Apple Pie Steel-Cut Oatmeal

My grandma makes a killer apple pie. The apple filling reaches the perfect point between firm slices and mush. I don’t want to have to chew my apples when I’m eating pie, but I don’t want to slurp them like applesauce, either. She nails this balance every time.

The extra special twist is that her apples come from her backyard. An apple tree was planted in her yard each time a new grandkid was born. This means my brother, sister, cousins, and I each have our own apple tree. We take great pride in the apples that grow from them. Each time my grandma makes a pie, someone asks, “Whose apples are these?” There was a stretch of time when my tree was the champion, pumping out dozens of apples throughout the harvesting season. My apple tree is a boss.

I have a soft spot in my heart for apple pie. Well, to be honest, I just really love pie (pie > cake).

I feel like all my pie-themed recipes go through similar transformations where they emerge in every form, from stove-top, to baked, to overnight, to steel-cut. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before you see Pumpkin Pie Oatcakes or Apple Pie Muesli (how would that even work?!).

Apple Pie Steel-Cut Oatmeal

by The Oatmeal Artist

Prep Time: 5 min

Cook Time: 25 min

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Ingredients (serves 4)

• 2 cups milk of choice
• 2 cups water (or more milk)
• 1 cup steel cut oats (I use Country Choice Organic)
• 2 or 3 apples
• 1 tbsp flax meal or seeds (optional)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp apple pie spice (or 2 tsp cinnamon with two pinches each of nutmeg, allspice, and ginger)
• 1/2 tsp molasses (I use Blackstrap)
• 1/8 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Add milk and water to a large pot over medium heat.
2. While you wait, prepare your apples. Dice them into as small of pieces as possible (the smaller the chunks, the more evenly distributed the flavor will be!).
3. Once the liquid comes to a boil, add oats, diced apple, and flax. Reduce heat to medium.
4. Stir occasionally. After about ten or fifteen minutes, add vanilla extract, apple pie spice, molasses, and salt. Stir.
5. When you're pleased with the consistency of the oatmeal, transfer to four or five serving bowls. Add a splash of your milk of choice and any other additional toppings (pecans and maple syrup are wonderful).

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**You can also find hundreds of other oatmeal recipes (as well as tons of other meatless recipes) on my Pinterest account!  You can also like The Oatmeal Artist on Facebook. Thanks!

Pumpkin Pie Steel-Cut Oatmeal

For over a year, I had to stomach the fact that my Salted Brownie Baked Oatmeal was my #1 most viewed recipe. I mean, that recipe was fine and dandy, but number one?? C'mon. Not even close. I could name thirty recipes that I'd pick over that one.

Luckily for me, the most wonderful thing happened about a month ago. As always, August and September ushered in the yearly pumpkin craze, and my Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal received a great deal of love on Pinterest. Out of nowhere, this recipe vaulted into the #1 spot and surpassed the Salted Brownie by thousands of views. COOL. I feel like my Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal is a much better representative of my blog than the Salted Brownie.

I love my pumpkin pie recipes. Certainly, they're not my MOST favorite, but they're in my Top Ten. You might think that I'd be satisfied with a stove-top, baked, and overnight version, but no, I'm not finished. Now that I've fallen in love with steel-cut oats, it just made sense to add another variation to my pumpkin pie family.

Peach Pie Oatmeal Smoothie

I used to slurp down tons of smoothies. At the beginning of my junior year of college, I used to whip up some relatively extravagant breakfasts (by college student standards, anyway).*  Sometimes that included oatmeal, but not always. (It wasn't until January or February of that year that oatmeal became a daily ritual.) Often, I would make smoothies. These were usually banana-based (because that's what I could afford), but I occasionally splurged on mangoes, peaches, or pineapple.

*If you're interested, here's a post from my old blog where I documented all my breakfasts for the week.

I never really added oatmeal to my smoothies, though. I thought of that concept a little over a year ago when I made my Green Monster Oatmeal Smoothie, which was actually just a cheap trick to add variety to my blog (at least I'm honest). I was like, "Hey, I'll put oats in a smoothie, so I can have something other than porridge recipes on my blog! Har-har!"

But here I am, adding another smoothie recipe to my blog. This time, however, it's not just a cheap trick. The idea for this recipe came about the other day when I was attempting a new pancake recipe. As I licked the batter, the flavors and creaminess delighted me. It tasted exactly like a peach pie! I realized then that oats in a smoothie add more than just fiber and bulk; they add flavor, too! A smoothie without oats just tastes like peaches. A smoothie with oats tastes earthy and sweet, like someone took a slice of peach pie (crust and all) and blended it up.

