If I had a nickel for every time I burnt my mouth on hot food, I’d be well on my way to an extended Caribbean vacation by now. It’s not something I’m proud of. In fact, it’s kind of embarrassing. You would think that I would eventually learn to just freakin’ wait. But see, that would require patience, which is something I don’t have. That’s another topic for another day.
I’ve burnt my mouth on coffee, pizza, pie, lasagna, cookies, and soup. And now, I can say that I’ve burnt my mouth on crockpot oatmeal. The stuff was in the slow cooker for upwards of 6 hours: that’s a pretty good indicator that it’s going to be hotter than hellfire. Did that stop me? Nope. The excitement was just too much. Food blogging is dangerous business, I tell ya.
Now that we’ve gotten that out into the open, I feel I should also confess that this is the first time I’ve ever used a crock pot. We got it for our wedding [August 2012] and it took us this long to test drive it. It’s going to be seeing a lot of use around here from now on. It’s sheer brilliance. You throw everything in, turn it on, and leave it to do all the work. I know this isn’t news to like, anyone else on the planet, but I’m still pretty amazed.
This oatmeal is a delicious way to warm yourself and fuel up before starting the day. It will keep you feeling full until at least lunchtime. And another bonus? One batch will last at least about a week. You combine everything in a pot, walk away, and return to find a week’s worth of awesome. What’s not to love?
I leave you with these parting words. Learn from my mistakes – let this stuff cool for a good long while before digging in. Scoop yourself a bowl, do your makeup and hair, get dressed, and then come back for breakfast. Tongue blisters ain’t cute, y’all.
Overnight Oatmeal - Cinnamon Apple
- Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
Easy slow cooker oatmeal with healthy apples and cinnamon. Prepare at night and enjoy in the morning.
Ingredients
- 1 cup steel cut oats
- 1 ½ cups coconut milk (I used SoDelicious vanilla, from carton)
- 1 ½ cups water
- 2 apples (cored, peeled, diced)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Optional for Topping
- Additional cinnamon or brown sugar
- Chopped nuts such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, etc.
- Fruit such as banana slices, fresh apple, or berries
Instructions
- Spray the inside of your slow cooker with oil thoroughly. This step is very important!
- Add all ingredients to the slow cooker – oats, coconut milk, water, apples, brown sugar, coconut oil, cinnamon, and sea salt. Stir to combine well.
- Cook on low for 5-7 hours depending on your cooker. Some take longer and some are faster. We recommend trying a test run during the day to see how long your slow cooker takes before trying overnight.
- Serve and allow to cool. If desired, add toppings of your choice.
Notes
Serves 6-8.
Be sure to use STEEL CUT OATS. These are heartier and take longer to cook so they are better for slow cooking.
Experiment with different flavors and fruits.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 5 hours
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 241
- Sugar: 13g
- Sodium: 83mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
What size slow-cooker is the base recipe? I have a HUGE slow-cooker and am wondering if I should 2x the recipe or not.
-meg
Our slow cooker was a 4 quart. If yours is huge, I would definitely recommend doubling the recipe! :)
Hi there! Would regular milk (lactose free) work for this recipe or does it specifically need to be coconut milk?
Hi there! I haven't ever tried using regular milk. My only concern would be that it could scorch. You can certainly try it and see how it works!
It must be my slow cooker, but the oatmeal was completely cooked, all the liquid absorbed and burned on the bottom and edges, after 4.5 hours. Perhaps it was because I put all the ingredients in several hours before I was ready to start cooking it, and so the liquid slowly absorbed before the cooking started? (I got up in the middle of the night to turn it on so it’d be ready for breakfast; thank Goodness I woke up early enough to check it early.) To salvage it early in the am, I poured in at least 2 cups of soy milk. Tastes good, but there’s less of it because if the inedible burned parts.
★★★
Oh darn! I almost guarantee that the issue was putting everything in several hours ahead of time. If you're going to prep ahead, wait to add the liquid until you're ready to turn it on.
Just a caveat to all the people who are experiencing mushiness and a soupy result - make sure you are using Steel Cut Oats. They take up less volume before they're cooked, so if you only have old fashioned/rolled oats, you'll need to use a different amount (approx. twice as much).
Thanks, Donny! You are correct. Steel cut oats are a necessity for this recipe!
