Apple pie baked oatmeal is packed with flavor and so easy to make! This apple baked oatmeal recipe creates the ultimate healthy comfort food, with soft, tender apples, warm cinnamon, and chewy oats. It is the perfect breakfast or healthy snack.
Why you will love this recipe
So easy to make – everything comes together in one bowl, making this such a simple recipe. This would be a great recipe for new cooks or kids to help with too (just watch them around the oven). This healthy baked oatmeal only takes about 5 minutes to assemble, and the rest of the time is spent in the oven and allowing the oats to cool.
Simple, healthy ingredients – you likely have all the ingredients you need to make this healthy apple baked oatmeal recipe in your pantry and fridge right now. Be sure to check the substitutions if you are missing an ingredient.
Great for meal prep – this apple pie baked oatmeal reheats so well and is great for up to 5 days once its cooked, making it perfect for meal prep. It freezes well too!
Versatile -This vegan baked oatmeal with apples recipe can be made into oatmeal bars or even muffins and can be eaten on the go for a quick and easy wholesome breakfast or snack anytime.
Ingredients
- Ground flax – this egg free baked oatmeal is made with ground flax and dairy free milk to replace the eggs. This makes this apple baked oatmeal recipe vegan.
- Dairy free milk – you can use whatever your favorite dairy free milk is! Almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk, coconut milk (in the carton), flax milk, etc. The milk helps to create a creaminess in the oats.
- Maple syrup – naturally sweeten the oats by using maple syrup. The maple syrup also adds a richness to the recipe and compliments the apples and fall spices well.
- Rolled oats (sometimes called old fashioned oats) – rolled oats give the baked oatmeal texture and a dense but soft consistency. You could also use quick oats in place of the rolled oats if needed.
- Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves – these spices really take this recipe for healthy baked oatmeal to the next level. These are the spices that create that apple pie flavor. Ground cloves are my secret ingredient anytime I’m making apples (check out these baked apples or gluten free apple crumble for more apple inspired recipes that use ground cloves).
- Baking powder – this helps the baked oatmeal rise during baking. Be sure you are using fresh baking powder (opened in the last 6 months) for the best rise.
- Apples, peeled and cubed – use a baking apple (fuji, pink lady, honeycrisp, gala or granny smith) to ensure that the apple doesn’t break down when baking. I prefer sweeter apples in this recipe to make it more like apple pie.
- Chopped pecans, walnuts, slivered almonds, or pumpkin seeds (optional) – chopped nuts can help provide some crunch to the recipe but are optional.
How to make apple pie baked oatmeal
Start by preheating the oven to 350F.
In a large bowl combine the dairy free milk, maple syrup and ground flax. Stir well to ensure the flax doesn’t clump together.
Add the oats, baking powder and spices to the bowl. Stir well.
Peel and chop the apple, add to the oat mixture.
If you are choosing to add chopped nuts, chop them and add them to the oats as well.
Spray an 8X8 casserole dish with olive oil or avocado oil spray. Add the oat mixture.
Bake the apple oatmeal mixture in the oven at 350F for 45 minutes.
After baking, allow the apple pie baked oatmeal to cool if you want to slice it into bars, otherwise you can serve it hot.
Top tips
- Cut the apples into small cubes (about ½ inch). This helps ensure that they will get soft and tender while baking but will still be substantial enough that they won’t get lost in the oats.
- To double the recipe, use a larger casserole dish. If you want to double the recipe, use a 9X13 casserole dish and bake it for 5-10 more minutes to ensure it cooks through.
- If you want to cut this healthy apple oatmeal into bars, it needs to cool completely. This healthy apple baked oatmeal recipe is made without eggs, making it a bit more fragile right out of the oven. Allow it to cool completely before cutting it into squares.
- Oats are naturally gluten free but often get cross-contaminated during the processing process. If you need to ensure that your baked oatmeal is gluten free, be sure to use certified gluten free oats.
Other additions
- Dried fruit: Raisins, dried cranberries, chopped pitted dates
- Crunch: Chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, pistachios, sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds) or dried coconut flakes
- Protein: Hemp hearts, collagen peptides (not vegan) or vegan protein powder (you will want to add 1/3 cup of dairy free milk for every serving of vegan protein powder).
Topping ideas
Common questions
What is baked oatmeal
Baked oatmeal is oatmeal that is baked in the oven instead of being heated through on the stove or in the microwave. When baked, the oatmeal gets soft and tender on the inside and slightly crisp on the outside. It has an almost bread pudding texture right out of the oven.
You can serve baked oatmeal immediately, the texture will be similar to oatmeal cooked on the stove or you can allow it to cool and cut the baked oatmeal into oatmeal squares that travel well.
What are the best apples to use in this baked oatmeal recipe?
To make apple pie baked oatmeal, you will want to use baking apples, this way they don’t break down into mush when baking. Some of the most common baking apples are:
- Honeycrisp
- Pink Lady
- Fuji
- Gala
- Granny Smith Apples (these are a bit more tart so you may need to add an extra tablespoon of maple syrup).
What are the best oats to use to make baked oats?
I recommend using rolled oats (old fashioned oats) in this recipe for apple baked oatmeal. The rolled oats get soft and tender but hold up well when baked. You could also use quick cooking oats.
I do not recommend using steel cut oats for this recipe, as they will not cook in the time allotted.
It’s important to note that if you need this recipe to be gluten free, be sure to use certified gluten free oats, as the oats often get cross-contaminated when being processed.