Strawberry Rhubarb Oatmeal

My family used to have a rhubarb patch in our backyard, but we never used it, so my dad literally just mowed over it every month. If you know anything about rhubarb, you know that this is not enough to get rid of it. It just popped up again and again and again, every summer.

I remember a few times in my childhood, I snapped off a stalk of rhubarb and sucked and chewed on it, thinking it would be sweet like candy. After all, the only rhubarb I had eaten before was in the form of a crisp or crumble. Well, in case you were wondering, that's not what it tastes like raw. I'm not sure why I kept giving it another chance, but each time I would pucker my face and spit it out disgustedly.

But here's the deal. Rhubarb, my friends, is not all that scary. I've wanted to use it in oatmeal for over a year now, but I feared I wouldn't be able to do it without sugar. Well, I was wrong, because I did not need 1/4 cup of refined sugar to calm the rhubarb down, like the internet claims.

Oatmeal Recipes for Pie Lovers!

You know what I don't like? Cake. I blame my mother. She's an accountant, but she decorates cakes on the side. I've licked one too many frosting-covered beaters and eaten about a hundred too many leftover cupcakes. Sure, I'll make an exception for "specialty" cakes like this Black Forest Cake, but most cakes I will scoff at out of principle.

When people don't accept that explanation, I just say, "I'd rather have a nice slice of pie." And then everyone's on the same page again, because who doesn't like pie?!

Here is a round-up of my BEST pie-inspired oatmeal recipes!

Key Lime Pie Overnight Oatmeal

Question: how necessary are key limes for a key lime pie? Would anyone be offended if I used, say, your average lime? Because that's what I did, and I'm not apologizing for it.

Since my Strawberry Limeade Oatmeal turned out so well, I thought I'd stick with the lime theme and test this Key Lime Pie Oatmeal. It's citrusy, vibrant, and ever so creamy, thanks to the addition of coconut yogurt.

French Silk Pie Oatmeal

Sometimes, I toss my nose in the air at French Silk Pie. I think it's because it's my brother's favorite kind of pie, and (more often than not) if my brother thinks something is good, it's actually lame. He's the pickiest eater in the world, and most of his food choices are safe and dull. Or maybe that's just me being pretentious.

At the end of the day, how can you turn it down, though? It has a nostalgic appeal to it, probably because it's just a fancy way to eat pudding...with fabulous curls of chocolate on top!

Pecan Pie Baked Oatmeal

I have another confession to make, guys. I've never had pecan pie before. Just like I had never had sweet potato pie or a gingerbread latte before I made those into oatmeal recipes!

But as usual, I made sure to study "classic" recipes before I made my recipe. You will find no corn syrup or eggs in this recipe, but you WILL find a (un)healthy dose of maple syrup! Forgive me; it's not my most nutritious recipe. :) However, if this isn't something you're willing to try for breakfast, I think this oatmeal could make an equally appealing dessert! By dessert standards, it's truly quite healthy!

Overnight Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

My Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal was a hit. The Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal was also a hit. (Confession: despite the fact that the stove-top version has more views, I highly prefer the baked version!) So why not give the people what they want?

Now you can enjoy silky pumpkin pie that practically prepared itself overnight. You're welcome. :)

Funny story: the second time I made this, I accidentally dumped in a spoonful of TACO SEASONING instead of pie spices. Ugh.

Sweet Potato Pie Baked Oatmeal

Well, I got a new laptop. I hate to admit it, but there was nothing functionally wrong with my other one. In fact, it was probably the best-working piece of technology I've owned for as long as I've been old enough to actually use technology. ;)

Why the switch? Well, a 17-inch, 10-pound laptop is not functional for someone who carries her laptop everywhere on her back. Not only is it painfully heavy to lug around, but it barely fits in my backpack! Each day that I had to stuff it into my backpack, the edges and corners got a little more scuffed. Ugh! My mother and I were clearly NOT thinking when we ordered that model.

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

Yep. My Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal was a hit, so I decided to try it out on the stove as well. :) Everything's better on the stove, right? Right??

This recipe is perfect because autumn is definitely setting in. I know this because each day when my alarm goes off at 5:35, it's a little darker outside. :( And each morning, it's a little chillier on our walk to work. Autumn is admittedly my favorite season, but I'm not a huge fan of those two particular characteristics.

Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal

As a planner, I'm always thinking ahead. Far ahead. I've already started looking at my options for Thanksgiving, my absolute favorite holiday. My roommate offered to let me spend it with her and her family. My very first question was, "Will there be pumpkin pie?"

I don't ask much from my Thanksgiving meals. All I request is pumpkin pie...and at least one green vegetable. :)

Apple Pie Baked Oatmeal

I never saw it coming, but...

I'm starting to like baked oatmeal. I stopped incessantly craving stove-top oats and started truly appreciating the baked version. I suppose that's a good thing since that's what I'm stuck with right now.

Some might think it's a drawback to have the same oatmeal every morning for a week, but I don't see it as a problem. Generally, it's delicious enough that I enjoy the encore breakfasts. :) To be honest, I frequently repeated oatmeals even when I was making them on the stove each morning. If it really rocks, I want to experience it again! :)

Apple Pie Baked Oatmeal

by The Oatmeal Artist

Prep Time: 10 min

Cook Time: 25 min

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Ingredients (serves 1)

• 1/2 cup milk of choice
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup rolled oats (I use Country Choice Organic)
• 1/2 tsp apple pie spice
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 1 small apple (or half a larger one)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and spray a single-serving ramekin with non-stick spray.
2. In a small bowl, mix milk and vanilla extract. Add oats, pie spice, baking powder, and salt. Stir.
3. Dice apple into the oats and fold them in.
4. If you'd like to add any extra ingredients (coconut oil, dried fruit, nuts, sunflower seeds), do so now. I recommend raisins, almonds, or walnuts.
5. Pour into the prepared ramekin and bake for 18-22 minutes.

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For a big batch! (serves 4)

Ingredients 

• 1 cup milk of choice
• 1 cup water (or more milk)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups rolled oats (I use Country Choice Organic)
• 2 tsp apple pie spice
• 1 tsp baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 3 small apples (or 2 larger ones)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and spray an 8x8 brownie pan with non-stick spray. 
2. In a large bowl, mix milk and vanilla extract. Add oats, pie spice, baking powder, and salt. Stir.
3. Dice apple into the oats and fold them in.
4. If you'd like to add any extra ingredients (coconut oil, dried fruit, nuts, sunflower seeds), do so now. I recommend raisins, almonds, or walnuts.
5. Pour into brownie pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.

**You can also find hundreds of other oatmeal recipes (as well as tons of other meatless recipes) on my Pinterest account!  You can also like The Oatmeal Artist on Facebook. Thanks!

Peach Pie Oatmeal

Okay, take a second to drool over this:

Delicious? Yep, I thought so, too (and I actually ATE it, so I can guarantee it's delicious). But before I tell you how to make it, I have to share some news with you...

I generally don't share too much of my personal life on here, except for occasional "gosh, I'm so exhausted from teaching this week" or "student teaching is fun" or "I didn't have time to post any new recipes the past few days because I've been so busy grading." But this news is pretty big. Like, move-across-the-country big.

Apple Pie Oatmeal

As with the Banana Bread Oatmeal, it's a little shocking that it took me so long to post such a basic, fundamental recipe. I guess I was in no hurry to post these classic recipes because they're already in abundance. Search "apple pie oatmeal" on Pinterest and you'll have an overwhelming supply of options to choose from.

Despite this, it felt wrong to host a blog dedicated to oatmeal without including this simple recipe, so here's my version. It is very similar to my Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal, but uses apple pie spice instead of just cinnamon. You can buy this in a supermarket, but I made my own blend using this recipe. If you have pumpkin pie spice on hand, you could use that as well; they're very similar.

Finally, I think this oatmeal is best when you dice the apples up into tiny chunks (not the bigger chunks I usually use). I had this revelation after I took these pictures, so I can't give you a visual image. Just make them smaller than the ones in the picture! ;)

Enjoy!