Excellent! Served it to a church youth group sleepover of about 20 and they loved it! Thanks!
★★★★★
Awesome! I'm so glad they enjoyed!
I was wondering if you have any recommendations for a substitute for the coconut oil. One of my roommates is very allergic to coconut.
You could use avocado oil or olive oil instead!
Fantastic! I have a big crockpot, so mine was done in about 5.5 hours. Will put extra cooking spray on the pot next time, it got a little sticky. Otherwise - perfect recipe! Used green apples for extra tartness & left peels on b/c I couldn't find my peeler - came out great!!
★★★★★
So glad you liked the oatmeal, Liz! Enjoy!
Hi there, Wondering if you could please tell me what serving size the nutrition is based on? Also, do you use unsweetened coconut milk? Hoping to make this today for some breakfast meal prep for the coming week. Thanks!
Hi Anna! Sorry for the delay. The serving size we used to calculate was about 2 cups. Obviously, that nutritional facts can vary depending on what toppings you use. As far as coconut milk, I like to use SoDelicious vanilla version (it comes in a carton.) You could certainly use unsweetened instead!
I am wondering if anyone has tried doubling the recipe and if it will work exactly the same? We have a Sunday brunch at church as am considering trying this dish to bring.
That's a great question, Heather! I haven't tried doubling it, but as long as you have a large enough crockpot, it should be fine. I would definitely check it a little more often to make sure it cooks evenly.
I am so pleased with this recipe. I make it once a week and lately have been adding craisins to the slow cooker. It's just delicious. I top mine with Trader Joe's coconut yogurt, walnuts, and blueberries. Thanks for this wonderful recipe.
Made it for a breakfast potluck. Great taste, healthy and fills you till lunch. I had walnuts with a few pecans on side to allow folks to make a great texture add. People used as much or as little as they wished. Awesome
I used toasted coconut-almond milk added another taste to it. Excellent. Thank you!
★★★★★
This recipe is great for feeding a crowd (or meal prep)! I'm so glad you liked it and everyone enjoyed. :)
I've made this recipe over and over again. Why? Because it's AWESOME!! I use the slow cooker liners, too. But I use 2 of them, mainly because my crockpot tends to burn, lol, and 2 of them keeps it from happening, not to mention the very easy clean-up. The smell of this in the morning just starts my whole day, too. I usually top it with a medley of dried fruit, raisins and nuts (for a little crunch) I also use evaporated milk and substitute sugar for a little added sweetness. Add some toast to scoop it up and it's all good. Wonderful way to start the day!
★★★★★
Hi Karen –
What a stellar review! Thanks so much for taking the time to tell us what you think of this recipe – I'm so glad it's become a staple for you! :) I love the way the house smells when we do an overnight oatmeal like this.
I made it again last night. Set my alarm for 4 am, woke up at 3:30 to turn on my crockpot. (I'm a late sleeper lol) Got up to that amazing aroma, ate a big bowl topped with raisins, dried mixed fruit and slivered almonds. Add in (not in the oatmeal!!) a buttered piece of toast and I'm good to go til dinner!! Best part of this oatmeal is that it really fills the belly, and it's good for you, too!!
I followed the directions for the recipe and it's been cooking on low for 7 hours but still seems to be soupy. Any suggestions?
Hi Brittney –
Sorry it's giving you problems. Did you use steel cut oats? I can't think of any other reason for it to be soupy. :/
I had the same issue with consistency, it was very soupy and then almost gelatinous when it sat for a bit- no evidence of oats left. What setting did you use on the crock pot? low or high? I used steel cut oats, and coconut milk from the milk section vs. the coconut milk in a can used for cooking. Should i have used the thicker, canned coconut milk? The taste (and smell!) were still fantastic, it just didn't end up the consistency of oatmeal.
Hi Megan – That is frustrating! Steel cut oats do have a different texture than regular oatmeal, but this definitely shouldn't be soupy. I set my crockpot to low when cooking this and cooked for 5-7 hours. It sounds like you did everything correctly. I would just try cooking it on high instead? Making sure to stir it occasionally to keep it from scorching.
