Apple Pie Oatmeal

As a kid I always hated oatmeal. I couldn't stand the stuff. This was probably because back in the late 80's and early 90's the only kind of oats you made oatmeal with were rolled oats which produced a chunky, gelatinous porridge that I couldn't imagine anyone willingly eating. 

Oatmeal is best eaten with a bear spoon.

Fortunately for me, a few years ago stores started carrying steelcut oats, also called Irish, Scottish or pinhead oats. These oats still produce a thick porridge and if you stir gently they do not release as much soluble fiber that produces a gelatinous goo. They also have a nice texture and a slightly nutty flavor when toasted.


There are a million ways to eat steelcut oatmeal and I particularly like mine to have lightly sweetened pie-inspired flavors. Today I'm making apple pie inspired oats.


This recipe will make one serving, so adjust accordingly for the amount of people you will be making it for.


Apple Pie Steelcut Oatmeal


1/4 cup steelcut oats
1/2 cup chopped apple
(You want a sweet and firm apple such as gala, braeburn, fuji or honeycrisp. Take a guess which state I'm from.)
1 pitted, chopped date (optional, if you like it sweeter)
1 cup water
1/2 t ground cinnamon
1/4 t ground cloves
1/4 t fresh ground nutmeg
1/4 t ground allspice
pinch of salt


Heat a small pan on medium low heat. I use a 1.5 qt pot for a single serving. If you like, you can add about 1/2 t of butter or Earth Balance to the pot to help with toasting the oats, but this isn't necessary. When the pan is warm and the butter is sizzling, add the oats to the pan. Let them toast, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes until they sizzle and smell toasty. Add the apple, date, spices and salt to the pan. Remove the pan from the heat and slowly add the water. Be careful because it will boil in the hot pan at first. Turn the heat down to low and let the oatmeal simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. If you are making a larger batch it will take longer. Gently stir the oats occasionally to make sure they are not sticking to the bottom. When the oatmeal is thickened to your liking, it is ready to serve. You can serve it just like this, the apple will make it slightly sweet, or you can add chopped nuts, brown sugar or whatever else you like on top.



This recipe serves 1 and has 210 calories per serving (without extra toppings or butter).


Since you only need about 1/2 a cup of chopped apple per serving, I like to chop one or two apples and put them in the fridge with the spices in a small container so I have them ready throughout the week. Anything that makes making a healthy breakfast faster or easier is a good idea in my book.


If you don't eat oatmeal regularly, you should start. Oats have more soluble fiber than any other grain, which slows digestion to help you feel full longer, lowers cholesterol, and reduces your risk for heart disease. They're also really tasty!