Apple Pie Oatmeal

by The Oatmeal Artist

Prep Time: 2 min

Cook Time: 5 min

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Ingredients (serves 1)

• 1 cup milk of choice, or water
• 1/2 cup rolled oats (I use Country Choice Organic)
• 1 red apple
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp apple pie spice, or slightly more*
• 1/8 tsp molasses (I use Blackstrap)
• pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Bring milk (I use an equal mixture of almond milk and water) to a boil, add oats, and reduce heat to medium. (If you'd like to add flax or chia seeds, do so now. I recommend flax.)
2. Dice up apple and add to the saucepan.
3. Once more of the liquid has absorbed, add vanilla extract, pie spice, molasses, and salt. Stir.
4. If you'd like to add any extra ingredients (coconut oil, dried fruit, nuts, sunflower seeds), do so now.
5. When you're pleased with the consistency of the oatmeal, transfer to a bowl. Serve with another splash of your milk of choice and a moderate dusting of cinnamon (or a cinnamon-sugar blend), or any other additional toppings you'd prefer (shredded coconut, nuts, etc.).

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*Note on spices: I tried it first with an even 1/2 tsp and found it not "spicy" enough. When I used a rounded teaspoon, it tasted more pie-like. If you are not a fan of spices, consider using an even 1/2 tsp (no less).

**You can also find hundreds of other oatmeal recipes (as well as tons of other meatless recipes) on my Pinterest account!  You can also like The Oatmeal Artist on Facebook. Thanks!

Coconut Cream Pie Oatmeal

I'm on a strict no-dairy diet this week. And maybe the next. And perhaps the next. I generally avoid dairy anyway, but it's a little more of a struggle when I'm at home with my parents. Mid-last week, my teenage acne returned. My face looked absolutely dreadful! I'm going to point the finger at the return of dairy into my diet over the past two weeks.

Now that I'm back "home," I'm eager to return to my dairy-free lifestyle. If I say so myself, this oatmeal is the PERFECT way to enjoy this diet. It's the ultimate celebration of everything coconut. And wow, was it delicious! As I assembled it, I worried endlessly. Would it be sweet enough? Would the "Greek yogurt" give it an unpleasant taste?

There was absolutely no reason to worry; it was heavenly. If you like coconut, you'll love this. I used coconut greek yogurt, but I'd really like to try this with coconut whipped cream sometime... 

I used So Delicious Coconut Greek Yogurt. I've only bought it once before. It's quite delicious (or shall I say so delicious?), but it's really expensive. However, for this recipe, I decided to splurge. :) I bought the "plain" flavor because it lets you taste the coconut.

Coconut Cream Pie Oatmeal

by The Oatmeal Artist

Prep Time: 5 min

Cook Time: 5 min

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Ingredients (serves 1)

• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 cup rolled oats (I use Country Choice Organic)
• 1 tbsp chia seeds (optional, but recommended)
• 1/8 cup shredded coconut
• 1/4 cup So Delicious Coconut Greek-style yogurt
• pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Bring coconut milk to a boil, add rolled oats, and reduce heat to medium. (If you'd like to add chia seeds, do so now.)
2. Meanwhile, heat up a small skillet over medium heat. Once it's warm, add a handful or two of shredded coconut. Keep an eye on this; alternate between tossing/stirring the shredded coconut and stirring the oatmeal. Once the coconut turns a pretty golden color, take it off the heat. Congratulations; you just toasted coconut! ;)
3. Once more of the liquid has absorbed, add a pinch of salt and stir. Then, stir in about 1/3 of the yogurt.
4. If you'd like to add any extra ingredients (coconut oil, dried fruit, nuts, sunflower seeds), do so now.
5. When you're pleased with the consistency of the oatmeal, transfer to a bowl. Add another splash of coconut milk, and then top with the remaining yogurt and toasted coconut.

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**You can also find hundreds of other oatmeal recipes (as well as tons of other meatless recipes) on my Pinterest account!  You can also like The Oatmeal Artist on Facebook. Thanks!

Banana Cream Pie Overnight Oatmeal

Banana Cream Pie is one of my favorite desserts...but only when it's made correctly (aka homemade). I hate when people just whip up Jell-O banana pudding and stick it on top of a store-bought crust, and then squirt some canned whipped cream on top. It's absolutely insulting!

I've wanted to create a banana cream pie oatmeal for a while now, but I wasn't quite sure how to go about it. Would it just be a regular banana oatmeal with extra vanilla extract? Would I top it with something (banana soft serve? coconut whipped cream? soy yogurt?) to resemble the "cream?"

But then I got THIS idea. And it's PERFECT. Banana Cream Pie should be cold, anyway, NOT hot! Plus, I like to think of overnight refrigerator oatmeal more like "oatmeal pudding," and pudding is exactly what I wanted this oatmeal to resemble!