Can you make this into apple pie oatmeal muffins?
Yes, you can make this healthy apple oatmeal recipes into muffins. Be sure to put a parchment paper or silicone liner in the muffin tins (for easy removal). Bake at 350F for about 30 minutes.
Allow the muffins to cool completely before enjoying, as they are quite soft right out of the oven and will likely fall apart on you when hot.
Can you double the recipe?
Yes, this healthy baked apple oatmeal is a great recipe to double and enjoy all week. When you are doubling the recipe, you will need a larger casserole dish and to bake it just a few minutes longer.
When doubling, use a 9X13 casserole dish and bake it for 5-10 more minutes (50-55 minutes total) since it will be slightly thicker than this recipe in the dish.
Can you make baked oatmeal overnight or in advance?
Yes, this healthy baked oatmeal recipe can be made in advance and reheated the next day.
The oats will absorb a lot of the liquid (think overnight oats) if you leave the liquid in with the oats overnight, so if you want to make this the night before, bake it as stated and allow it to cool completely. Once cool, wrap with plastic wrap or foil and place in the fridge.
The next day, reheat in a 350F oven covered for 20-30 minutes or until warmed through completely.
How do you store leftover baked oatmeal in the fridge or freezer?
- Fridge: Store leftover baked oatmeal in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: You can either freeze the entire oatmeal bake whole in the casserole dish or cut the baked oats into squares first.
- To freeze the entire casserole dish, wrap the apple baked oatmeal with plastic wrap then foil. Freeze for up to 3 months like this in the freezer. Defrost overnight then reheat covered (remove the plastic wrap) in 350F oven for 20-30 minutes until heated through.
- To freeze individual squares, allow the baked apple oatmeal to cool completely then cut into squares. Put a piece of parchment paper between each square and freeze in a freezer safe bag for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight or in the microwave using 30 second intervals until defrosted.
Substitutions
- Dairy free milk – use whatever dairy free milk you have on hand. If you don’t have any on hand, you can blend 2 cups of water and 1-2 tablespoon of your favorite nut butter in a high-speed blender to use as the dairy free milk. You can also use water, but it will not be as creamy.
- Maple syrup – this liquid sweetener not only adds sweetness but also adds moisture to the baked oatmeal. You could replace it with date syrup, honey or your favorite lower calorie liquid sweetener. I do not recommend using sugar (coconut sugar, brown sugar, white sugar) in place of the maple syrup, as it needs the liquid from the maple syrup to cook properly.
- Ground flax – the ground flax replaces the eggs in the recipe. You could also use chia seeds (or ground chia seeds) in place of the ground flax. Tip: store your ground flax or flax seeds in the freezer to help keep them fresh. You can also use 2 eggs in place of the ground flax if you are not vegan.
- Rolled oats – you can also use quick cooking oats in place of rolled oats. I do not recommend using steel cut oats though.
- Cinnamon – you can replace the cinnamon with apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice or nutmeg (only use 1 teaspoon nutmeg).
- Nutmeg – replace the nutmeg with pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice.
- Ground cloves – if you don’t have these on hand, simply omit them.
- Apples – replace the apples with pears for a similar fall inspired meal. You can also use about 1 cup of berries of choice in place of the apples if needed.
If you love this recipe, you should try
Zucchini Bread Baked Oatmeal
Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal
Pumpkin Oatmeal Bars
Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal
Chocolate Baked Oatmeal
Air Fryer Oatmeal
High Protein Oatmeal 4 Ways
Single Serve Baked Oatmeal
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Preheat the oven to 350F.
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In a large bowl combine the dairy free milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract and ground flax. Stir well to ensure the flax doesn’t clump together.
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Add the rolled oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking powder, and salt to the liquid mixture.
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Peel and chop the apples into 1/2 inch cubes. Add the apples to the oatmeal mixture.
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Spray a casserole dish with olive oil or avocado oil spray the add the oatmeal mixture.
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Bake in 350F oven for 45 minutes.
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Enjoy immediately out of the oven or allow to cool completely and cut into bars.
- Cut the apples into small cubes (about ½ inch). This helps ensure that they will get soft and tender while baking but will still be substantial enough that they won’t get lost in the oats.
- To double the recipe, use a larger casserole dish. If you want to double the recipe, use a 9X13 casserole dish and bake it for 5-10 more minutes to ensure it cooks through.
- If you want to cut this healthy apple oatmeal into bars, it needs to cool completely. This healthy apple baked oatmeal recipe is made without eggs, making it a bit more fragile right out of the oven. Allow it to cool completely before cutting it into squares.
- Oats are naturally gluten free but often get cross-contaminated during the processing process. If you need to ensure that your baked oatmeal is gluten free, be sure to use certified gluten free oats.
How do you store leftover baked oatmeal in the fridge or freezer?
- Fridge: Store leftover baked oatmeal in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: You can either freeze the entire oatmeal bake whole in the casserole dish or cut the baked oats into squares first.
- To freeze the entire casserole dish, wrap the apple baked oatmeal with plastic wrap then foil. Freeze for up to 3 months like this in the freezer. Defrost overnight then reheat covered (remove the plastic wrap) in 350F oven for 20-30 minutes until heated through.
- To freeze individual squares, allow the baked apple oatmeal to cool completely then cut into squares. Put a piece of parchment paper between each square and freeze in a freezer safe bag for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight or in the microwave using 30 second intervals until defrosted.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Amount per Serving
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database.