for the applesauce with fresh chunks of peaches or even berries for the whole fruit pieces.
Can I Use Dairy-Free Milk?
Yes! You can easily substitute dairy-free milk when making these apple overnight oats. Unflavored Oat Milk or Unflavored Almond Milk would be the best non-dairy milk varieties to use in this recipe for apple pie overnight oats.
How to Make this Recipe for Apple Overnight Oats
Hereβs a quick overview of the instructions to prepare this super easy recipe for creamy oats with apple and cinnamon:
The night before: combine the steel cut oats, brown sugar, applesauce, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and salt in a medium bowl. Then, cover the bowl and let the oats chill in the fridge for at least 8 hours.
The next morning: Transfer the oat mixture to a medium saucepan. Add half of the apples. Cook the oatmeal until it boils, then reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes, or until the oatmeal has a creamy texture.
To serve: top with the remaining apples, chopped pecans, and extra milk.
The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.
Overnight Apple Oatmeal Recipe Mix In Ideas
Like high protein breakfast recipes? To add extra protein to this apple pie overnight oatmeal here are a few ideas to mix in to your oatmeal:
- Add some vanilla protein powder or collagen powder to the milk mixture when preparing the recipe
- Add chia seeds to the oatmeal mixture before cooking
- Serve the apple overnight oatmeal with a dollop of Greek yogurt on top
- Add extra nuts for a garnish before serving (crunchy walnuts or pecans both taste great!)
How to Store Leftover Apple Overnight Oatmeal
This apple overnight oatmeal is a great recipe to use for your weekly meal prep and healthy eating in the morning!
You can make a big batch ahead of time and store it in the fridge or freezer, depending on how quickly you plan to eat it. You’l love this make ahead breakfast for busy mornings!
How Long Does Leftover Oatmeal Last in the fridge?
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I prefer using individual containers so I can quickly get a single portion for breakfast throughout the week.
Leftover steel cut oatmeal does thicken as it cools, so when you reheat your leftover apple overnight oatmeal youβll likely want to add a splash of fresh milk on of your bowl of apple cinnamon overnight oats top to thin in out a bit.
Can You Freeze Apple Overnight Oatmeal?
Yes! This recipe for Apple Pie Overnight Oatmeal is great for stocking the freezer. It will make breakfast plans on those crazy mornings a breeze!
For best results, freeze the apple pie overnight oatmeal in individual portions. This makes thawing and reheating faster.
A freezer safe mason jar works great as a storage container that can also be used as a serving dish. Frozen oatmeal will last for about 6 months in the freezer. Donβt forget to date and label your containers
How to Reheat Frozen Oatmeal
- Remove the container of oatmeal from the freezer the night before and let it thaw overnight in the fridge.
- The next morning, reheat the apple overnight oatmeal in 30 second intervals in the microwave before eating.
- Stir in between each 30 seconds. Serve topped with milk and fresh fruit if desired.
Try these Apple Overnight Oats!
Next time youβre looking for overnight oat recipes, give this apple pie oatmeal with steel-cut oats a try! Did you think it was the best healthy breakfast recipe? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this easy breakfast idea.
On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. Iβd love to see your photo of this recipe for apple overnight oats!
More Oatmeal Recipes for Breakfast
Looking for more hot breakfast ideas to try? Here are a few wonderful recipes for busy mornings:
For another overnight oats recipe, try this Cherry Oatmeal. It is full of great flavors like cinnamon and vanilla with tart dried cherries, tangerine, and almonds.
Spend 5 minutes prepping this Slow Cooker Chai Oatmeal the night before, and wake up to a delicious, hot bowl of oatmeal that is full of fall flavor! Don’t you love a make ahead breakfast?
Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal is a great make-ahead oatmeal recipe for fall and winter. It has all the delicious flavors of pumpkin pie while still providing great nutritional value to start your morning off right.
This Oatmeal Pumpkin Smoothie isnβt a hot cereal, but it does have oatmeal in it and it is an easy breakfast to prepare, super healthy and full of all your favorite fall spices. What isnβt to love about a smoothie recipe that tastes like pumpkin pie?
Don’t see what you’re looking for here? You can always head over to check out the recipe index to look for more recipes.
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Apple Overnight Oats
This recipe for Apple Overnight Oats is flavored with the apple pie flavors, has chunks of real honeycrisp apples, and is super simple to make thanks to soaking overnight! With a little prep work the night before, you can have this Apple Pie Oatmeal in less than 10 minutes for your morning breakfast.
Ingredients
- 1 cup steel cut oats
- 1 3/4 cups milk
- 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 6 ounces all-natural applesauce
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon cardamom, if desired
- 1 1/2 cups apple, chopped
- 1/3 cup pecans, chopped
Instructions
Mix Up the Apple Overnight Oats the Night Before
- In a nonmetal bowl combine oats, brown sugar, applesauce, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and salt.
- Stir in milk; cover and chill for 8 to 24 hours.
Cook the Apple Overnight Oats in the Morning
- To serve, transfer oatmeal mixture to a medium saucepan. Stir in 1 cup of apples, reserving the remaining 1/2 cup for garnish.
