This applesauce oatmeal is rolled oats simmered with unsweetened applesauce and cinnamon until thick and creamy. The applesauce does the sweetening, so it tastes like warm apple pie without needing much (or any) added sugar, and it's on the table in about 10 minutes.
I came up with this recipe because I think applesauce is one of the most underrated natural sweeteners out there. Why reach for a lot of syrup when a cup of applesauce makes your oatmeal sweet, creamy and cozy all at once? Stirred into oatmeal, it's honestly so good that I rarely make a bowl without it anymore.
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For the base you only need oats, applesauce, water and a splash of milk. Cinnamon and a pinch of salt make it taste like apple pie. Use plant milk and it's vegan and dairy-free.
Ingredients & Substitution Notes
- Oats: For best results, I recommend using old-fashioned, rolled oats. I haven't tested the recipe using instant oats or quick oats but they will need less liquid. Use certified gluten-free oats if you need it gluten-free.
- Unsweetened Applesauce: This is the star: it adds apple flavor, creaminess and most of the sweetness. I recommend unsweetened, natural applesauce made from 100% apples without any additives. Both store-bought and homemade applesauce work fine.
- Milk of Choice: My favorite milk to use in this recipe is unsweetened oat milk. But any non-dairy milk alternative will work here such as almond milk, soy milk or cashew milk. The oatmeal can also be made with regular whole milk if you don't need it to be dairy-free.
- Cinnamon: Tastes absolutely amazing with apple. Can be replaced with pumpkin spice or apple pie spice.
- Maple Syrup (optional): Only add it if you want it sweeter. Taste first, because with unsweetened applesauce you may not need any. It can be replaced with honey, agave syrup or your sweetener of choice, or with a mashed banana for a refined sugar-free version. Use pure maple syrup without additives; it's worth checking the label!
Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
STEP 1: Put the oats, water, applesauce and cinnamon plus a tiny pinch of salt into a saucepan. Do NOT add milk at this point.
Let simmer on low heat until slightly thickened (5-7 minutes), stirring now and then.
Then add your milk of choice and let simmer for another 2 minutes.
Taste, then sweeten if needed. Let it sit for a few minutes (it thickens as it cools). Taste, and only then stir in maple syrup if you want it sweeter.
OPTIONAL: CARAMELIZED APPLE TOPPING
Put 1 diced apple, 1-2 tablespoon maple syrup, a pinch of cinnamon and a splash of water into a small saucepan.
Simmer on low heat until the apple is soft and caramelized, adding a little more water if needed. Spoon it over the oatmeal.
HOW TO AVOID GOOEY OATMEAL (MY #1 TIP)
Don't cook the oats in milk right away. I always simmer the oats in water (and the applesauce) first and add the milk only for the last 2 minutes. Cooking oats in milk the whole time makes them turn gooey and sticky. Adding it at the end keeps them creamy instead.
Toppings & Add-Ins
- Fresh fruit: Fall fruits like pears, pomegranates or figs fit well, but I also love fresh berries such as blueberries, raspberries or blackberries.
- Dried fruit: I love chopping up dried apricots, prunes or dates and adding them on top.
- Nut butter: Homemade Roasted Almond Butter or peanut butter make an amazing topping!
- Granola: Store-bought or, even better, try my Applesauce Granola, Dark Chocolate Granola or this Vanilla Almond Granola for extra crunch.
- Greek yogurt: A scoop of Greek or soy yogurt for extra creaminess and some protein.
- More protein: Stir a scoop of vanilla protein powder in at the end, with an extra splash of milk.
- Prefer it cold? Try my Apple Chia Pudding instead.
Storage & Meal Prep
- Fridge: Keep leftovers in an airtight container or mason jar for up to 3 days.
- Make ahead: Cook it the evening before and you'll have breakfast ready in the morning.
- Loosen it up: The oats keep soaking up liquid in the fridge, so stir in a splash of milk before eating.
- Reheat: On the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave, or eat it cold.
- Toppings: Add them just before serving so they stay fresh and crunchy.
FAQs
No, you can add them together. Simmer the oats, water and applesauce together from the start, then add the milk near the end. If you're adding applesauce to already-cooked leftover oatmeal, just stir it in and warm it through.
Yes. Combine the oats, water, applesauce, cinnamon and salt in a large microwave-safe bowl (it bubbles up) and microwave for about 2-3 minutes, stirring every 30-60 seconds. Stir in the milk, microwave 30 more seconds, and let it sit a minute to thicken.
More Applesauce Recipes
- Vegan Applesauce Pancakes
- Banana Applesauce Muffins
- Applesauce Granola
- Homemade Unsweetened Applesauce
More Cozy Oatmeal Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Applesauce Oatmeal
Equipment
- 1 pot
- 1 spoon, whisk or spatula
Ingredients
- ¾ cup (80 g) of rolled oats (large flaked) *see notes
- 1½ cups (345 ml) water *depending on how creamy you like your oats
- 1 cup (260 g) unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup (115 ml) milk of choice *oat milk, almond milk, dairy milk
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- tiny pinch of salt
Instructions
- Put the oats, water, applesauce, cinnamon and salt into a saucepan. Start with 1½ cups water and add more if you like thinner oatmeal.¾ cup of rolled oats (large flaked), 1½ cups water, 1 cup unsweetened applesauce, ½ tsp cinnamon, tiny pinch of salt
- Simmer on low heat for about 5-7 minutes, stirring now and then, until the oats have absorbed most of the liquid.
- Add the milk and simmer for another 2 minutes.½ cup milk of choice
- Let it sit for a few minutes (it thickens as it cools). Taste, and sweeten only if you want it sweeter (see notes).
- Serve with your favorite toppings: caramelized apples (see notes), a spoonful of nut butter, Greek yogurt, granola or extra applesauce.
Video
Notes
- Caramelized apple topping: Simmer 1 diced apple with 1-2 tablespoon maple syrup, a pinch of cinnamon and a splash of water until soft. Spoon over the oatmeal.
- Applesauce: Check out my Unsweetened Applesauce Recipe or use a store-bought one.
- Sweetener: Optional. With unsweetened applesauce you may not need any. If you want it sweeter, stir in 1-2 tablespoon maple syrup, honey, agave or a mashed banana.
- Meal prep: Make it the evening before and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Add a splash of milk before serving, and add toppings shortly before serving.
Evelyn says
I was looking for a naturally sweetened oatmeal recipe and this was perfect! I added a handful of raisins while it was cooking and they added just the right amount of sweetness. My kids loved it too!
Katie says
So happy you and your kids enjoyed it! 😊 Love the idea of adding raisins for a little extra natural sweetness. Thanks so much for sharing!