Start your morning off on the right foot with a bowl of this hot and creamy caramelized apple oatmeal. Perfect use for all those fall apples!
Fall breakfast is served! Because I don’t know about you, but a cold fall morning calls for something as warm and cozy as apples and oatmeal.
This bowl just gets the job done. We’ve got a pretty simple brown sugar oatmeal base and a whole mess of caramelized apples crowning this breakfast beauty.
Basically like eating a caramel apple for breakfast and folks, that’s what we call a slam dunk in breakfast land.
This Oatmeal features…
- Soft and creamy brown sugar oatmeal
- Sweet and spiced caramelized apples
- A quick 15 minute recipe with only a handful of ingredients
Making the Oatmeal
(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)
Ingredients You Will Need
- Unsalted butter
- Apples
- Brown sugar
- Spices
- 2% or skim milk
- Old-fashioned rolled oats
- Nuts for topping
Choosing Your Apples
This oatmeal works great with a variety of apples, but we typically go for a sweet, crisp apple such as honeycrisp, gala, Cortland, or Braeburn. Feel free to experiment with different kinds!
Tips for Perfect Oatmeal
- Caramelize apples over medium heat – it should take around 8-10 minutes over medium heat to properly caramelize the apples.
- Use half water and half milk for oatmeal – using half milk will give the oats a rich and creamy flavor.
- Cook oatmeal over low heat – low and slow is the best way to go for the creamiest texture. Stir oatmeal often to prevent burning on the bottom.
Recipe Variations
Try these ideas for a different twist on this oatmeal.
- Use another fruit – try pears or sliced banana in place of the apples.
- Try another sweetener – try sweetening the oatmeal with maple syrup or honey.
- Add nuts – I like to top my oatmeal with roasted cashews but toasted pecans or walnuts would also be delicious.
Just a pure bowl of fall goodness here! The creamy oatmeal pairs like a dream with all those spiced caramelly apples piled on top.
I can tell you firsthand that this oatmeal will DEFINITELY start your day off on the right note!
More breakfast favorites to try next!
Caramelized Apple Oatmeal
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 medium honeycrisp or gala apples, peeled, cored, and diced into 1/4-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup 2% or skim milk
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- Pinch salt
- Additional brown sugar, milk, and chopped nuts for serving
Instructions
- Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add butter and swirl to coat pan. Add apples, brown sugar, and spices to skillet and stir occasionally over medium heat until softened and caramelized, about 8-10 minutes. Keep apple mixture warm.
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, bring water and milk to a simmer. Stir in oats, reduce heat to low, and allow to cook over low 6-8 minutes, stirring frequently until oatmeal is soft and creamy. Remove from heat and stir in a pinch of salt and brown sugar to taste.
- Divide oatmeal between two bowls and top with caramelized apples, milk, and nuts. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
This post was updated with new recipe adjustments and photos on 9/5/25.
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
This looks so good Sarah! Love that it only takes 10 minutes for all that yumminess! Cashews are one of my favorite nuts but I’ve never tried them with oatmeal.
Sarah says
Thanks, Christin! Cashews are SO amazing in oatmeal! You definitely need to try it. 🙂
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
The looks like a bowl of oatmeal perfection, Sarah! I love that you added caramelized apples and cashews on top. Sounds like the perfect fall breakfast!
Sarah says
Thanks, Gayle! Perfect fall breakfast ALL the way. 😀
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
This looks so, so good!!!
Sarah says
Thanks so much Liz!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
I am SO jealous of your cold weather! I’d rather be cold and able to bundle up in blankets and sweatshirts than sweating and taking a ton of cold showers to cool off! Please send your cold weather my way, before I melt.
This oatmeal looks delicious! I’m eating oatmeal as I type this! But mine is just plain with milk. Booooring! Would much rather have this caramelized apple and cashew version. Loving your gifs by the way! So cool!
Sarah says
Hahaha! I am TOTALLY sending you all of our cold weather, Natalie! I’d much rather be melting right now. LOL.
And wowzers is that perfect timing or what?! Girl, jazz up that oatmeal FAST with some caramelized apples and nuts!
And thanks by the way! Gifs are SO much fun to make. 🙂
Kelly // The Pretty Bee: Cooking & Creating says
This looks like an awesome breakfast! I love that you added some cashews to it!
Sarah says
Cashews are such a fun way to jazz up otherwise-boring oatmeal. 🙂 Thanks Kelly! Hope you have a good weekend!
Annie @Maebells says
Wow! I love all of the flavors here! I often see walnuts paired with apples but I am glad you used cashews, such a nice twist!
Sarah says
Thanks, Annie! I was THIS close to using walnuts in this oatmeal, but my bag of cashews was literally screaming “USE ME!” 😉
Renee @ Two in the Kitchen says
I my WOW!! I am dying over this apple oatmeal! And with cashews!! My favorite!! These photos are absolutely stunning Sarah!!
Sarah says
Thanks so much, Renee! Your comments always make my day. 🙂 You’re the sweetest!
Hope you have a fun weekend, girl!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
This is the best looking oatmeal ever! I love all those caramelized apples – definitely takes my boring oatmeal to a whole new level! Pinning and can’t wait to try this out 🙂
Sarah says
Boring oatmeal shall be no more with awesomeness like this around. 😉 As always, thanks for pinning, Kelly!
marcie says
I’ve been eating apples in my oatmeal this week and I love it — it tastes like a healthy apple pie! This oatmeal looks dee-licious with all those apples and cashews! What a great way to start the day. 🙂
Sarah says
Oh my gosh, YES. I wish I’d said that! It tastes almost exactly like apple pie! 🙂
Danielle says
It’s that time of year again when I want oatmeal for breakfast all the time! It was cold here today too, so not cool.. not yet anyways. But I could definitely take a bowl of this oatmeal. Love the cashews on top, definitely need to try that out!
Sarah says
Thanks, Danielle! A hot bowl of oatmeal is definitely my favorite way to start a chilly fall day! 🙂
Isadora says
I’m just loving your photos Sarah! And your little gif! Awesome! I’m also loving apple week! I’m going apple picking this weekend and then I need to make all of these recipes! Also, sooooo jealous of your jeans and sweatshirt weather! It is getting a little cooler here, but def not that cold yet. I still could go for a huge bowl if this oatmeal for breakfast tomorrow morning! It looks delicious 🙂
Sarah says
I am sooo jealous that you get to go apple-picking, Izzy! Eat some big ones for me! 🙂 And I will gladly give you all my cold weather! LOL. Thanks girl!
Olivia - Primavera Kitchen says
Wow this is the best oatmeal ever, Sarah! I’ve never had oatmeal with cashew! That’s a great idea, my friend 😉
Sarah says
Thanks so much, Olivia! You’re the sweetest. 🙂
Judit + Corina @ Glamorous Bite says
Beautiful photos Sarah! Love your perfect autumn breakfast bowl filled with our favorite treats 🙂
Sarah says
Thanks for the photography compliments, Judit! 😀
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats says
10 minutes… yes please and loving the caramelized apples. Looks so creamy and delicious! Love the action clip too girl! How did you do that?
Sarah says
Thanks, Krista! I made those photos into a gif, using this tutorial from Ali at Gimme Some Oven—it was really easy and fun to make! 🙂