A little crisp on the top layer, dense and perfectly spiced with chunks of warm apple throughout… This baked apple oatmeal recipe is so easy, uses a single bowl and can feel like a hearty breakfast or delicious dessert depending on how you dress it up!

I love the ‘idea’ of baked oatmeal but so many recipes can fall apart and feel like a good attempt gone wrong. This recipe teeters between baked oatmeal and oat cake/muffins, but I’m 100% comfortable with rocking the oat boat like this- because these are absolutely delicious!

Oat Power

Oat Comparison- fresh ground flour on the left, and whole on the right.
Oat Comparison- fresh ground flour on the left, and whole on the right.

I love making oat flour out of my oats and think this is my second favorite gluten free flour of all time. So, this recipe uses the humble oat in three ways. We use whole rolled oats (not the instant kind please), oat bran and then more of the rolled oats, pulverized to a flour to bring all the health benefits of oats but help it hold this dish together like a flour. Because it only uses oats, it is also naturally gluten free!

I don’t want to call this a health food, because there is maple syrup (or brown sugar) and butter (or coconut oil) in it- but the oat’s naturally high amounts of soluble fiber (specifically called beta glucan) lowers blood glucose and cholesterol levels. The oat bran also provides high levels of antioxidants. Oat groats and steel cut oats both naturally contain oat bran. But oat bran is also sold on its own, usually in the bulk bins from your local coop.

And I’ll give a shout out here to farmers growing grains sustainably and organically. It takes a lot more land to grow marketable amounts of these grains compared to vegetable farming operations. I see you and appreciate you!

Metal bins and baskets of freshly harvested apples sitting on grass with a ladder in the background.

Back to the Apples

It’s the perfect pairing of the nutty oats with a spiced fall apple flavor. I am not an apple snob, so I say use whatever apples you have on hand, but I do prefer a slightly tart apple in these.

Granny Smith is the classic, but I prefer Honeycrisp, Cortland, Macintosh or  if you can find them Northern Spy. Whatever apple you use, these will be simply satisfying.

If you’re looking for an Organic Apple Orchard I’ve got you covered there too!

I’ve also baked these in a 9X12” (lots of crispy edges and tops), a 9” round (almost overflows), and muffins (this makes a slightly awkward 18 muffins) – all are delicious. I will suggest you steer clear of paper muffin liners because this is such a wet batter going in that half the muffin will stick to the liner when you’re trying to eat them.

This gluten-free baked apple oatmeal cake recipe is so easy and uses a single bowl, making cleanup a breeze! Each bite is a journey through a cozy orchard, blending spiced fall apple flavor with the heartiness of oats. Try this easy-to-make treat as a hearty breakfast or a delicious dessert!

Baked Apple Oatmeal Cake Recipe

Ingredients

A glass mixing bowl with baked apple oatmeal batter, with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top
  • 2 ½ c. rolled oats – 1 cup pulverized into flour
  • ½ c. oat bran (or another ½ cup rolled oats)
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/8 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp. ground (or 1/2 tsp fresh) ginger
  • 1/4 tsp. cloves +/or cardamom *optional
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 c. milk (2% or whole)
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 c. maple syrup (or brown sugar)
  • 2 small apples cored, peeled, and chopped (about 2 c.)
  • 4 tbsp. (1/2 stick) butter (or coconut oil) melted, plus more, softened, for pan
  • 1/2 c. chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts or hazelnuts) *optional

Preheat oven to 350F.

Grease pan of choice with coconut oil

Start by mixing the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Measure 2 cups of milk into a 2 cup measurer- then you can crack and beat two eggs (gently) and add the vanilla, pour and then measure the maple syrup all in the same measurer before pouring into the dry ingredients. Melt the butter (I use same now empty measuring cup) and add to batter.

Baked Apple oatmeal muffins

Mix and let that mixture soak up the liquids while you peel, core and chop enough apples to make around 2 cups. Chop and add nuts if using. Mix with the other ingredients.

Grease your pan or muffin tins with coconut oil. and fill to just under the rim. These do not expand much.

Bake in 350F oven for allotted time:

  • 9X12 – 20-25 minutes
  • 9” Round- 25-30 minutes
  • Muffin tins- 20 minutes
Slice of baked apple oatmeal on a plate with yogurt drizzle

Enjoy it Your Way

And then we can dress it up. My one son LOVES whipped cream- and straight cream with a little vanilla extract whipped in is a delightful topper. I also push whole fats with my boys and paired with the oats this is a healthy way for them to eat them.

I prefer whole fat Greek yogurt spiced with vanilla, cinnamon and ginger, maybe cardamom too… the yogurt feels like a breakfast, but the whipped cream brings this fully into the dessert realm in our home.

apple slices laid out on a tray ready to be baked into apple chips

For More Apple goodness check out my post An Apple A Day that has loads of delicious ways to cook with and preserve the fall apple bounty!

If you’ve moved on to Pumpkin, try my favorite Spiced Pumpkin Cake recipe too!

Let me know how you prefer to enjoy these healthful, delicious apple + oat treats.

Dig in,

Michelle