We all know people go nuts for pumpkin spice everything once September hits, but we can’t forget about apple! It’s one of the first things I think of when I think of fall produce. This baked apple cinnamon oatmeal is a cozy and delicious recipe to kick off fall.

It’s made with chewy rolled oats, applesauce to help sweeten it, lots of fresh apples, walnuts for a little crunch, and warming spices. Plus, it’s all made in one bowl and has a good balance of complex carbs, protein, healthy fats, and fiber.

A piece of baked apple oatmeal on a plate. It is garnished with greek yogurt and cinnamon and a fork is also on the plate. Around the plate is a bowl of walnuts, a red and white checkered kitchen towel, another plate with a piece of apple oatmeal, and half a red apple.

This baked apple cinnamon oatmeal is great out of the oven, especially topped with some greek yogurt, nut butter, and cinnamon as a snack, but also for dessert with some ice cream! Plus, it’s a great addition to your weekly meal prep!

Why you’ll love this apple cinnamon baked oatmeal recipe

made in one bowl
packed with apple flavor
lightly sweetened – just 1 tablespoon of honey is used, plus unsweetened applesauce!
macro-balanced – a good balance of complex carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and healthy fats.

A close up of baked oatmeal with apples in a white baking dish. Around the pan is a red and white checkered kitchen towel and a plate of walnuts on it.

Is baked oatmeal healthy?

Baked oatmeal can make a healthy and delicious breakfast or snack. Rolled oats are loaded with fiber, complex carbs, and whole grains, have plant-based protein, and are low in fat. By making baked oatmeal at home, you can easily customize it to fit your liking and nutrition goals.

Each one of these baked apple oatmeal bars has 216 calories, 31 grams of carbohydrates, 7 grams of protein, 7.5 grams of fat, and 4.6 grams of fiber for a balanced snack.

Apple cinnamon baked oatmeal ingredients

eggs
milk – dairy or non-dairy work.
unsweetened applesauce – for natural sweetness and more apple flavor!
honey
vanilla extract
rolled oats – I recommend old-fashioned rolled oats.
cinnamon
nutmeg
baking powder
salt – to help bring the flavors together.
fresh apples
walnuts
oil, for greasing

A small bowl of honey with a honey dipper in it, a red apple, a bowl of rolled oats with a scooper in it, a bowl of unsweetened applesauce, a bowl of chopped walnuts, a measuring cup of milk, a small bowl of salt, a small bowl of baking powder, a small bowl of cinnamon, a small jar of vanilla extract, a bowl with two cracked eggs in it, and a small bowl of nutmeg on a grey concrete countertop.

How to make apple baked oatmeal

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease an 8×8 baking dish with oil and set aside.
Mix ingredients. In a large bowl, add the wet ingredients of eggs, milk, apple sauce, honey, and vanilla and mix well to combine. Add your dry ingredients of oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt, and mix well to combine. Stir in diced apples and walnuts. I like to save a few walnuts for topping.
Bake. Pour the oat mixture into the greased pan. Top with sliced apples and remaining walnuts. I like to sprinkle a little cinnamon on top. Bake for 35-40 minutes until firm and a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes and slice into 9 equal-sized bars.
Enjoy! Serve as is or with a dollop of greek yogurt and a drizzle of nut butter.

Large mixing bowl with a mixture of egg, milk, and vanilla in it. There is a red spatula in the bowl as well.

A mixing bowl filled with a batter of milk, eggs, rolled oats, and spices. A red spatula is also in the bowl.

A mixing bowl filled with a batter of rolled oats with diced apples and walnuts. A red spatula is in the bowl as well.

A large baking dish filled with an oatmeal mixture with apples and walnuts before it is baked. The mixture is topped with some sliced apples.

Overhead shot of apple oatmeal bake in a large white baking dish.

Storage and reheating

fridge – first, let the bars cool completely. Add to a sealable airtight container, or wrap the pan you baked it in with tin foil or Saran Wrap. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to a week.
to freeze – let cool completely and place individual bars on a large plate or baking sheet. Place in the freezer and let freeze for 2 hours or until hardened. This will help ensure they freeze individually and won’t stick together. Transfer to a large bag (we love these reusable silicone bags) and freeze for up to 3 months. You can also wrap each one in individual portions and throw them right in the freezer after they have cooled. Defrost by placing them in the refrigerator and then warming up the microwave if desired.
reheat – pop it in the microwave for 30-45 seconds until warm/hot. You can also eat it cold right out of the fridge.

