Apple Pie Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats
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Today, I want to share with you one of my personal favorites – Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats. Steel Cut Oats are warm, comforting, and so good on cold winter mornings.
Bonus: they are super easy to make in the slow cooker and are good for you too!
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Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats
If you’re like me and struggle to find time in the morning to whip up a yummy and healthy breakfast, then you have got to try these Apple Pie Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats!
I am definitely an oatmeal fan! This recipe for crock pot oatmeal is seriously perfect for those chilly winter mornings. All you have to do is mix the ingredients together the night before, set the slow cooker to low, and voila! You’ll wake up to the mouth-watering aroma of warm apples and cinnamon.
It’s seriously the best way to start your day. Trust me, you won’t regret giving this recipe a go!
Why you’ll love these Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats
Ingredients needed
(Ingredients at a glance; you can find the full recipe with ingredient amounts in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.)
- Steel-cut oats (1.5 cups): These oats are the star of our dish. They have whole-grain goodness and a chewy texture. Plus, they’re packed full of nutritional benefits, far surpassing instant oats.
- Water (4 cups): This is what gets our oats the perfect creamy consistency.
- Milk (1.5 cups): This adds the richness we love in our oats. You can use any milk or plant-based options.
- Cinnamon (2 tsp): Cinnamon adds warmth and flavor, and it has health benefits as well.
- Fuji, Granny Smith, or Jonathan Apples (2-3): These bring the apple pie flavor and also pack a nutritional punch with fiber and antioxidants. Bananas would be an excellent alternative.
- Brown Sugar (2+ tablespoons): For that touch of sweetness. You can also use honey or maple syrup.
- Optional: Raisins and nuts can be used for garnish, adding more texture and flavor.
How to Make Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats
You will love how easy it is!
1 Prep: Coat the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray or oil. (or use a crock pot liner.) Peel, chop, and core apples.
2 Add ingredients to slow cooker: Add all ingredients to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
3 Cook: Cover and cook on low for 7 hours. You don’t want to cook the oats longer than 7 hours, or they may burn. (It happened to me once, and it was a very stinky mess!)
4 Serve: Serve your oatmeal in a bowl and add additional butter, sugar, or milk to taste. Top with nuts, raisins, and other toppings if desired.
Pin this recipe for later.
Recipe Tips
- Prevent sticking by using a slow cooker liner or coating the crock with cooking spray.
- Don’t overcook! You don’t want to cook longer than 7 hours, or the oats could burn. (It happened to me once, and it was a stinky mess!) If you normally sleep longer than 7 hours and don’t have a programmable slow cooker, try using a timer that you plug into an outlet. You can assemble your oatmeal and have the timer turn the slow cooker on 7 hours before you wake up.
- Sweetness is personal. The recipe is purposefully less sweet, so each bowl can be customized to the right level of sweetness.
- Get creative with toppings – sliced bananas, chopped nuts, or a drizzle of honey or maple syrup are all great options!
- You can freeze cooked oats in individual portions for easy breakfasts in the future.
Variations
- Change up the fruit: Bananas with walnuts are delish. Try Pumpkin Steel Cut Oats – use canned pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice.
- Make it plain and serve it with yogurt and fresh fruit.
- Boost protein with Protein-Packed Oats: Add a scoop of vanilla or chocolate protein powder.
- To make it vegan, use plant-based milk like almond or coconut milk.
Storage suggestions
- You can refrigerate the leftovers in single or individual airtight containers for up to a week or freeze them for up to three months.
- To reheat, mix with a little water or milk.
FAQs
Can I use different oats?
No, steel-cut oats are best because they maintain their texture during slow cooking.
Can I make this without brown sugar?
Of course! Use zero-calorie sweetener, honey, maple syrup, or even mashed bananas instead.
Can I use different types of milk?
Yes! High fat, low fat, almond milk, soy milk, and more. Use whatever you love.
Can I Use Frozen Fruit in this Recipe?
