Easy Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

My apple cinnamon baked oatmeal recipe is the kind of breakfast that makes mornings feel a little less chaotic. You stir everything together, bake, and you've got breakfast handled for the next few days. It's packed with that classic apple and cinnamon flavor, but still hearty and filling.

Three slices of apple cinnamon baked oatmeal on three small appetizer plates topped with powdered sugar surrounded by sliced apple and oats.

Just like my apple brioche french toast bake, you can slice it up, store it in the fridge, and you've got an easy grab-and-go option that works just as well on busy weekdays as it does for a slow weekend morning.

TL; DR Summary - Baked Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

👩🏼‍🍳 Bake Level: Easy/Beginner
⏱️ Bake Time: ~ 30-35 minutes
📖 Dietary Info: Oats, gluten, dairy, egg
😋 Taste: Oats, apple, cinnamon
💖 Why You'll Love: Breakfast is served every day of the week with this recipe. Cozy flavors, delicious texture, and filling with a hot cup of coffee or tea.
🍽️ Best Paired With: This baked apple and oats breakfast is great when paired with a high protein mudslide mocktail, an easy green smoothie, or balance out the sweet with savory like my loaded breakfast totchos.

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TL; DR Summary - Baked Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Top Baked Oatmeal Tips and Tricks
The Main Ingredients
Recipe Swaps and Substitutions
How to make cinnamon apple baked oatmeal
Mistakes I've Made (to avoid)
Apple and Cinnamon Baked Oats FAQs
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Easy Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Top Baked Oatmeal Tips and Tricks

Use rolled oats, not quick cooking or steel cut oats. The texture and the taste will change how it bakes.
Give the oatmeal a chance to cool a little before slicing and serving.
Use enough liquid to keep the baked oatmeal moist when it's finished baking, and when reheated. Sometimes baked oatmeal can dry out if there is not enough moisture.

The Main Ingredients

Ingredients to make apple cinnamon baked oatmeal.

Rolled Oats - Rolled oats give the baked oatmeal structure and that hearty, chewy texture that makes it filling and meal-prep friendly.
Apple - Fresh apple adds natural sweetness, moisture, and little bites of texture throughout the oatmeal.
Cinnamon - Cinnamon brings that classic warm flavor that pairs perfectly with apple and makes the whole dish taste like fall without being overpowering.
Milk - Milk softens the oats as they bake and creates a creamy texture so the oatmeal doesn't turn out dry.
Eggs - Eggs help bind everything together and add a boost of protein, making each slice more satisfying.
Maple Syrup - Maple syrup sweetens the oatmeal naturally and adds a subtle depth of flavor that works really well with apple and cinnamon.
Applesauce - Applesauce adds extra moisture and reinforces the apple flavor while helping keep the texture soft.
Vanilla Paste - Vanilla paste rounds out the flavors and adds a little extra warmth that makes the oatmeal taste balanced.
Baking Powder - Baking powder gives the oatmeal a slight lift so it bakes up tender instead of dense.
Salt - A small amount of salt enhances all the flavors and keeps the sweetness from falling flat.

Be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of this post for more information about quantities, measurements, and specific cooking instructions.

Recipe Swaps and Substitutions

If you need to make this gluten free, be sure to use gluten free rolled oats.
Use a dairy-free milk alternative like almond or oat milk.
Just like I do with my high protein cinnamon chia pudding, you can add in a scoop of protein powder for added boost of protein.
If you would prefer not to use the applesauce in the mixture, you can increase the milk by ½ cup, but I don't recommend this. The applesauce naturally gives a moist texture without adding sugar.

How to make cinnamon apple baked oatmeal

Whisked egg, vanilla, applesauce, milk, and maple syrup in a small aluminum bowl.

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, applesauce, eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla.

Rolled oats cinnamon, baking powder, salt, in a large aluminum bowl.

Step 2: In a separate bowl, combine together the rolled oats, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.

Apple cinnamon baked oatmeal in an 8x8 pan lined with parchment paper before baking.

Step 3: Once the dry ingredients are well distributed, pour in the wet mixture and fold in the diced apples until evenly distributed. Pour into the prepared baking pan and bake 40m, until set and lightly golden. Cool slightly before slicing and dust with powdered sugar.

Mistakes I've Made (to avoid)

Do not over-bake the oatmeal. Take the baked oats out of the oven once the top is set and slightly jiggly. The sides should also be lifting away from the pan just a little, and be golden brown. Over baked oatmeal is gummy, chewy, and very tasteless.
Don't skimp on the liquid. As I mentioned previously, the oats need to be moistened for it to bake and have a nice mouthfeel and texture.
Remember to let the oatmeal SIT and COOL before slicing and serving. It will crumble and fall apart. Trust me. Have patience for 10 minutes before diving in.

Close up of a slice of apple cinnamon baked oatmeal on a plate topped with powdered sugar.

Apple and Cinnamon Baked Oats FAQs

How long will this baked oatmeal last in the fridge?

This baked oatmeal will stay for up to five days in an airtight container in the fridge.

Can I wrap this oatmeal up and place in the freezer?

Yes, you can wrap this in the dish it baked in, or add to a freezer friendly container (or wrapped in aluminum foil and added to a plastic food storage container), for up to two months.

What are some other toppings or add ins I can use?

If you want to ramp up the textures and flavors of this oatmeal, you can throw in some candied pecans, chopped almonds, chocolate chips, or a drizzle of nutella or peanut butter.