What is your favorite comfort food? One of mine is this hot bowl of Creamy Spiced Apple Cranberry Oatmeal. I know you are thinking BORING, but I could eat this every morning. It’s warm, creamy and the smell of cooked apples and cinnamon in the morning makes me enjoy my breakfast even more. I even have this oatmeal for dinner.
Creamy Spiced Oatmeal
Just imagine a cold winter day having a bowl of hot oatmeal with cinnamon and nutmeg that is full of apples and tart cranberries, and then to make it even better, top off your oatmeal with a sprinkle of brown sugar and a splash of hot milk for some extra sweetness and creaminess. Hey, this is a serious bowl of oatmeal, you know the kind that keeps you full all morning and sticks to your ribs.
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Oatmeal is really easy to prepare. I use the Old-Fashion type because I like the texture. The key to making creamy oatmeal is using half water and half milk and as it gets thick make sure to stir. Adding the oatmeal to cold liquid gives a creamery texture over adding the oatmeal to the hot liquid that results in a chewier oatmeal. Who knew?
If you are a cranberry lover like my family buy extra bags of cranberries and freeze them. This way you can have cranberries after the season is over.
If you are in a hurry in the morning and want a quick breakfast, just peel and dice an apple the night before and put it in the fridge, then put the oatmeal and spices in a pot. All you have to do in the morning is to add the liquid and cranberries to the oatmeal and turn the heat on the stove. Don’t forget to stir, and 10 minutes later you have breakfast.
Ingredients for Apple Cranberry Oatmeal
- Oatmeal
- Apples
- Cranberries
- Milk
- Brown Sugar
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Cloves
- Salt
Here is an oatmeal tip – If your oatmeal gets too thick add some extra water to the pan because adding too much extra milk will make the oatmeal gummy, and that is not what you want.
Spiced Apple Cranberry Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 cup Old Fashion Oats
- 1 cups water
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 tbls. brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
- pinch of salt
- 1 medium apple
- 1/3 - 1/2 cup whole cranberries fresh or frozen
Instructions
- Peel and dice the apple.
- In a saucepan add the water, milk, oatmeal, diced apple, and spices.
- Over medium heat bring to a boil.
- Add the cranberries and stir.
- Lower the heat and let simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the oatmeal is thick and creamy and the apples are cooked.
- If the oatmeal gets too thick add a little water to the pot.
- When done, pour into bowls and top with a splash of milk and a sprinkle of brown sugar.
Notes
Nutrition
I bought these two porcelain Lions Head bowls years ago and for some reason, they have become the dedicated oatmeal bowls in our house. Maybe because they are so cute and the other reason, they keep the oatmeal hot.
Comfort food for breakfast or dinner
I am a firm believer in eating breakfast in the morning so try to find something totally delicious and easy to prepare. Another reason to eat breakfast is you can eat some really nutritious like this oatmeal.
You can serve your oatmeal in the cute Lions Head bowl too, I promise they will keep you oatmeal hot.
Served with love ~ Jere’
This spiced apple oatmeal looks delicious and comfortable. I loved your bowls you served the oatmeal.
Oatmeal is so good and this recipe looks delicious!
It is delicious, we make this all through the week.
This oatmeal sounds like a scrumptious and nutritious way to start the day! Love the apples and cranberries in there!
A fantastic recipe for breakfast, thanks for sharing, I will be making this next week !!
I tend to make granola rather than oatmeal, but I love the low level of sweetness and the way you’ve used the cranberries. So I’m putting this on my list, mmm.
How funny, I just made granola this evening.
I eat oatmeal a lot for breakfast in the winter and it’s always nice to try something a little different. I love apples, cranberries, and spices so this sounds perfect for me!
Oatmeal is my comfort food in the morning
I miss the comfort of oatmeal – I can no longer have it but may try this recipe for my kids.
Bummer, no oatmeal anymore. Hopefully, you have something delicious to take its place.
This is something I could eat year round! So perfect for breakfast!
It’s summer and we are still having oatmeal for breakfast. I freeze a lot of cranberries just for this oatmeal.
Love everything about this oatmeal dish. Enjoy the combination of the seasonal flavors so comforting. Perfect not only for breakfast but for a light dinner or as a snack.
I’m always looking for new breakfast ideas, so I will definitely give this a try. It sounds wonderful.
Oatmeal for breakfast – that the best thing! It’s so healthy and loaded with not only amazing flavor but with so much healthy stuff. Love this combo with cranberries.
I agree, oatmeal just gets my morning started.
I love that you’ve added cranberries to this spiced porridge. It looks delicious!
I wish I had this for breakfast this morning! Such a delicious recipe for the winter!
Ideal breakfast right now! All of a sudden we went from mild autumn to frigid winter! I absolutely love the brown sugar and cranberries here!
This is such a great flavor combination!
You can’t beat starting the day with apple oatmeal (we call it porridge over here). I’ve been eating this a lot lately now the mornings are getting cold.
This looks delicious and love the flavours – so comforting!
You can’t beat oatmeal breakfast this time of year, it definitely sets you up for the day! I love the flavours in your version with apples and cinnamon being my personal favourite I love the addition of fresh cranberries too! The lions head bowls are super cute by the way! 🙂