Definitely, frozen fruit can seamlessly substitute fresh ones in this recipe.
More Oat Breakfast Recipes
- Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats
- Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal
- Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
- Banana Walnut Baked Oatmeal
- 3 Ingredient Protein Pancakes
Did You Make This Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats Recipe?
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Print
Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours
- Total Time: 7 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: breakfast
- Method: slow cooker
Description
Make these delicious Overnight Apple Pie Steel Cut Oats in the slow cooker:
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups steel-cut oats
- 4 cups water
- 1.5 cups milk (any milk works)
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 to 3 Fuji, granny smith, or Jonathon apples, peeled, cored, and chopped into 1/2 inch pieces)
- 2 tablespoons of brown sugar (or more if you prefer, I like to add my butter and sugar after cooking to get the taste just right…)
- Optional: 1/4 cup raisins and or nuts for garnish
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Instructions
- Coat the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray or oil. (or use a crock pot liner.) Add all ingredients to the slow cooker. Stir to combine. Cover, and cook on low for 7 hours. You don’t want to cook longer than 7 hours or the oats might burn. (it happened to me once, and it was very stinky!)
- Serve up your oatmeal in a bowl and add additional butter, sugar or milk to taste. Top with nuts, and raisins if desired
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 218
- Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 41
- Fiber: 7
- Protein: 6
Enjoy!
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Do you have to use steel cut or could you use instant?
When its comes to oats, you have steel cut, old fashioned and instant. This recipe is awesome for steel-cut because they take 30 minutes to an hour to cook on the stovetop and the slow cooker takes all the effort out. That being said, yes, you can use regular old-fashioned oats in this recipe. I would do 3 cups of water to 1 cup oats and slow cook on low for 8 hours. I do not recommend instant oats for this recipe. Good luck!
How many serving does this make?
Thanks, Jen
Typically, 1/4 cup of steel cut oats equals 1 serving. In that case, this recipe would be 4 servings.
~Jamie
This looks great. Perfect for the days my son has cross country practice. Breakfast will already be ready and waiting for him. Thanks for sharing!
Oh my, I am not really a big oatmeal fan, but I would totally eat this! This looks absolutely delicious! You may turn me into an oatmeal fan after all!
Robin
Good Morning Jammie,
I would just love waking up to a great bowl of this oatmeal, it looks awesome! Hope you have a great week and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
I LOVE overnight oats, but never made them with apples! I must try this!!!
Oh my, this looks delicious. I would love for you to link up to my Tasty Thursdays link party going on right now. Thanks, Nichi
http://mandatorymooch.blogspot.com/2012/12/tasty-thursdays-20.html
This looks great! I can't wait to try it.
http://www.givethatgirlacola.com
Yummy! This looks so good!!
Visiting from the link up. I bought a bag of steel cut oats and didn't have much luck making them the way the package said too. I can't wait to try this. Just pinned it!
This looks so yummy! Love all your ideas
-Becky (sugar-n-spice gals)
Yummy! Want to try this!
yum yum. ive never tried steel cut oats but have heard so many good things about them. i bet it would taste good with regular, but you prob couldn't cook it overnight?
I'd love to eat this sometime! Saw your link on What's in the Gunny Sack. So glad I clicked on your link. Great post!
In the crock pot sounds good. Never thought of it. Thank you for sharing.
We may have met by chance…but we become friends by choice.
http://simpleesue.com/honduras-missions-making-bread-in-a-mud-oven
I love my oatmeal – especially the steel cut type, but hate how long they take to cook. NOW I'll be able to wake up and…no more waiting! 🙂 Yay! Thank you so much for this great recipe, Jamie!
xoxo laurie
I'm always on the search for good oatmeal recipes. I love the idea of having this ready when I wake up in the morning. Have you shared your banana version yet?
Thanks for sharing this. It does look so good. I had to Pin it to Pinspiration so I won't forget to come back and actually make it. 🙂
Looks yummy. I'm not normally an oatmeal person, but I might give this a try!