Apple Cider Oatmeal with Caramelized Apples

Step up your oatmeal game with this apple cider oatmeal with caramelized apples! Topped with Greek yogurt, sweet apples, and homemade granola, this is the ultimate fall breakfast!

Watch how to make this

Ingredients

• Rolled oats: Used for both the granola and the oatmeal. Rolled oats have a coarser texture than quick oats, giving more texture to the oatmeal and granola.
• Almonds: Added to the granola for added texture and crunch. You can replace it with any other nut, such as pecans or walnuts.
• Honey: Used to sweeten both the granola and oatmeal. You can use agave or brown sugar instead.
• Apples: Apples are the star ingredient in this recipe, providing natural sweetness and flavor. They are caramelized to enhance their taste and add a soft, tender texture that contrasts with the oatmeal.
• Cinnamon: Used as a spice to add warmth and depth of flavor to the oatmeal, apples, and granola.
• Apple cider: Contributes a distinct apple flavor and moisture to the oatmeal. It infuses the oats with a fruity taste and helps create a creamy consistency when cooked with milk.
• Milk: Adds creaminess to the oatmeal.
• Greek yogurt: Used as a topping, providing a creamy, tangy element that contrasts with the warm oatmeal.

Substitutions and variations

• Fruit: Try this recipe with other fruits such as peaches, pears, or plums.
• Toppings: You can add or replace the toppings and include toasted nuts, toasted coconut, chocolate chips, flax seeds, or dried fruits.

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Bake granola

This apple cider oatmeal may look like a lot of work, but it comes together quickly. Start by making the granola. You can always buy premade granola or make it days in advance.

This is a pretty simple granola recipe using honey as a sweetener and adding almonds to the mix. Feel free to swap the almonds for other nuts or use a combination, add coconut, dried fruit, or even chocolate chips. That's the great thing about granola, it's so versatile and always tastes great.

Step 2: Cook apples

While the granola is cooling, make the caramelized apples. Use baking apples, or apples that hold their shape while cooking. Some examples include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin.

Slowly cook the apples in butter and brown sugar, spicing them up with a little bit of cinnamon. You can also add other spices such as nutmeg, ginger, allspice, cloves, or a combination of spices.

Feel free to prepare the apples the day before and reheat them before serving.

Step 3: Make oatmeal

Now it's finally time to make the oatmeal. You can use rolled oats, quick oats, or steel-cut oats; just make sure to increase or decrease the cooking time for quick or steel-cut oats.

Simmer the oats in milk and apple cider with a pinch of salt and cinnamon until creamy. You can also swap the milk for almond, soy, coconut, or whatever milk your heart desires.

Portion the oatmeal into bowls and top with the caramelized apples, Greek yogurt, granola, and a drizzle of honey.

This apple cider oatmeal was the perfect breakfast dish for me because it combines two of my favorites: yogurt and oatmeal. It may sound like an odd combination, but it's a match made in heaven.

The tart yogurt with crunchy granola, sweet apples, and creamy oatmeal is divine. I am literally drooling as I am writing this. In fact, I think I'll go help myself to another bowl right now.

Make-ahead and storage

• Make-ahead: The granola and caramelized apples can be prepared up to 2 days in advance.
• Store: Store any leftover oatmeal in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of milk or water to loosen it up if necessary.

Frequently asked questions

More apple recipes

Looking for more dishes featuring apples? Try these:

Recipe

Print Recipe

Apple Cider Oatmeal with Caramelized Apples

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: oatmeal

Servings: 2

Author: Christine Ma

Ingredients

Granola

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup honey
• 2 teaspoons oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Caramelized apples

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups apples peeled, cored, and chopped
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Apple cider oatmeal

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup apple cider
• 1 cup milk
• pinch of salt
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Remaining ingredients

• ½ cup Greek yogurt
• honey optional

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Make the granola. Toss together oats with sliced almonds, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together honey with oil and vanilla extract. Pour the honey mixture over the oats and stir to combine.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. Spread the oats in an even layer and bake for 15 minutes. Stir the granola and bake another 5-10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven, stir the granola, and let cool.
• Meanwhile, make the caramelized apples. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a non-stick saute pan over medium heat. Add chopped apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir to mix and reduce heat to low. Cover the pan and cook until the apples have softened, about 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Prepare the oatmeal. Combine oats with apple cider, milk, a pinch of salt, and cinnamon. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and continue to simmer for another 5-7 minutes or until creamy. Remove from heat.
• Portion the oatmeal into 2 bowls. Top with the caramelized apples, Greek yogurt, granola, and a drizzle of honey. Serve warm.

Notes

The granola and caramelized apples can be prepared up to 2 days in advance.