Cinnamon Apple Steel-Cut Oats (Instant Pot and Stovetop)

These apple cinnamon steel-cut oats are a warm, comforting breakfast made with fresh apples, cinnamon, and raisins. The apples cook with the oats, infusing them with natural sweetness and apple flavor throughout, while the raisins add little bursts of sweetness. The oatmeal is creamy with tender, slightly chewy steel-cut oats and soft pieces of apple.

The apple cinnamon steel-cut oatmeal can be made in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop.  The recipe is also easy to customize.  Skip the raisins, adjust the cinnamon, or add more maple syrup. Just keep the oats and liquid ratio the same.

Enjoy the oatmeal as-is or add your favorite toppings. I like to serve mine with sliced banana, fresh berries, and ground flaxseed for a more filling breakfast.

For more steel-cut oatmeal recipes, try my banana Instant Pot oatmeal or Instant Pot pumpkin oatmeal. If you love apple-flavored breakfasts, try my applesauce oatmeal, vegan microwave apple oatmeal, or vegan baked oatmeal with apples.

Recipe features

• Easy to make - The Instant Pot makes this recipe mostly hands-off, or try the stovetop instructions.
• Full of apple cinnamon flavor - Fresh apples, cinnamon, and raisins add natural sweetness and warm fall flavors.
• Vegan and allergy-friendly - Dairy-free and gluten-free when made with certified gluten-free oats.
• Great for meal prep - Make a batch ahead of time and reheat individual portions for easy breakfasts throughout the week.

Ingredient notes

This cinnamon apple steel-cut oats recipe uses simple ingredients. Please see the recipe card below for the full list and exact measurements.

Apples - Use one large or two small apples. I've enjoyed Gala, Pink Lady, Envy, Fuji, Cosmic Crisp, and Honeycrisp, but use your favorite variety. Finely diced apples will soften and blend into the oatmeal, while larger pieces will give you more noticeable chunks of apple. Peeling is optional. I leave the peels on to cut down on prep work and add extra fiber.

Steel-cut oats - Use regular steel-cut oats for this recipe. The cooking time and liquid ratio are not suitable for rolled oats, quick oats, or quick-cooking steel-cut oats.

Dairy-free milk - Unsweetened almond, oat, soy, or cashew milk can be used. The recipe uses a combination of dairy-free milk and water. The milk adds creaminess, so I don't recommend using only water.  I haven't tested using only dairy-free milk and no water.

Raisins - The raisins plump up as they cook and add little bursts of sweetness. They're optional, but you may want to add more maple syrup if you leave them out.

Ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt - These add flavor to the oatmeal. Apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice can be used instead of cinnamon.

Maple syrup - Once the oatmeal has cooled slightly, taste and adjust the amount to suit your preference.  Agave syrup, brown sugar, or granulated sugar can also be used.

How to make apple cinnamon steel-cut oatmeal

Instant pot instructions

1. Combine the ingredients - Add the steel-cut oats, dairy-free milk, 1 ¼ cups of water, diced apples, raisins, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt to the Instant Pot. Stir to combine.

2. Pressure cook - Move the venting valve to Seal, and set the pressure cooker to Manual or High Pressure for 6 minutes.  Turn off the Keep Warm function. The Instant Pot will take about 10 minutes to come to pressure.

3. Release the pressure - Once the cooking time is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 15 minutes, then carefully release any remaining pressure using the release valve.  Alternatively, allow the pressure to fully release naturally, which takes about 20-25 minutes.  The oatmeal will be slightly thicker with a full natural pressure release.

4. Stir and serve - Once the pressure has fully released, remove the lid and stir the oatmeal to combine. Some liquid separation is normal, and the oatmeal will thicken as it cools. Taste and adjust the maple syrup to your preferred sweetness.

Stovetop instructions

1. Combine the ingredients - The stovetop method requires a different liquid-to-oat ratio. Add the steel-cut oats, dairy-free milk, 1¾ cups of water, diced apples, raisins, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt to a large saucepan. Stir to combine.

2. Cook the oatmeal - Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer. Cook uncovered for 25-30 minutes, until the oats are tender and the oatmeal has thickened. Stir occasionally to prevent the oats from burning on the bottom of the saucepan.

Cooking time may vary depending on your preferred texture. If the oatmeal is too thin, simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until it reaches your desired consistency. The oatmeal will continue to thicken as it cools.

4. Taste and serve - Let the oatmeal cool slightly, then taste and adjust the maple syrup to your preferred sweetness. Add your favorite toppings and serve warm.

Serving suggestions

The steel-cut oatmeal with apples is best served warm. For a thinner consistency, stir in a splash of dairy-free milk. My favorite way to enjoy them is topped with sliced banana, fresh berries, and ground flaxseed. Here are a few more topping ideas:

• Fresh fruit - Diced apples, sliced bananas, or fresh berries.
• Nut butters - Almond butter or peanut butter for extra creaminess.
• Nuts and seeds - Chopped walnuts, pecans, ground flaxseed, or chia seeds.
• Extra sweetness - A drizzle of maple syrup.
• Granola - Sprinkle on some oil-free granola for added crunch.

Storage and reheating

• Refrigerator - Store leftover steel-cut oats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
• Freezer - Freeze the cooled oatmeal in individual portions in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Leave a little room at the top of each container for expansion.
• Reheating - Thaw in the refrigerator overnight if frozen. Reheat individual portions on the stovetop or in the microwave. For the stovetop, add a splash of dairy-free milk or water while reheating the oats in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently until warmed through and creamy.  For the microwave, heat the oats until warm, then stir in dairy-free milk as needed to loosen the oatmeal and reach your preferred consistency.