- Heat just to boiling; reduce heat.
- Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until oatmeal is done, adding additional milk if desired and stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat.
How to Serve Apple Overnight Oats
- Spoon into 4 bowls; sprinkle with apples and pecans.
- Serve with additional milk, if desired.
Notes
Can You Freeze Apple Overnight Oatmeal?
This recipe for Apple Pie Overnight Oatmeal is great for stocking the freezer.
For best results, freeze the apple pie overnight oatmeal in individual portions. This makes thawing and reheating faster.
Frozen oatmeal will last for about 6 months in the freezer. Donβt forget to date and label your containers
How to Reheat Frozen Oatmeal
- Remove the container of oatmeal from the freezer the night before and let it thaw overnight in the fridge.
- The next morning, reheat the apple overnight oatmeal in 30 second intervals in the microwave before eating.
- Stir in between each 30 seconds. Serve topped with milk and fresh fruit if desired.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 341Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 61mgCarbohydrates: 53gFiber: 7gSugar: 17gProtein: 10g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
For the step-by-step version of this recipe, check out the How to Make Easy Apple Overnight Oats Story.
Stephanie says
Can you eat them without cooking them or by cooking before doing the overnight. Trying to find a way to get out the door fast without heating. Thanks for you advice.
Katie says
I have not tried either option. You could do the overnight option and then batch cook and save in individual portions that you just reheat in the morning the day you plan to eat them
Amnah says
I came to your site via a search on Foodgawker for pearsauce. My 7 month old loves it!! I ended up at this recipe from the previous recipe. Me and my 3 year old loved the overnight steel cut oatmeal. It was my first time preparing steel cut oats. I’m hooked. Your website is gorgeous and I love all the recipes you share. Thank you!
Liza says
Heidi- would Agave nectar work for you? It is a natural sweetener
Heidi says
Has anyone made this using splenda’s brown sugar? I am diabetic and it sounds delicious but I don’t know about the brown sugar.
Katie says
I have never used Splenda. Sorry I can’t help on that.
TidyMom says
Look DELICIOUS Katie!
Thanks for linking up! I featured your post in my wrap up http://tidymom.net/2011/fall-crafts-and-recipes/
Have a great weekend!
Cecilia says
I’ve followed your blog for a while now, but just found this recipe; it looks wonderful! I was wondering though, you soak the oats in the 1 3/4 c. milk, but you don’t add any more liquid when you heat it in the morning? Steel cut oats normally have a 1 to 4 ratio so I want to make sure that I’m not missing something.
Katie says
Yes, this is how I make them. The oats soak over night so you need less liquids that way, but you can try adding additional if you like. I wouldn’t add more than 2 1/2 cups total milk.
The recipe does say to “Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until oatmeal is done, adding additional milk if desired and stirring occasionally. So you do add extra milk to the 1 3/4 (that is the soak amount) when you cook it. I personally do not like mushy oatmeal so I don’t add a ton of milk.
Brooke says
This was fantastic! I used vanilla almond milk and was able to leave out the brown sugar. I look forward to trying the adaptations.
carlee says
wow!!!! Your photography is so freaking good!!!
Marisa says
Spicy goodness! Love it.
teri eskandari says
the addition of cardamom was unusual and very nice. Reminded me of baklava, very Middle Eastern. Nice touch. The thing I didn’t like about steel cut was cooking time. This is a great method. Will make again…and again.
Michelle says
I made these today and I thought the cardamom completely overpowered everything else and gave the oatmeal a really weird taste. It doesn’t taste like apple pie at all. I’m only eating it because it’ll take too long to make something else. If I make this again, I will definitely leave out the cardamom.
Katie says
I’m sorry that you did not like the cardamom. It is a flavor that some people do not like. I personally enjoy it and did not find 1/8 of a teaspoon to be overpowering.
Natasha @ Saved by the Egg Timer says
This is exactly what I have been looking for! Can’t wait to try! I love steel cut oats and have been looking for something exactly liek this.
Nancy-The Sensitive Pantry says
My sister swears by steel cut oats. The thing I love about this recipe — other than the lovely flavors — is the intention. You prep the meal the night before and when you wake up the decision of what to have for breakfast has been made. It’s something warm and yummy to look forward to.
LimeCake says
that looks like a delicious bowl of oats! very comforting for fall!
Michelle (What's Cooking) says
I have never done steel cut oats by letting them soak in cold liquid – I usually bring them to a boil in water, then cover and turn off the heat, leaving them on the back of the stove until morning. Then I add milk and other fixn’s in the morning when I heat it through. I love the flavor and texture – and especially adore that they are practically instant when you do them overnight! xo
Aggie says
I can’t wait to try this recipe! I love steel cut oats and don’t make them often enough b/c of how long they take to cook. The overnight soaking is brilliant. And the apple flavors…this is perfect for fall mornings!
Jamie | My Baking Addiction says
These look like the perfect recipe for a cozy, fall Saturday morning. Beautiful as always!
