What is your favorite comfort food? One of mine is a hot bowl of Apple Cranberry Oatmeal with Spices. 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. Today I am sharing how to make this classic breakfast recipe
Morning Comfort Food
Just imagine a cold winter day having a bowl of hot oatmeal with cinnamon and nutmeg that is full of apples and tart cranberries. Want to make it even better, top this off 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.
What are rolled oats?
Rolled oats are also known as Old Fashioned Oats.
Rolled oats are produced from the oat groat and are actually steel-cut oats that have been steamed then rolled and flattened.
Oats are naturally gluten-free, however, if other gains such as wheat and barley are processed in the same facility they can contaminate the oats. Look at the box labels to be sure.
Tips for making oatmeal
- This 0atmeal recipe is really easy to prepare. I use the Old-Fashioned 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 rolled oats to cold liquid gives a creamery texture over adding the oats to the hot liquid that results in a chewier oatmeal. Who knew?
- If your cereal gets too thick add some extra water to the pan because adding too much extra milk will make the oatmeal gummy, and you know what that tastes like!
- If you are a cranberry lover like my family buy extra bags of cranberries in the fall and freeze them. This way you can have cranberries after the season is over and can make recipes like Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Apples and Cranberries, Apple Cranberry Galette, or Cranberry Orange Scones.
- No need to defrost the cranberries, just add them into the saucepan.
- 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.
Ingredient List
- Old fashioned oats
- Apples
- Cranberries- fresh or frozen
- Milk
- Brown Sugar
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Cloves
- Salt
How to make creamy oatmeal
Step 1.Quarter the apple, remove the core, and slice the quarters into small slices and dice the apples.
Step 2. In a medium-sized saucepan add the rolled oats, water, milk, brown sugar, and the spices; stir to combine.
Step 3. Bring to a boil over medium heat then add the cranberries. Lower the heat and continue cooking, stirring occasionally until the oatmeal is thick and creamy and the apples are cooked. If the cereal is getting too thick add in small amounts of water to make it the consistency you like.
Step 4. When done, pour into bowls and add a splash of milk, a sprinkling of brown sugar, and if you like a little cinnamon.
Are there other flavors you can add?
- You can mix and match fruit and spices
- Add a mashed banana and cook a directed then top with banana slices and walnuts
- Add a tablespoon of maple syrup instead of the brown sugar
- Add 2 – 3 tablespoons of pumpkin puree while cooking the oatmeal along with a sprinkling of cinnamon
- Cook the oatmeal in coconut milk along with some shredded coconut and top with pineapple or mango slices
- Any type of milk works great in this recipe
- Of course, just making the basic oatmeal is delicious and top with your favorite fruits, nuts, and seeds.
You can serve your hot cereal in the cute Lions Head bowls too, I promise they will keep you oatmeal hot.
If you like to eat breakfast as much as I do, try this recipe for Baked Oatmeal with homemade applesauce for a delicious way to serve oatmeal. If French toast is your thing then I have a recipe that is amazing. French Toast Roll-Ups that are filled with raspberries and orange cream cheese. This recipe has become a favorite for breakfast and brunch.
More One Hot Oven recipes
Easy Cranberry Bread topped with a creamy orange glaze
Cranberry & Pumpkin Bread is hearty and full of fall flavors
Cottage Cheese Crescent Rolls filled with spicy cinnamon
Pumpkin Sheet Cake topped with a creamy white chocolate frosting
Spiced Apple Cranberry Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 cup Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
- 1 cup water
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 tbls. brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
- pinch salt
- 1 medium apple
- 1/3 - 1/2 cup whole cranberries fresh or frozen
Instructions
- Cut the apple into quarters and cut out the seeds. Cut the quarters into slices and then dice the apple. No need to peel the apple
- In a saucepan add the water, milk, oatmeal, brown sugar, salt, diced apple, and spices. Stir well.
- Over medium heat bring the oatmeal mixture to a boil.
- Add the cranberries and stir. If you are using frozen cranberries they do not need to thaw.
- Lower the heat and let simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the oatmeal is thick and creamy and the apples are cooked. You should hear the cranberries popping as they get hot.
- If the oatmeal gets too thick add a little water to the pot until it is the consistency you like.
- When done, pour the oatmeal into bowls and top with a splash of milk,a sprinkle of brown sugar, and more cinnamon if you like
Notes
Nutrition
I am a firm believer in eating breakfast in the morning so try to find something totally delicious and easy to prepare.
Eat a nutrition breakfast bowl
Thank you for stopping by the One Hot Oven blog. Please leave a comment to say Hello or just let me know what you are baking these days, I always love hearing from fellow bakers..
About Jere’
From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California, my passion for food is never-ending. Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place, and I am glad to be here at One Hot Oven sharing both sweet and savory recipes with all my baking friends.
Have any questions or just want to chat about the recipe? Contact me here, and I’ll be happy to help!
Served with love ~ Jere’
Lathiya
This spiced apple oatmeal looks delicious and comfortable. I loved your bowls you served the oatmeal.
Genevieve
Oatmeal is so good and this recipe looks delicious!
Jere Cassidy
It is delicious, we make this all through the week.
Jacqueline Debono
This oatmeal sounds like a scrumptious and nutritious way to start the day! Love the apples and cranberries in there!
Kay
A fantastic recipe for breakfast, thanks for sharing, I will be making this next week !!
Beth
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.
Jere Cassidy
How funny, I just made granola this evening.
Patrice
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!
Jere Cassidy
Oatmeal is my comfort food in the morning
Angela
I miss the comfort of oatmeal – I can no longer have it but may try this recipe for my kids.
Jere Cassidy
Bummer, no oatmeal anymore. Hopefully, you have something delicious to take its place.
Tisha
This is something I could eat year round! So perfect for breakfast!
Jere Cassidy
It’s summer and we are still having oatmeal for breakfast. I freeze a lot of cranberries just for this oatmeal.
Adriana Lopez Martin
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.
Emily
I’m always looking for new breakfast ideas, so I will definitely give this a try. It sounds wonderful.
Natalie
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.
Jere Cassidy
I agree, oatmeal just gets my morning started.
Kate Hackworthy
I love that you’ve added cranberries to this spiced porridge. It looks delicious!
Jessica Formicola
I wish I had this for breakfast this morning! Such a delicious recipe for the winter!
Julia Frey
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!
anna
This is such a great flavor combination!
Mandy
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.
Cat | Curly's Cooking
This looks delicious and love the flavours – so comforting!
Jo Allison / Jo's Kitchen Larder
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! 🙂