Apple, Cinnamon & Maple Oatmeal

HealthyVeganVegetarianEasy / Beginner10 minuteLactose-freeBreakfastSweet3 ingredientDairy-Free

15 Dec

Written By Claudia

The perfect breakfast for winter mornings…or any morning for that matter! My 10 minute recipe for the perfect stovetop oatmeal that melds the flavours of sweet apple, cinnamon and maple syrup, with creamy, warm oats.

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bowl of oatmeal with chopped apples, cinnamon and maple syrup

Oatmeal is one of my go-to breakfast choices because it is so simple and quick to prepare on busy mornings but is also so filling, comforting and wholesome! Adding the cinnamon, apple and maple syrup to this recipe really gives it a cozy breakfast feel and is not only delicious but will help to keep you feeling full and energised for the day to come :)

CONTENTS OF THIS RECIPE POST

I always recommend reading the entire post to get the best understanding of the recipe, helpful tips, information about ingredients, storage advice etc. Here’s a quick look at what topics are included in this recipe post :)

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:

Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats
As the name suggests, you need oats in order to make oatmeal! There are 3 main varieties of oats which you can choose from, but I find old-fashioned rolled oats to be the best option for this recipe and I will explain why in the section below :)
Milk, Water OR Plant-based Milk
You will need a liquid (or two!) to cook your oats in and you can use either milk, water or plant-based milk, depending on your preference. You can also do as I like to do, and use a combination of both milk and water.
Cinnamon
Adding ground cinnamon to this oatmeal gives it an extra touch of flavour that combines perfectly with the apple and maple syrup toppings.
Pinch of Salt
A pinch of salt is needed for seasoning the oatmeal as it cooks.
TOPPINGS

Apple AND Maple Syrup
A chopped apple and a generous drizzle of maple syrup are the perfect toppings to finish off this delicious, warm, cinnamon oatmeal!

WHICH OATS ARE BEST FOR OATMEAL?

There are 3 main types of oats you can choose from when making oatmeal:

Steel Cut Oats take the longest to cook and retain the most texture
Quick/Instant Oats cook the quickest but have the least texture and can be kind of mushy
Old-Fashioned, Rolled Oats They cook faster than steel cut oats and still keep a nice texture; which in my opinion makes them the perfect choice for preparing the best stovetop oatmeal.

WHAT IS A STANDARD SERVING OF OATMEAL?

1/2 cup of dry oats is the standard serving for a single portion

DO I HAVE TO USE MILK WHEN MAKING OATMEAL OR CAN I SUBSTITUTE IT WITH A DIFFERENT LIQUID? (MILK OR WATER)?

You can make your oatmeal using water, dairy milk or plant-based milk (e.g. almond milk, soy milk).

Which liquid you choose is entirely up to you, however remember that it can have an effect on the overall consistency of your oatmeal.

I like to use both water and milk when I make my oatmeal because I really like the textured but still creamy consistency this combination gives. I find when I make oatmeal with just milk alone the texture is a little thicker and stickier, than when I make it with the water - however some people absolutely love it that way.

So it really does just come down to personal preference. Certain people scrunch up their face at the thought of water instead of milk, while others (like myself) insist equal parts of water AND milk gives you the best of both worlds and is the key to getting it right.

If you’re an oatmeal newbie you might like to try making it each way to see what you prefer! :)

WHAT IS THE IDEAL OAT TO LIQUID RATIO FOR COOKING OATMEAL?

Regardless of what liquid you use, as a general rule your ratio should always simply be:

1/2 cup of oats to 1 1/2 cups liquid

(1:3 ratio)

RECIPE

bowl of homemade porridge with chopped apples, cinnamon and maple syrup

APPLE, CINNAMON & MAPLE OATMEAL

Serves: 1

Time: 5 - 10 minutes

Difficulty: Easy / Beginner

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INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup water
3/4 cup milk
1/4 tsp of cinnamon, plus extra to sprinkle when serving
A pinch of salt
1/2 cup old-fashioned, rolled oats

TOPPINGS

1 medium apple, cored and chopped
1-2 tbsps of maple syrup, to serve

METHOD

Place your liquids of choice (water, milk or non-dairy milk), salt and cinnamon into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium high heat.
Once the mixture reaches the boil, add your oats and reduce the heat, bringing it down to a low simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the oats have softened and absorbed most of the liquid - approximately 5 minutes.
Transfer the oatmeal to a bowl and top with chopped apple, maple syrup and if desired, another sprinkling of cinnamon.