These hearty + cozy baked steel cut oats are so nourishing, and easy to make ahead! Loaded with omega 3 rich seeds, apples + applesauce, and whole grains, each filling serving boasts 16g protein and 10g fiber to help power you on a chilly morning. They’re a perfect, naturally vegan, meal prep breakfast for busy mornings.

Slice of baked steel cut oats with sliced apples on a white plate with spoon

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As much as my dietitian heart loves steel cut oats…I have to admit, dear reader, that I fall squarely into the camp of “I would eat steel cut oats all the time…but they take so long to cook!”.

Standing over the stove for a half hour in the morning just isn’t happening when I’ve got lunches to make. Annnnnnnd this is entirely why 75% of my breakfasts are now overnight oats. 5 minutes the night before and breakfast is DONE.

But when the days get chillier, I do love a good baked oatmeal. And somehow it’s taken me this long to wonder if I could make baked oatmeal with steel cut oats. Well, jackpot. 10 minutes of hands on time, let the oven do the work, and you’ve got breakfast for a crowd…or for the week, for you!

This is a very me recipe because these vegan cinnamon apple baked steel cut oats are not just chewy and satisfying…I have absolutely loaded them with nutrient-dense ingredients so they’re as good for you as possible. Because I know that sometimes comfort food season makes it feel a little harder to get that nutrition in. I got you!

Loved baked oats? I’ve got a seasonal formula in my cookbook Plant Magic!

How to make these apple baked steel cut oats, dump and bake style

These baked steel cut oats are sliceable, with no egg, because of a trio of soluble fiber rich ingredients – ground flax, apple sauce and steel cut oats – so they’re easy to portion out. And each slice has 10g of fiber!

small bowls of ingredients: steel cut oats, chopped apples, cinnamon, apple sauce, maple syrup, hemp hearts, almond butter
Need a nut free version? Swap sunflower butter or tahini for the almond butter and omit the walnuts…but don’t skip the butter altogether! It adds a richness to the favour that would be lacking without it.

Buuuuuuut…because steel cut oats need more moisture, it’s kind of important that you know you cannot just swap rolled oats into this recipe. It took me a few tries to get the oats: liquid ratio right because I really wanted a really moist bake that still sliced. The edges get crispy but the interior is plush and chewy.

pouring soy milk into metal bowl with almond butter
hand stirring hemp hearts with cinnamon, flax and baking powder

Nutrition Corner: The hemp hearts, soy milk and almond butter boost the protein of the steel cut oats, for 16g protein per serving. Need more? It would be so easy to boost with a scoop of Greek-style yogurt or a bit of protein powder in the batter (but don’t go overboard as it will overpower the flavour!).

hand pouring chopped apples out of white bowl into bowl of steel cut oats batter
hands holding square baking dish filled with baked steel cut oats batter

I bake these a little differently based on whether you’re serving immediately, or making ahead. If you’ll be cooling and refrigerating, go ahead and stop baking with the middle still quite liquidy. But if you’re serving now, ensure the middle is set.

baked apple steel cut oats in square baking dish

Even More Make Ahead Breakfast Recipes

Slice of baked steel cut oats with sliced apples on a white plate with spoon

Cozy Cinnamon Apple Baked Steel Cut Oats with Hemp Hearts

6 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
These hearty + cozy baked steel cut oats are so nourishing, and easy to make ahead! Loaded with omega 3 rich seeds, apples + applesauce, and whole grains, each filling serving boasts 16g protein and 10g fiber to help power you on a chilly morning.
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Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cup steel cut oats, gluten free if needed
  • ½ cup hemp hearts
  • ¼ cup ground flax
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup almond butter, or swap nut free alternative
  • 1 cup unsweetened apple sauce
  • ⅓ cup maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 3 cups unsweetened soy milk
  • 2 cups chopped apples, about 2 medium
  • ¼ cup walnuts, chopped, optional..or your favourite nut
Imperial – Metric

Equipment

  • square baking dish 9 x 9

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350℉ (180℃). Line a 9 inch (or 10 cup) square baking dish with parchment, so the parchment reaches up the sides for easy clean up.
  • In a large bowl, stir the oats, hemp, flax, powder, cinnamon and salt.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk up the almond butter, applesauce and maple syrup. Pour in the soy milk and whisk until smooth.
    • whisking the almond butter, applesauce and maple syrup first helps with an easier blend.
  • Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir well. Stir in apples and walnuts (if using) and pour into baking dish.
  • Bake until mostly set in middle, 65-75 minutes. Let cool 10 min before serving. Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup and splash of soy milk
    • If making breakfast ahead, it's fine to bake until the very centre is still a bit liquid as it will set as it cools/chills. If serving now, bake until middle is almost entirely set.
Cuisine: American
Course: Breakfast, Brunch
Author: Desiree Nielsen, RD
pinterest graphic of picture of unbaked apple steel cut oats in square baking dish, beside picture of slice of baked steel cut oats on plate
If you’re looking for a healthy, balanced, make ahead breakfast, these cinnamon apple baked steel cut oats are packed with nutrition.