For those of you having problems with this awesome recipe for overnight cinnamon oatmeal...I have made this recipe numerous times, with no problems at all. It's my favorite! I use the canned coconut milk, not the carton. It's thicker. And I also use crockpot/slow cooker liners in my slow cooker for easy cleanup. I actually double up on the liners since my cooker has a tendency to get very hot. I slow cook on low every time and have always awakened to that wonderful apple-cinnamon aroma. I fix everything the night before, set my alarm to get up and turn on the slow cooker about 6 hours before I am up for the day. I certainly hope this helps a little bit....I'm going to make it again tonight!
Has anyone tried brown rice syrup instead of brown sugar? Trying to keep our mornings sugar free. Thanks
Hi Erin –
We haven't tried brown rice syrup, but it should work just fine. It definitely won't be as sweet. Let me know how it works!
Brown rice syrup is just another name for a highly processed product that results in 100% glucose (sugar)
Don't let the marketers fool you.
"According to the Sydney University GI database, Rice Syrup has a glycemic index of 98, which is extremely high (15).
It is much higher than table sugar (GI of 60-70) and higher than almost any other sweetener on the market!"
Hi Matt -
Thanks for the info! I actually had no idea...
I meant rice malt syrup which is fructose free.
Not to labour the point but it's still highly processed and of no benefit to the health of a human being. You'd be better off with real sugar.
"Rice Malt Syrup
Kilojoules per teaspoon =133
Made from fermented cooked rice, this sugar alternative is a blend of maltotriose, maltose and glucose, so is a preferred choice for people who want to quit “fructose”. However, it’s still a sugar despite being used widely in “sugar-free” recipes and has more kilojoules with an extremely higher GI of 98. Not helpful for blood sugar control or fat burning."
I think it's a good point- and thanks for making it. All sugars should be limited-even my beloved honey. And one should be wary of new overprocessed sugars.
★★★★★
Agreed!
Oh dear I read all the amaxing comments above and decided to make this last night.. it was awful! Followed the recipe exactly and it was sloppy. Used really good organic ingredients too. I was so disappointed. My husband couldn't stand the smell so he chucked it!
Would canned coconut milk work for this recipe? I've made it in the past with coconut milk from a carton but don't have anything but canned coconut milk on hand.
★★★★★
You could try it with canned coconut milk... but you will lose some sweetness. I would suggest adding some maple syrup to even it out. :)
I've made this several times in my crock pot, and for me, this is the absolute BEST I've ever made! I use a crock pot liner and it works very well. My only complaint is either staying up really late to turn the crock pot on, or setting my alarm clock!! But you know what??? I'ts SO WORTH IT!! If you like oatmeal as much as I do, then this is the perfect one to try out. Nothing better than oatmeal laced with cinnamon and apples, and topped with some raisins and dried fruit! YUMMY!!
★★★★★
Hi Karen –
The BEST ever?! WOW! It sounds like you are a huge fan of this oatmeal! Thank you for letting us know. :) This recipe is great, especially when it's cold outside!
I just don't understand all the failures of this recipe. I really don't. But I'll continue making this, probably for the rest of my life, lol. And yes, it's great when the weather is cold....and living here in the Midwest, where the temps now are around 0, it warms the belly nicely. I grew up eating oatmeal, loving it then, and loving it even more now. I top the oatmeal with raisins, craisins, or mixed dried fruit, and add slivered almonds. Add in some toast and you have a meal that will last most of the day! Even my grandkids love it! Thanks for the recipe, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Keep the recipes coming!
Hi Karen –
Thanks for the kind words and your feedback on this recipe! I'm so happy to hear that you've made it so many times and like it enough to do so. It's definitely a life saver on cold winter days! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, too! <3
I am making this for brunch tomorrow at someone else's house. We are going to mass beforehand, if I leave the temp on low or warm will it dry out? I am debating on taking it there before mass. I am just nervous about it drying out. I have a 20 min drive there.
Hi Lauren –
It's hard to say for sure whether or not it will dry out. I would taste it prior to leaving it on low, and if it's how you want it, bring along some extra liquid to stir in before mass. If you are going to set it on low heat, that should help keep it from drying out. Hope this helps!
Sorry I am not a cook. What would you call the "toppings" in this recipe? The cinnamon? Brown sugar? Or do you add all that and whatever else you want would be toppings?
