Imagine waking up to the comforting aroma of a warm apple pie, but instead of a dessert, it’s a wholesome, hearty breakfast waiting for you. That’s the magic of Slow Cooker Apple Steel Cut Oatmeal. This incredibly easy recipe cooks in your slow cooker overnight or while you’re busy during the day, ensuring you wake up or come home to a healthy, satisfying meal. Customize your bowl with Tate+Lyle® Honey Granules, crunchy walnuts, a swirl of creamy Greek yogurt, or any other favorite toppings for a truly personalized and delightful start to your day.
Effortless Morning Delight: Slow Cooker Apple Pie Steel Cut Oatmeal Recipe
In the hustle and bustle of daily life, especially during busy school or work seasons, finding time for a nutritious and delicious breakfast can feel like an impossible task. This is where the magic of make-ahead meals truly shines, and nothing quite beats the convenience and comforting flavor of Slow Cooker Apple Pie Steel Cut Oatmeal. It’s a game-changer for anyone looking to simplify their morning routine without sacrificing health or taste.
Picture this: a grab-and-go jar of warm, spiced oatmeal, reminiscent of your favorite apple pie, ready to fuel your day. You can easily prepare this wholesome breakfast the night before, allowing it to cook slowly while you dream. Then, simply scoop a portion into a mason jar, add your desired toppings, and hand it to a loved one for a healthy, filling breakfast they can enjoy at their desk. Or, slip it into your own bag and savor it once you arrive at work, avoiding the temptation of less healthy options.
Why Steel Cut Oats are a Game Changer for Breakfast
While many types of oats are available, steel-cut oats stand out for their texture, nutritional benefits, and suitability for slow cooking. Unlike rolled or instant oats, steel-cut oats are whole oat groats that have been cut into two or three smaller pieces with a steel blade, hence their name. This minimal processing means they retain more of their fibrous outer layer, resulting in a chewier texture and a lower glycemic index. This means they digest slower, keeping you feeling full and energized for longer, preventing that mid-morning crash.
When cooked in a slow cooker, steel-cut oats transform into a creamy, satisfying porridge with a delightful bite. The extended cooking time allows the oats to fully absorb the liquids and infuse with the flavors of apples and spices, creating a deeply rich and aromatic experience that rolled oats simply can’t replicate.
Crafting the Perfect Apple Pie Flavor Profile
The secret to transforming simple oatmeal into an “apple pie” sensation lies in the thoughtful blend of apples and warming spices. For this recipe, we recommend choosing apples that hold their shape well during cooking and offer a good balance of sweetness and tartness. Gala or Honeycrisp apples provide a lovely sweetness, while Granny Smith apples introduce a refreshing tartness that cuts through the richness of the oats and spices, creating a more complex and authentic apple pie flavor. Peeling and chopping them into small, consistent pieces ensures they soften beautifully and meld into the oatmeal.
Our spice blend is carefully selected to evoke the classic essence of apple pie:
- Ground Cinnamon: The quintessential apple pie spice, offering warmth and sweetness.
- Ground Allspice: Adds a hint of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon, deepening the flavor.
- Ground Nutmeg: Provides a sweet, subtly nutty undertone.
- Ground Ginger: Contributes a gentle warmth and a touch of zing.
- Ground Cardamom (Optional): For those who appreciate an extra layer of sophisticated, floral warmth, cardamom can elevate the “pie” experience even further.
Together, these spices create an aromatic symphony that makes this oatmeal truly special.
Effortless Preparation: Set It and Forget It
The beauty of this Slow Cooker Apple Pie Steel Cut Oatmeal lies in its incredibly simple preparation. You can literally chop the apples, combine all the ingredients in your slow cooker before you head to bed, and wake up to a perfectly cooked, warm breakfast. Alternatively, set it up in the morning before work, and it will be ready for a hearty lunch or an afternoon snack.
Here’s how easy it is:
- **Prepare Your Slow Cooker:** Begin by thoroughly spraying the inside of your slow cooker with nonstick spray. This crucial step prevents the oatmeal from sticking to the sides and bottom, making cleanup significantly easier.
- **Add Ingredients:** Chop 2 medium-sized apples (Gala or Granny Smith are excellent choices for their flavor and texture) and place them in the slow cooker. Then, add the milk, water, uncooked steel-cut oats, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom (if using), vanilla, and ground flax seed.
- **Stir and Set:** Give everything a good stir to ensure all ingredients are well combined. Cover your slow cooker and set it to cook on low for 4-5 hours. The original recipe suggests 7 hours, but many slow cookers vary, so checking at 4-5 hours is a good practice to achieve your desired consistency without overcooking.
And voilà! That’s genuinely how straightforward it is to have a delicious and healthy meal ready when you are.
