Baked Oatmeal with Apples
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy.
Wake up to the cozy flavors of this baked oatmeal recipe with apples, raisins, and a nutty crunch—basically fall in a breakfast dish!
Baked oatmeal is a traditional and comforting breakfast casserole. Unlike regular oatmeal, which is made on the stovetop and has a porridge-like consistency, or overnight oats, this baked oatmeal recipe is made in the oven and has a consistency similar to bread pudding. There are endless variations, like blueberry baked oatmeal and morning glory baked oatmeal, but this version with tart apples, plump raisins, and a crunchy nut topping is a classic. Bonus: it can be made ahead of time and reheats beautifully.
“I’ve been making this dish for the last two years and it has been a staple for our family! When peaches are in season, I sub them for the apple and add nutmeg and ground ginger.”
What You’ll Need To Make Baked Oatmeal
- Light brown sugar – Adds sweetness and a hint of molasses, which pairs nicely with the fruit.
- Chopped walnuts or pecans – For crunch and nutty flavor; I like to divide them, mixing some into the oatmeal and sprinkling the rest on top for extra texture.
- Raisins – These add little pockets of sweetness and chew throughout the oatmeal. Feel free to omit them if you’re not a fan.
- Baking powder – Helps the oatmeal puff up slightly as it bakes.
- Cinnamon – Warm and spicy, it’s the perfect complement to the apples and oats.
- Salt – Balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
- Eggs – Bind the ingredients together and give the oatmeal structure.
- Milk – Keeps the oatmeal moist and creamy as it bakes.
- Vanilla extract – Adds warmth and depth of flavor.
- Unsalted butter – For richness and flavor, both in the oatmeal and to grease the dish.
- Apples – Add juicy bursts of flavor that contrast nicely with the warm spices and rich oats. For the best results, use tart yet sweet baking varietals, like Honey Crisp or Gala, which hold their shape when baked.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by combining the oats, half of the nuts, raisins, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a bowl.
Stir to combine.
In a separate bowl, make the custard by whisking together the eggs, milk, and vanilla.
Combine the custard with oat mixture and melted butter.
Arrange the chopped apples in a baking dish.
Top with the oat mixture and sprinkle remaining nuts over top.
Bake for about 40 minutes, until the oats are set and the top is golden. Be sure to save some leftovers; this dish is just as delicious cold out of the refrigerator the next day.
You May Also Like
Baked Oatmeal with Apples
Wake up to the cozy flavors of this baked oatmeal recipe with apples, raisins, and a nutty crunch—basically fall in a breakfast dish!
Ingredients
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant)
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, divided
- ½ cup raisins
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for greasing the dish
- 2 tart yet sweet baking apples, such as Honey Crisp, peeled and cut into ½-inch chunks (about 2 cups)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease an 8 or 9-inch baking dish with butter.
- In a medium bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, ½ cup of the nuts, raisins, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Mix well.
- In another bowl, break up the eggs with a whisk; then whisk in the milk and vanilla until well combined.
- Add the milk mixture to the oat mixture, along with the melted butter.
- Scatter the apples evenly on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Pour the oatmeal mixture over top and spread evenly. Sprinkle remaining ½ cup nuts on top. Bake for 40-45 minutes, until the top is golden and the oats are set. Serve warm or at room temperature.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: This dish can be frozen after baking, tightly covered, for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to serve it, defrost in the refrigerator for 24 hours then reheat it, covered with foil, in a 325°F oven until hot.
Nutrition Information
Powered by
- Per serving (6 servings)
- Calories: 411
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated fat: 8 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Sugar: 36 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Sodium: 322 mg
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
This is just an excellent breakfast/brunch meal. Worked it into our morning meal rotation beating out stiff competition.
Thank you for the recipe!
Earl Williams
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Absolutely loved this dish as did my husband and friends I shared it with. All of your recipes have been perfect and delicious. I recommend your site, recipes, and cookbook to everyone! The only substitutions I made was using 50% Less Sugar Craisins instead of raisins, and pecans instead of walnuts because that’s what I had on hand. It makes for fabulous leftovers either cold or warmed up.
This dish is just outstanding. My wife (and I) couldn’t wait to have it for breakfast today. Thank you so much. Earl and Susan Williams. Las Cruces, New Mexico
Thank you, Jenn. So many of your dishes have become staples in my kitchen. I have been an ardent Ina follower for years, and your recipies are the first I’ve come across that compare in quality and accuracy. I love this one. I made it exactly as written first, which is great. On subsequent bakes, I cut the sugar to 1/4 cup, and cut the butter in half, only in an attempt to reduce calories. Also great. I must say, this is even good cold for some reason and keeps for several days in the fridge.
Hi Jenn,
It’s another rainy day in So Cal. and decided I had to try this recipe and I’m so glad I did! I read through many of the comments and made slight adjustments to sugar (reduced to 1/2 cup) and added an additional tsp. of vanilla. My husband and I loved it and look forward to the leftovers. Thank you again for the recipe, you are the absolute best.
Delicious ! Left out the raisins but still great flavor !
Love this recipe! I’ve tried several different oatmeal bakes, and this is a favorite! As a nutritionist, I’m always on the lookout for nutritious and delicious options. This is definitely a winner :-). My only adjustment was to reduce the sugar to 1/2 cup – and I used coconut sugar. It was delish and still plenty sweet.
I made this with steel cut oatmeal and lowered the sugar to about 1/4 cup. It is amazing! I can’t stop eating it.
We love this oatmeal! Our favourite variation is to substitute dried apple for the fresh apple, because it intensifies the flavour without adding more moisture. We also like to add fresh or frozen raspberries in lieu of the raisins.
Absolutely the best baked oatmeal I’ve ever tasted! Easily a top choice for brunches with company. I left out the raisins but followed the recipe exactly – so good!!!