Hi Robert -
Sorry for the confusion! All of the ingredients go into the slow cooker and toppings are optional - things like nuts, fruit, extra cinnamon - added after the oatmeal is done cooking. I've clarified it in the recipe for future reference. Hope this helps!
You mention in the recipe adding everything but the toppings to the crockpot. Can you clairify what parts of the ingredients list is toppings not to be added to the crockpot?
That's what I was wondering too!
Things like walnuts (as illustrated), blueberries, banana, almonds, etc etc.
The bonus things that really take the flavour up an extra notch.
Yep - Matt is correct! Those are the toppings that you leave out until the very end. They're optional, but really make this oatmeal even better. :)
Can I use milk and water?
Sure! Regular milk instead of non-dairy will be fine.
5 hours? When do you start it? I'm thinking I don't want to wake up at 2am to start this. Just curious what others do since it sounds awesome!!
Hi Jessica –
You could start it around 10pm-midnight and just keep it on low temp. Add a bit more liquid to keep it from drying out. It should be fine!
Buy a simple outlet timer to plug your crock pot into. They're like $5 @ Wal-Mart. Then set the timer to start at 2am.
I feel like an idiot... I had NO idea they made timers for crockpots. This is revolutionary!
Make ahead and refrigerate..Without toppings.Rehat a bowl in microwave add topping. I like toasted walnuts.
I was wondering what size crockpot do I need for this oatmeal?
Other recipes use too much liquid. This turned out perfect when I left the slow cooker on warm for 10 hours. I read through comments and added a full tablespoon of cinnamon. I will make this again and experiment with other toppings like blueberries or strawberries! I might even use butter instead of coconut oil because I love the taste.
★★★★★
Hi Heather –
I agree… and I can't stand soupy oatmeal! So glad you enjoyed this recipe. There are a million ways to mix it up and reinvent the flavors. :)
Could you rub coconut oil over the inside of the slow cooker rather than spraying it with oil?
Hi Shannon -
Sure, that would be fine!
I do rub coconut oil inside before adding all the ingredients. Works perfectly!
I leave the house for work at 2:30 a.m., and my wife and son get up around 8. I am going to turn this on monday morning and she will be surprised when she wakes up. Thanks!
★★★★★
Johnny –
Major bonus points for you... your wife will love this! Have a great week. :)
I love how healthy and low calorie this breakfast is. Steel cut oats were harder to find than I thought but thankfully not too expensive once found at a local health food store. I was also surprised by what the looked like as they were finer than I expected.
Ive just thrown all the ingredients into my slow cooker and look forward to eating some for breakfast tomorrow morning. If its as tasty as everyone says then I may have a hard time portioning it. If it turns out super delicious then I will try will different fruits too.
★★★★★
Hi Nadia –
I'm glad you finally found steel cut oats! I love how inexpensive they are. Perfect for making big batches of this kind of recipe! Report back once your oatmeal is finished to let me know what you think!
At first I wasnt overly fussed by the dish as I hoped for something a bit more flavoursome; but the ease of cooking, healthiness and convenience convinced me to try it again and again. Im now hooked on this dish! So glad I found this recipe.
I now have it each morning for breakfast making a fresh batch once a week. I get 6 meals out of it and dollop a generous amount of plain yoghurt on-top. Very healthy breakfast choice for an insulin resistant person who has a family history of diabetes and weigh issues. :-) Its a great meal in the steps to better health and well-being for me.
I tried it once with tinned mangoes but preferred the apples version instead. I'll experiment with other fruits when I get bored with the apple version.
My slow cooker only needs it cooked for 5 hours as any longer and it started to dry out too much and even begin burning around the edges.
★★★★★
Hi Nadia –
I'm so glad you're a fan of this recipe! It sounds perfect for your dietary needs and I agree, it's such a great, easy option. You can get a lot of meals out of one batch! I've heard people say that they like banana instead of apple, so that's an idea too. :)
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts – report back with any more variations that you try!
I am making this tonight!! Or should I say I am throwing all the ingredients in the slow cooker and going to bed!! Looks delish!! I think I Will throw a few cinnamon sticks in the mix to get a more prominent cinnamon flavor and take the other peeps ideas and add some vanilla too :) thanks for the recipe!!
That's the best part, right? Hope you enjoyed waking up to a yummy smelling house this morning! :D
This looks easy & delicious... A perfect combo :). I'd like to print this recipe to give it to a family member ~ How do I do this without cutting and pasting? Thanks!
