For whatever reason, I have this burning desire to take otherwise ‘normal’ recipes and turn them into spin-offs of my favourite desserts.
You might call this weird, but I call it totally normal…as long as I don’t look over my Recipes page all at once and then I start to think an intervention might be necessary.
My theory is that I am making up for lost time. After struggling with an eating disorder for 10 years, it is now time to have fun with food. Long gone are the days of eating the same 3 meals day in and day out and constantly feeling deprived. I like to have fun with food now, but at the same time, I want my food to work for me and leave me feeling my best.
This burning desire to recreate desserts is especially strong at breakfast time; although I will be the first to admit that I don’t care for something too sweet in the morning. Carrot Cake Oatmeal and Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats are on my regular breakfast rotation and I feel like I am beating the system getting to eat such delicious food first thing in the morning. And who doesn’t like to beat the system?
Naturally, the next dessert on my breakfast hit list is Apple Pie Oatmeal. It took me a couple of trials, but I was blown away by the taste of my most recent attempt and I knew I had to share it with you on this blistery Winter morning.
Apple Pie Oatmeal
Yield
2 small bowls
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
A warm embrace on a cold winter day, this Apple Pie Oatmeal will remind you of delicious apple pie, but will leave you feeling energized and ready to tackle the day ahead. The leftovers (if there are any!) taste amazing chilled, too.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup rolled oats (use certified gluten-free, if necessary)
- 1 large apple, peeled and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces (about 1 1/3 cups)
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- Pinch fine sea salt
- 1 to 1 1/4 cups (250 to 310 mL) unsweetened almond milk, as needed
- 1 1/2 tablespoons (22 mL) pure maple syrup
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon (5 mL) fresh lemon juice (optional)
Suggested toppings:
- 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
- Diced apples
- Coconut sugar
- Cinnamon and ground ginger
- Granola
- Coconut Whipped Cream
Directions
- In a medium sized pot over medium heat, whisk together the oats, apple, chia seeds, cinnamon, ginger, salt, milk, maple syrup, and applesauce until combined.
- Cook over medium heat for about 9 to 15 minutes, stirring often. When the mixture thickens and the oats soften, it is ready.
- Stir in the pure vanilla extract and lemon juice (if using).
- Pour into a dish and serve with your desired toppings.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
This recipe really excites me because not only did I go crazy over the taste, but I love recipes that are based around simple, plant-based foods. They leave me feeling energized!
Add the oats, peeled and chopped apple, chia seeds, unsweetened applesauce, Almond milk, cinnamon, ginger, pinch of kosher salt into a pot and whisk well.
Cook for about 8 minutes over medium heat.
The applesauce, chia seeds, and chopped apple really bulk up this oatmeal! It turns into a huge bowl, which is always a good thing.
Sprinkle with chopped walnuts, cinnamon, and a drizzle of maple syrup!
Swirl.
and dig in to one of the most comforting bowls of oatmeal I have ever tried.
I also made someZucchini Bread Oatmeal last week…
Mmm. Zucchini Bread.
It was quite delicious, but the recipe still needs some tweaking before I am ready to share it! I am really excited about this one though.
You might want to check out my Carrot Cake Oatmeal too.
Monday mentionable:
1. Check out my new Favourite Sweets list on the right hand sidebar…I will be updating it on a regular basis with my favourite sweet treats.
Have a great start to your week!
Hah I love what you said about feeling like you’re “beating the system.”
Ummmm…. YUMMMMMMMM!!!!
i LOVE oatmeal and i LOVE apples. I love how chunky it is, my apple cinnamon oatmeal only has teeny-tiny pieces of apple.
In my first version I chopped the apples really small, but I preferred the second version with BIG chunks! Really fun to eat.
I LOVE how much fun you have with food! Nothing wrong with playing with your food if the result is that delicious!
I love that bowl, too!
You are an oatmeal genius!
glad to know I’m not the only “weirdo” who puts zucchini in my oats! :) I think it tastes just awesome…but my Mister thinks it’s just crazy! :)
love,
cathy b.
These look awesome! I am still enamored with the carrot cake oats – can’t wait to see what you come up with for zucchini oats.
Clearly I need help, as I decided to eat cereal with chocolate almond milk this morning. Not a good idea, FYI. :)
Just whipped this up – thanks for the inspiration!
I know it’s early to call, but I think chia seeds are going to be my big find for 2011. I bought a package last week and I’ve been waxing poetic about them ever since. I’ve had so much fun going through your VOO recipes lately!
they are so great aren’t they? I love that I can throw them in just about anything.
This post made me smile- so glad you can enjoy food without restriction. Its such a freeing and beautiful feeling! This looks so good! I love putting steel cut oats in the crock pot overnight with spices,apples and raisins- the house smells amazing and I love the thickness of steel cut oats, plus the raisins get so plump :) Looking forward to zuc oats!
YUMMY!
I just had chopped apples in my oatmeal this morning. Topped with some brown sugar, granola and peanut butter, mm HMM it was so warm and filling. :-)
Zucchini bread oatmeal? Might have to buy some out of season zucchini for that…
Your bowl of oatmeal just made me hungry!!!!!!!
Great recipe!
Holy yumsky! Lately I’ve been rolling with a cookie dough bowl creation of mine (that you would LOVE by the way!), but this will most likely be making an appearance:)
definitely comfort in a bowl. WOW! I bet that tastes better than the real apple pie itself.
LC
So delicious! Unsweetened applesauce is one of my favorite add-ins for oats. Going to check out some of your other oatmeal recipes…
I make a very similar version most mornings, too. Chopped apple, generous dashing of cinnamon, 1 Tbsp chia, 1/3 cup oats, 3/4 cup water and then I microwave it (oh the horror – I know!) on high for 1min45sec, stirring half way. I like to top mine with plain yogurt. I find that it doesn’t need any sweetening, and the chia seeds make it very creamy so milk and applesauce are not necessary. Minimal ingredients and time, maximum deliciousness!
Can’t wait to see your zucchini bread oatmeal recipe – I love love love my oats!
This sounds delicious. Love the zuchinni bread oats idea, genius! Still trying to think of a recipe I’d like to enter in your Valentine’s day contest. :D
I’m all for pie in the morning! I love how you mix up oats so often. Definitely the best way to start the day!
That looks absolutely incredible. Can’t wait to try it!