Name: Amish Baked Oatmeal with Apples and Cinnamon
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: ½ cup salted butter, melted and cooled; 2 eggs, beaten; 1 cup brown sugar; 3 cups quick oats (“instant oats”); 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 cup milk ((I use 2%)); 2 apples, grated (you do not need to peel them); For serving: warm milk or cream, brown sugar, butter, maple syrup, nuts, fresh fruit

The coziest, easiest make-ahead breakfast casserole!

Total Time: 50 minutes

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Side shot of a slice of Baked Apple Oatmeal on a serving spatula

The coziest, easiest make-ahead breakfast casserole -- Amish Baked Oatmeal with Apples and Cinnamon! Crisp and caramelized on the edges, soft and fluffy on the inside, this hearty dish tastes like a warm oatmeal cookie! Top a big slice with maple syrup, brown sugar, cream, milk, butter or fruit for a stick-to-your-ribs meal that the whole family will love.

Baked Apple Oatmeal

This baked oatmeal recipe is full of fresh apples and warm spices for a simple and delicious way to start the day. Serve it hot, straight-from-the-oven on a Sunday morning before church, or prep ahead and reheat individual servings on busy weekdays. It's flexible, tasty, and totally kid-friendly!

Amish Baked Oatmeal Recipe

Baked oatmeal is a traditional Amish breakfast casserole. Unlike other bowls of oatmeal porridge that are prepared on the stovetop, Amish Baked Oatmeal is stirred together and then baked in a casserole dish in the oven. It has a consistency that's similar to bread pudding, with crunchy, caramelized edges and a moist, soft center.

There are endless varieties of baked oatmeal -- from a plain casserole to those studded with berries, cranberries, peaches and nuts. Most Amish recipes call for instant (or "quick") oats, so that's what I'm using here. They give the dish a nice, soft texture -- less chewy than classic rolled oats. And since oatmeal is always better with brown sugar, spices, and fresh apples, you'll add those to the mix as well. Baked Apple Oatmeal will soon become your family's go-to morning meal!

Overhead shot of easy baked oatmeal on a wooden table with fresh apples

How to Make Baked Oatmeal with Apples

This simple breakfast casserole comes together in about 10 minutes with just a handful of basic kitchen staples. There's a reason the hearty recipe is a farmhouse favorite!

Ingredients for Easy Baked Oatmeal

Butter
Eggs
Brown sugar
Quick oats (sometimes called "Instant Oats" or "1-Minute Oats")
Baking powder
Cinnamon
Salt
Milk
Apples

Step 1: Combine Wet Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, eggs and brown sugar.

Wet ingredients for baked oatmeal recipe

Step 2: Add Remaining Ingredients

Stir in the oats, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, milk and grated apples.

Mixing amish baked oatmeal in a large bowl

Step 3: Bake

Transfer the mixture to a 9 x 13-inch dish and bake it in a 350 degree F oven for about 40-45 minutes, or until set.

Amish baked oatmeal with apples in a baking dish before oven

How to Tell When Baked Oatmeal is Done

The oatmeal should be lightly browned on the edges and on the top. When it's done, a knife inserted in the center of the casserole will come out mostly clean with a few wet crumbs. The dish will appear set and dry -- not jiggly and wet.

Overhead shot of sliced Amish Baked Oatmeal with Apples

How to Eat Baked Oatmeal

Slice the baked oatmeal casserole into squares and serve warm. It's delicious on its own, but it's even better when you add toppings!

Baked Oatmeal Toppings

Warm milk or cream
Fresh fruit -- such as sliced bananas, fresh berries, or diced apple
Sprinkle of brown sugar
Pat of butter
Drizzle of maple syrup or honey
Dollop of whipped cream
Scoop of thick, creamy yogurt
Raisins or dried cranberries
Chopped, toasted pecans, walnuts or almonds

What to Serve with Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

If you're setting out a larger brunch spread, here are a few options that go well with the baked oatmeal:

Pouring milk on a bowl of baked apple oatmeal

How to Store Baked Oatmeal

Baked oatmeal needs to be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Wrapped tightly, it will last in the fridge for 3-4 days. To freeze the oatmeal, bake the dish as instructed, cool completely, then wrap tightly and store in the freezer for up to 1 month. You can wrap individual slices so that they're easy to pull out and reheat whenever you need a quick meal for one!

Make Ahead

For convenience, you can bake the dish the night before, let it cool, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Allow the dish to come to room temperature on the counter the next morning before reheating.

How to Reheat Baked Oatmeal

Reheat a full dish of baked oatmeal in a 350 degree F oven for about 15-20 minutes. Alternatively, you can reheat individual slices in the microwave (covered) with a splash of milk or cream until warmed through (about 45 seconds - 1 minute). Add toppings and enjoy!

Square image of a bowl of amish baked oatmeal with milk and apples in the background

Recipe Variations

I prefer the texture of quick oats for this recipe, but you can substitute with old-fashioned rolled oats for a chewier dish.
The grated apples just blend right into the casserole (no need to peel them first), adding flavor and moisture. If you prefer chunkier, more prominent apples in your oatmeal, you can peel the apples and dice them into small pieces.
I used Honey Crisp apples here, but you can substitute with any apples that you like. Other nice options include Gala, Braeburn, Granny Smith, and Jonagold.
Add nuts, raisins or dried cranberries to the baked oatmeal.
Instead of apples, make Berry Baked Oatmeal with fresh or frozen berries.
For a twist on the fall ingredients, try Cranberry Baked Oatmeal.
Healthy Baked Oatmeal is loaded with warm spices, but has less sugar and less fat than the traditional Amish Baked Oatmeal recipe.

Tips for the Best Baked Oatmeal Recipe

This recipe yields about 6-8 very large servings. If you're feeding a smaller family, you can cut all of the ingredients in half and bake the oatmeal in an 8-inch square pan for about 35-40 minutes.
Feel free to add more spices to the dish. In addition to the cinnamon, apples pair nicely with nutmeg, cloves, ginger and allspice -- anything goes!
The cooking time may vary, depending on the size and type of your dish. For instance, oatmeal in a metal or dark pan will bake much faster than oatmeal in a ceramic or glass pan. Just keep an eye on it and remove the dish when the outside of the oatmeal is golden brown and the inside is set.

Pouring maple syrup on top of baked oatmeal with apples

What to do with Oats Besides Oatmeal

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