There's a button directly under the nutritional information that says "Print." That should allow you to easily print the recipe on one sheet of paper. :) Your family member will love you!
Do you have to use coconut milk? Can you use regular milk?
Regular milk works just fine! :)
Could you make this with regular oats or only steel cut? In out of steel cut but am afraid it will get mushy if I use regular. ?? Thanks!
You could try it with regular oats, but just cook it for 1/2 to 2/3 of the recommended cook time. I've never given it a shot, but I think it should work that way. Let me know if you try it!
One tip for easy cleanup -- put the ingredients into a big pyrex measuring cup (as big as will fit in your slowcooker, like 4 or 6-cup size) and then put the filled measuring cup in the slowcooker. Fill around the measuring cup with water. It cooks it water-bath style and then the pyrex cup just goes in the dishwasher (or fridge, then dishwasher!). SO easy. I do it all the time with plain steel-cut oats, and I'm excited to try this variation!
You must have a big slow cooker! We're working with a small-medium sized one, so that doesn't work for us. But if you've got a big one, that's a great idea! Breakfast for a week at least. :)
Thanks for the tip! I have a large (6 qt) slowcooker and was wondering how to make this recipe work without increasing the amount.
Hi Sharon –
I'm not sure about that, as we used a smaller crockpot. I am guessing it will cook more quickly, so just keep an eye on it while it's cooking. It may need to be stirred more often. Wish I had a better answer for you!
Sounds delicious but we are not big coconut fans. Does it have a pretty noticeable coconut flavor from the milk and oil?
No, not really! The apple and cinnamon are the predominant flavors in this oatmeal. :)
Made this for my daughter's birthday and it was a huge hit - even the oatmeal haters loved it!
Yay! This is one of my favorite breakfast dishes and I don't love oatmeal either, so that tells you something! :)
Can this be doubled in a crockpot? We are throwing the teachers a surprise breakfast for first day back (70people) and I'd like to make a double batch.
Sure! I don't see why not. As long as you've got a big enough pot!
Does the cooking time increase if you double the recipe? If so, by how long?
Thanks!
You mention this is for a weeks worth of breakfasts but don't mention how your store or reheat it?
BTW I'm trying it tonight :)
You can store it in the fridge and it can be reheated on the stovetop or in the microwave. Personally, I'd recommend the stovetop! Report back with how you like it!
It was delicious!
I probably want a little more cinnamon but that's a minor change.
I am not a big porridge fan but I will keep making this through our cooler months that's for sure.
Thanks.
Awesome – Glad you liked it! It's perfect for cold months, in my opinion. :) Add as much cinnamon as you please!
Made this today... and it was YUMMMYYYY!!! Mine was done in about 5 1/2 hours and had my kitchen smelling delicious! I pretty much followed the directions, but added a bit more cinnamon and a splash of vanilla. Thanks for sharing!
Mmm that sounds like a great modification! Happy you enjoyed! Isn't it such a great, easy breakfast?
I made this and it was delicious! My jar of coconut oil wouldn't open so I left it out :( I added nutmeg and vanilla extract to it and use slivered almonds as my topping. This slow cooker oatmeal will be a regular :)
I have the hardest time getting my coconut oil open, too! Way to improvise though, lol. So glad you enjoyed – vanilla is a great idea for this recipe!
Yes, I love using vanilla in my oatmeal.
It is perfect in oatmeal! Vanilla just adds something special. :)
Have you tried this with the slow cooker liners? Just curious before I give it a try.
Haven't tried it with the liners, but it should work just the same!
works perfect with liners.
Ok- made this last night- great smell in the house this morning. I added sugar in the raw, more cinnamon and bananas as my topping. And a little more skim milk cuz it needed a little more liquidity (made up that word just now!). It was GOOD- I may omit the apples next time.....and add them as a topping. Liked it- would make again with some tweaks.
Mmmm… excellent modifications! I like the idea of adding bananas and more cinnamon is always a good idea. I'm glad you enjoyed! :)
That looks so yummy! Just what I've been craving on these cold Washington mornings.
It's sure to warm you right up. Let us know what you think!
Loved it! I've made it twice. Family loves it too. The coconut milk really makes it special!