Ingredients and Substitutions

The great thing about this recipe is that about half of the ingredients are in the name: apples, cinnamon, and oatmeal! The rest are very easy to find and may already be in your pantry. Here’s what you need for this recipe. Scroll to the recipe card for ingredient quantities.

Steel cut oats: Use regular steel cut oats, not quick-cooking ones. Since this recipe is cooked low and slow, you don’t want oats that will cook too quickly and end up burning. You can substitute old fashioned oats for steel cut oats, but you may need to decrease the cooking time. Check about an hour before the recipe is supposed to be finished to see if the oats are already cooked. If you need this recipe to be strictly gluten-free, be sure to use certified gluten-free oats.
Apples: I prefer Honeycrisp or Pink Lady apples for my Crock Pot apple cinnamon oatmeal, but you can use any variety.
Coconut milk: Use canned coconut milk that’s full-fat (not lite) and unsweetened. This is vital for the oatmeal’s creaminess. You can substitute cow’s, oat, almond, or soy milk, but this will change the flavor profile and may affect the texture. Using cow’s milk means the recipe will no longer be vegan.
Milled flaxseed: Don’t use whole flaxseed, as this is harder to digest and won’t contribute to the creamy texture as much as milled flaxseed. I like to use the milled flaxseed (also known as flaxseed meal) from Trader Joe’s or Bob’s Red Mill.
Pure maple syrup: The real stuff, not pancake syrup. Reserve some for drizzling on the oatmeal just before serving, too, if desired. Honey can be substituted for maple syrup, but keep in mind that the recipe will no longer be vegan if you do that.
Vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt: Feel free to substitute pumpkin pie spice for the cinnamon.

Instructions

Here’s a preview of how to make Crock Pot apple cinnamon oatmeal. For the full instructions, scroll down to the recipe card.

Grease the slow cooker.
Dice the apples, and gather the other ingredients.
Combine everything in the slow cooker.
Cook on low until creamy.

apple cinnamon oatmeal cooking in a crock pot with a wooden spoon

Variations

Add some vegetables: Add about one cup of shredded carrots or parsnips at the same time as you put the other ingredients in the slow cooker. Trust me, it’s delicious!

Add more protein: Swirl in some peanut, almond, cashew, or sunflower seed butter before serving your Crock Pot apple cinnamon oatmeal. Top with hemp hearts, chopped walnuts, or sliced almonds. Mix in Greek yogurt or protein powder.

Switch up the fruit: You can use pears in place of the apples and add raisins or dried cranberries if desired.

Equipment

Crock Pot or slow cooker: Use a Crock Pot or slow cooker that’s 4.5-quart or bigger, such as this 7-quart Crock Pot.

Glass Pyrex containers: These are my favorite containers for storing slow cooker oatmeal.

Stasher bags: If you want to freeze this recipe, you can’t go wrong with these silicone bags.

slow cooker oatmeal with apples in a bowl with a spoon on a counter

Storage and Reheating

Divide into portions: I like to store leftover oatmeal in 1.25-cup portions, so that I can more easily reheat it on busy mornings.

Refrigerator: Crock Pot apple cinnamon oatmeal lasts up to a week in the fridge. Store in an airtight container. Reheat for one to two minutes on high in the microwave.

Freezer: Store in freezer-safe containers for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

📖 Recipe

This post was originally published in May of 2017. It was updated with new photos and tips in October 2022.

Have a happy and healthy week! – Lizzie