Paper and Food says
This looks great… and healthy too! Thanks for sharing.
Amy from She Wears Many Hats says
Pretty Katie!
Cynthia Mahaffey says
Could you make this in the crockpot the night before?
Katie says
Hi Cynthia – I haven’t tried Steel Cut Oats in the crock pot before. Sorry.
Jenn from Much to My Delight says
That sounds like a perfect fall breakfast. And I just cannot get over how beautiful your food styling and photography is. Seriously, so pretty.
Angie says
I tried this recipe this morning and they taste good, but I find that even with overnight soaking and probably about 10 minutes of simmering that the oats are not cooked enough. I didn’t feel comfortable cooking them longer as I was short on liquid. Do you think adding extra milk to the recipe would allow me to cook them longer and make the oats less chewy? I love steel cut oats and am always looking for different ways to cook them.
I love your site, by the way!
Katie says
I’m sorry you had trouble. I’ve used this method for several years and never had a problem. Steel Cut Oats are meant to be slightly chewy and have a bit of bite to them compared to regular rolled oats. I’m sure you can ad additional liquid if you’d like. Or perhaps let soak longer than overnight, as the recipe states: Stir in milk; cover and chill for 8 to 24 hours. Hope that helps.
DawnK says
Delicious! Was worth a 9pm trip to the store for applesauce and milk. We forgot to put the extra apple pieces on top of our oatmeal before we ate it, though! LOL! We did remember the pecans, though. I’m so full now! I love the overnight recipes for the steel-cut oats, since, in the morning, it’s more like just cooking regular oats.
(We almost had enough milk in the fridge. I only needed 1/8 cup from the new jug!)
Heavenly Housewife says
What a great apple dish. I’ve bookmarked this one. I have so many apples from my trees this year and I’m having trouble figuring out how to use as many of them as I can. This looks like a great recipe.
*kisses* HH
Charlene Shaulis says
Katie, I am lovin’ this recipe and can’t wait to try it! The steel cut oats from Costco are one of my favorites and I have a whole bowl of honey crisp apples sitting in front of me. Now you know what I’ll be having for breakfast tomorrow. Cheers!
Charlene {Inspired Scrap Gal}
Lynda@Me and My Pink Mixer says
I have oatmeal for breakfast every morning – I love it. I am definitely trying this recipe and your Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal when I have time on the weekend. They both look delish!!
Mirien Church says
What a great idea–I’ll be making this soon! One time I added home-canned pie filling to my steel cut oats, but this version looks healthier. I’m curious, though–why soak in a non-metal bowl? Couldn’t I soak the mixture in the saucepan overnight?
Katie says
Hi Mirien – try this: Why Do You Need a Nonreactive Bowl for Some Recipes?. If the saucepan is stainless steel you can soak it in that overnight.
the blissful baker says
this would make an INCREDIBLE breakfast tomorrow morning! π it looks soo yummy!
Imwaytoobusy says
I have never added applesauce to my oats! I will have to try this. I love any apple-oats mixture!
Liz @ Blog is the New Black says
Ok, now these look great!
Kim @ Quit Eating Out says
Katie, I absolutely love your site! I feel like it’s one of those cookbooks you want to enjoy with a few cups of coffee. You’ve done just an amazing job here… and as someone who’s just getting started, I’m in awe.
I love this recipe. We too are in such a rush that most mornings I skip breakfast and my kiddos have plain cereal. With cooler weather, this would be a such a great option for all of us.
Looking forward to being a regular reader! Have a great night…
Maria @ Scandi Foodie says
That is so delicious! Love the spices and the apple in this!
Jennifer @ Maple n Cornbread says
I love overnight oats and with steel cut I find it’s the perfect way! Love the apple pie twist! π
Sakura says
I love the taste of steel cut oats but have never tried the overnight method. This recipe sounds delicious.
Barbara | VinoLuciStyle says
It’s just now getting cool enough that I’m craving some warm and simple dishes for breakfast too and this sure fits that bill. Looks, well, beautiful!
Regan says
Yum! Can’t wait to try
Amber | Bluebonnets & Brownies says
This looks so good I just want to dive right in. I’m going to have to pick up some steel cut oats. I love them too, but am out! I can just *taste* the apples and spices. Mmmm.
Alison @ Ingredients Inc. says
Awesome idea! I love steel cut oats. Beautiful photo!
Noelle @Opera Singer in the Kitchen says
I am totally making this for tomorrow AM to consume after my workout! Yum!
Aimee @ Simple Bites says
Totally bookmarking this, Katie. We love our oats around here. Thanks!
Becky says
Oh my!! I can’t wait to try this!
AManda says
At one time I had no idea that steal cut oats were different then oatmeal, so I prepared them the same way I would have oatmeal. #FAIL Wow was it bad. No where near as beautiful and yummy looking as this!!
Blessings-
Amanda
Sara says
Lovely post! I love steel cut oats too especially with apples & pecans. healthy & tasty!
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
Love steel cut oats! Honey Crisp apples are my favorite too π I can’t get enough of them this time of year π