A piece of apple baked oatmeal on a plate with a fork on it. The oatmeal is topped with whipped cream and cinnamon. Around the plate is the pan of the rest of the baked oatmeal, a red and white checkered kitchen towel, a bowl of walnuts, a whole red apple and an apple that has been cut in half, and another plate with a piece of oatmeal on it.

Substitutions and additions

eggs – I haven’t tried this, but flax eggs might work instead.
milk – any kind of dairy or non-dairy milk (almond milk, coconut milk…) will work.
unsweetened applesauce – mashed banana would work instead, but it should change the flavor and I feel overpower the other flavors.
honey – any kind of liquid sweetener will work (maple syrup, agave…). You can also leave it out if you don’t want any sweetener.
vanilla extract – vanilla bean paste will work the same and be delicious.
rolled oats – quick oats will work instead of rolled oats. Steel-cut oats will not work as the texture is different. Use certified gluten-free oats if needed.
spices – feel free to mix up the spices or add more. Ginger, cloves, and allspice would all be good additions, or you could use apple pie spice.
fresh apples – use your favorite kind!
walnuts – pecans or almonds will work instead. You can also leave the nuts out to make it nut-free.

Here are some additions you can do to change up the recipe:

dried fruit – try raisins or cranberries.
protein powder – if you’re looking to up the protein a little more, you can stir in some protein powder (vanilla would be delicious). Depending on what kind you use, if the batter looks too thick, I would stir in a little more milk.

More oatmeal recipes

If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!

A plan of apple cinnamon baked oatmeal with a piece cut out of it. A spatula is in the pan where the pieces is gone. Around the pan is a a plate of chopped walnuts, a red and white checkered towel, a plate with a fork and a piece of the baked oatmeal on it, and some red apples.

5 from 3 votes

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Author: Kelly Nardo

Apple cinnamon baked oatmeal with oats, fresh apples, walnuts, and warming spices. Made in one bowl, it's great for meal prep, a healthy snack, or breakfast throughout the week. Gluten-free and easily made dairy-free.

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Course: Breakfast, Snack

Calories: 216kcal

Protein: 7g

Carbs: 31.4g

Fat: 7.5g

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 35

Total Time: 45

Servings: pieces

equipment

8×8 baking dish

ingredients

2 large eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups rolled oats (250 grams)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups diced apples (235 grams – 1 large apple)
1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped (50 grams)
1/3 apple, thinly sliced (about 60 grams)
oil, for greasing

instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease an 8×8 baking dish with oil and set aside.
Mix ingredients. In a large bowl, add the wet ingredients of eggs, milk, apple sauce, honey, and vanilla, and mix well to combine. Add your dry ingredients of oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt, and mix well to combine. Stir in diced apples and walnuts. I like to save a few walnuts for topping.
Bake. Pour the oat mixture into the greased pan. Top with sliced apples and remaining walnuts. I like to sprinkle a little cinnamon on top. Bake for 35-40 minutes until firm and a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes and slice into 9 equal-sized bars.
Enjoy! Serve as is or with a dollop of greek yogurt and a drizzle of nut butter.

nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Amount Per Serving (1 piece)

Calories 216 Calories from Fat 68

% Daily Value*

Fat 7.5g12%

Saturated Fat 1.5g9%

Polyunsaturated Fat 3.6g

Monounsaturated Fat 1.7g

Cholesterol 45mg15%

Sodium 114mg5%

Potassium 193mg6%

Carbohydrates 31.4g10%

Fiber 4.6g19%

Sugar 9.8g11%

Protein 7g14%

Vitamin A 197IU4%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Calcium 97mg10%

Iron 1.7mg9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe or anything from Eat the Gains, leave a comment and rating to let people know how you liked it! Also, make sure to post it and tag me so I can see all of your creations!! @eatthegains and #eatthegains on Instagram!

Recipe by Kelly Nardo, Eat the Gains | Photography by Sierra Inn

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