30-Minute Sweet & Tender Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal Recipe
This 30-Minute Sweet & Tender Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal is a warm, comforting, and nutritious breakfast option featuring wholesome rolled oats, crunchy walnuts, and flavorful apple cinnamon. Perfectly baked to a golden brown, it combines the natural sweetness of fresh apples and maple syrup with the rich texture of chia seeds and hemp hearts, providing a delicious and wholesome start to your day.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup chopped walnuts (divided)
- 1/3 cup ground chia seeds (or ground flaxseeds)
- 1/4 cup hemp hearts
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup grated apple (about 2 small apples, preferably Honeycrisp or Pink Lady)
- 1/2 cup apple sauce
- 1 1/2 cups almond milk
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup avocado oil
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat and Combine Dry Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In an 8×11-inch rectangular baking dish, mix together rolled oats, 1/2 cup of the chopped walnuts, ground chia seeds, hemp hearts, baking powder, fine sea salt, and cinnamon until evenly combined.
- Whisk Wet Ingredients: In a separate small bowl, combine the grated apple, apple sauce, almond milk, maple syrup, avocado oil, and vanilla extract. Whisk thoroughly until all wet ingredients are well blended.
- Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Pour the wet mixture into the baking dish containing the dry ingredients. Use a spoon or spatula to mix everything together evenly so that the oats are fully coated.
- Decorate the Top: Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts over the top of the oatmeal mixture. Optionally, add sliced apple pieces as garnish if you have any apple left after grating.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned and the oatmeal mixture is set and cooked through.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and let the baked oatmeal cool for 10 minutes before cutting into slices. You can serve warm or allow it to cool completely for a firmer texture.
Notes
- Using freshly grated apples gives the best texture and flavor; Honeycrisp or Pink Lady apples provide a nice balance of sweetness and tartness.
- Ground chia seeds can be substituted with ground flaxseeds if preferred.
- If you want a nuttier top, consider toasting the walnuts lightly before adding them on top.
- This baked oatmeal stores well and can be refrigerated for up to 4 days; reheat before serving.
- For a dairy option, substitute almond milk with regular milk.