Easy, healthy, and delicious overnight oats made with applesauce and cinnamon. The best part of this recipe is the caramelized apple pieces that take just 5 minutes to make! You have to try it!
I knew I wanted to make a recipe for applesauce overnight oats, but the biggest question was "how do I make it exciting?".
The answer: quick caramelized apples! Yes, I am talking about sweet and buttery pieces of apple in your oatmeal, that will totally take it to the next level!
And don't worry, this breakfast is super fuss-free and won't take you more than 10 minutes to prep, but it will be worth every bite. Let's get started!
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Ingredients and notes
- Oats: Make sure to use old-fashioned rolled oats for the best texture. Don't use still-cut oats, it won't turn out the same.
- Milk: We use soy milk, but you can use any milk you like.
- Apple, brown sugar, and butter are optional but recommended.
How to make it
First, caramelize the apple. As we already said, this step is optional, but we highly recommend it!
Peel, core, and chop your apple into 1-inch pieces. To a small rimmed pan, melt some butter. Add brown sugar and the chopped apple and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until golden and saucy.
Transfer to a bowl and set aside to cool.
Then, make the overnight oats. To a bowl, add milk, cinnamon, salt, and maple syrup (optional) and mix until combined. Add rolled oats and mix once again.
Finally, stir in the caramelized apple.
At this point, you can either cover your bowl with something like a clean towel or transfer the mixture between 2 jars or containers.
Let it sit in the fridge for at least 6 hours or overnight. Then you're ready to serve!
Expert Tips
- Let the oats soak for at least 6 hours, or until they are soft. You can't speed up this process, so be patient.
- Use rolled oats for a chewier texture and quick oats for a softer texture. You can also use a mix of half and half of each to get the best of both worlds.
- Customize to your liking. This recipe is really versatile, so feel free to add more maple syrup, a dollop of nut butter, a sprinkle of seeds, etc. to make it your own.
- To make this recipe dairy-free, use vegan butter, plant-based milk, and vegan brown sugar.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free certified oats.
FAQ
Overnight oats are usually served cold, but if you are craving a warm breakfast, you can heat them up in a small pot on the stovetop or in a bowl in the microwave.
Yes! They are packed with fiber, which keeps you full for longer. If you want to add more protein here, it's a good idea to add something like yogurt or hemp seeds.
No. This recipe doesn't freeze well and it's best fresh.
More Breakfast Recipes with Oats
Golden Lemon Poppyseed Overnight Oats
Easy Applesauce Overnight Oats
Equipment
- Stovetop (optional)
Ingredients
For the caramelized apple (optional)
- 1 medium apple, we like gala or golden delicious apples
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon butter
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the overnight oats
- 1 cup milk of choice (we like soy or almond milk)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- A pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional, for sweetness)
- ½ cup applesauce
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
Instructions
Caramelized apple (optional)
- To a rimmed pan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add the chopped apple, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir and cook for 5 minutes, until the apple is golden and saucy, and the brown sugar has melted.
- Remove from the heat and transfer to a bowl. Set aside to cool.
Overnight oats
- To a bowl, or into two separate jars, add milk, cinnamon, salt, maple syrup (optional), and applesauce. Mix until well combined. Add the rolled oats and mix once again. Finally, stir in the caramelized apples.
- Cover the bowl or the jars, and let the mixture sit in the fridge for at least 6 hours or overnight. Serve!
Stacy says
Had an opened jar of applesauce in the fridge and I was wanting to use it for a few days now... loved this recipe!
Petranka says
Thank you for sharing!