Sweetening and Topping Your Oatmeal Masterpiece
Once your Slow Cooker Apple Pie Steel Cut Oatmeal is perfectly cooked, it’s time to add the finishing touches and personalize your bowl. This is where Tate+Lyle® Honey Granules truly shine. These innovative granules are a free-flowing blend of pure cane sugar and real honey, offering a delightful sweetness with a hint of honey flavor without the stickiness of liquid honey.
When preparing your oatmeal for on-the-go breakfasts, portion it into individual mason jars. Stir in a spoonful of Tate+Lyle® Honey Granules, which dissolve easily into the warm oatmeal, and then top with a handful of walnuts and a generous swirl of Greek yogurt. This not only adds flavor but also healthy fats and protein to keep you satiated.
For those enjoying their breakfast at home, set up an “oatmeal bar” with various toppings and a shaker of Tate+Lyle® Honey Granules. This allows everyone in the family to customize their bowl exactly to their liking. Beyond walnuts and Greek yogurt, consider adding:
- **Fresh Fruit:** Sliced bananas, berries, or more chopped apples.
- **Nuts & Seeds:** Almonds, pecans, chia seeds, or hemp hearts for extra crunch and nutrition.
- **Sweeteners:** A drizzle of maple syrup, a sprinkle of brown sugar, or more honey granules.
- **Spices:** An extra dash of cinnamon or apple pie spice.
- **Other Fun Additions:** A dollop of apple butter, a sprinkle of granola, or even a few chocolate chips for a treat!
The Versatility of Tate+Lyle® Honey Granules
You might be wondering more about Tate+Lyle® Honey Granules. This fantastic product offers a unique and convenient way to incorporate the delightful taste of honey into your cooking and daily routine. They are a free-flowing blend of pure cane sugar and honey, which means they measure easily and don’t create the sticky mess often associated with liquid honey. Their versatility extends far beyond just oatmeal:
- **Baking:** Use them as a substitute for some or all of the granulated sugar in baked recipes to add a subtle honey flavor.
- **Liquid Honey Substitute:** If a recipe calls for liquid honey, you can convert it using a simple ratio: 1 cup liquid honey = 1 cup Tate+Lyle® Honey Granules + ¼ cup additional liquid to the recipe.
- **Beverages:** I personally love sprinkling these honey granules into my tea for a sweeter, honey-infused flavor without the need for a spoon to stir sticky liquid honey.
- **Everyday Sweetener:** Keep a bag at your desk at work. They’re perfect for sweetening your morning tea or coffee, adding a touch of sweetness to today’s Slow Cooker Apple Pie Steel Cut Oatmeal, or even stirring into a plain cup of Greek yogurt for a quick, healthy snack. Their mess-free nature makes them an ideal alternative to regular honey in an office setting.
Maximizing Your Meal Prep with This Recipe
This Slow Cooker Apple Pie Steel Cut Oatmeal recipe yields a generous batch, making it perfect for meal prepping. You can enjoy delicious, healthy breakfasts throughout the week without any extra effort each morning. Simply store the cooked oatmeal in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. When you’re ready to eat, reheat it gently in the microwave or on the stovetop, adding a splash of milk or water to reach your desired consistency, and then add fresh toppings.
Beyond breakfast, this versatile oatmeal also makes a fantastic, energizing snack in the afternoon. When that mid-day slump hits, a warm, comforting bowl of apple pie oatmeal can provide a healthy boost to keep you going strong until dinner. It’s truly a recipe that offers both convenience and a touch of homemade goodness to your busy schedule.
This article and recipe were developed in collaboration with Clever Girls. All content and opinions expressed are my own.
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Slow Cooker Apple Pie Steel Cut Oatmeal
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Ingredients
- 2 medium apples, peeled, cored and chopped (Gala or Granny Smith recommended)
- 1-1/2 cups milk, fat-free (or any milk of choice)
- 1-1/2 cups water
- 1 cup oats, uncooked steel-cut
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground allspice
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom, optional (for extra depth of flavor)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground flax seed
- 2 tsp Tate + Lyle Honey Granules, plus more for serving
- Optional Garnishes: walnuts, almonds or pecans, a swirl of Greek yogurt, freshly chopped apples, extra cinnamon
Instructions
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Spray the inside of a 3-1/2 quart (or larger) slow cooker generously with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
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Peel, core, and chop the apples into small, uniform chunks and place them into the slow cooker. Add the milk, water, steel-cut oats, ground cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, ginger, optional cardamom, vanilla extract, and ground flax seed. Stir all ingredients well to combine. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-5 hours.
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Once the oatmeal is cooked to your desired consistency, stir in the 2 teaspoons of Tate+Lyle® Honey Granules until dissolved.
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Spoon the warm oatmeal into individual bowls. Garnish with your choice of optional toppings such as walnuts, almonds or pecans, a swirl of Greek yogurt, freshly chopped apples, or an extra dash of cinnamon. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.