Creamy Overnight Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats
A comforting and creamy overnight oats recipe featuring steel cut oats soaked with milk, cinnamon, vanilla, and fresh diced apples for a naturally sweet and hearty breakfast.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes (optional 3-5 minutes warming)
- Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup steel cut oats (about 170g)
- 3 cups milk (720ml) – whole milk preferred, or almond/oat/plant-based milk for dairy-free
- 1 large apple, peeled and diced (about 200g) – Fuji or Honeycrisp recommended
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1–2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey (optional)
- Pinch of salt
- Chopped nuts or seeds for topping (optional, e.g., walnuts or pumpkin seeds)
Instructions
- Combine the steel cut oats and milk in a mixing bowl or jar. Stir well to mix evenly.
- Add ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, pinch of salt, and optional maple syrup or honey. Stir to combine.
- Peel and dice the apple into bite-sized pieces.
- Scatter the diced apple evenly on top of the oats mixture without stirring it in.
- Cover the container and refrigerate overnight or for at least 8 hours.
- The next morning, stir the oats gently to mix in the apple pieces. If desired, warm a portion gently in a saucepan over low heat for 3-5 minutes, adding milk if needed.
- Serve in bowls and top with optional chopped nuts or seeds and extra maple syrup if desired.
Notes
Soak oats for 8-10 hours for best texture. Add apples on top to keep them from becoming mushy. Use fresh ground cinnamon for best flavor. Warm gently if preferred. Stir in extra milk if oats are too thick after soaking. Can substitute pears or frozen berries for apples. Use plant-based milk and maple syrup for vegan version.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup per serv
- Calories: 275
- Sodium: 100
- Fat: 5
- Saturated Fat: 1.5
- Carbohydrates: 48
- Fiber: 5.5
- Protein: 7
Keywords: overnight oats, steel cut oats, apple cinnamon oats, creamy oats, healthy breakfast, easy breakfast, gluten-free oats, dairy-free option