Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal (Porridge)

With winters slowly creeping upon us, a warm bowl of oatmeal porridge makes the perfect breakfast. Nourishing and delicious this oatmeal bowl is filled with fresh apple and ground cinnamon.


Apple and cinnamon is a delicious winter combination. Warm, sweet, and spicy; it just invites one to indulge in its beautiful aroma and taste. I still remember the first time I made my apple-cinnamon cake, the whole floor came alive with baked apple-cinnamon aroma!

We had our first snow this Monday. I woke up to a blanket of white outside and just couldn’t get myself to out of my blanket from bed 🙂 This warm bowl of apple oatmeal really did the trick in not just warming me from inside out but also filling me up with energy to face the snow!

Is oatmeal gluten-free?

Oats are naturally gluten-free but the tricky thing is that oats and wheat (also rye and barley) require similar growing conditions and there are high chances for oats and wheat fields to be in close regions. This can result in cross contamination through the soil.

For 100% gluten-free oats, you need to buy oats that certified gluten-free.

Can you make oatmeal with rolled oats?

Yes, you can use either old fashioned rolled oats or porridge oats for making the oatmeal. Porridge oats are same as old fashioned rolled oats, just slightly crushed further. I prefer porridge oats for oatmeal. They are not only quicker to cook than traditional rolled oats, they also make oatmeal creamier. However, both varieties will cook great oatmeal. Some like rolled oats porridge as the whole oats have a bite to them even after being cooked in the porridge.

How to make apple-cinnamon oatmeal?

Ingredients for apple-cinnamon oats porridge

1. Oats: Either old fashioned rolled oats or porridge oats.
2. Apples: Use your favourite variety! I’ve used a common red apple variety.
3. Spices: A pinch of salt and cinnamon powder. You can also add nutmeg and star anise powder or a pinch of all-spice!
4. Sweetener: I’ve used coconut sugar here. You can also use honey or any natural syrup like agave or maple.
5. Liquid: Oats roughly need 3 times liquid to cook till thick. This could be all water as in my blueberry oatmeal recipe or a combination of water and milk or vegan milk of your choice.
6. Optional topping: Nuts like almond, hazelnuts, and pecans and/or seeds like chia, sunflower, or flaxseed make good toppings.

Instructions for Apple-Cinnamon Oatmeal

1. Cook the oatmeal with salt and cinnamon in water till almost done.
2. Add apples just a couple of minutes before to soften them slightly but not make them mushy.
3. Serve & top with toppings of your choice.

If you like this recipe, please take a moment to rate it and/or leave your feedback in comments. It will really encourage me to keep exploring, learning and improving.

Oatmeal, Oats Porridge, or simply Porridge?

By the way, I have a confusion on the terms of oatmeal, oats porridge, or simply porridge! I think it is more of a British and American thing and we are stuck in between :-). The way I understand it is oatmeal and oats porridge are just about the same thing. In the US they call it oatmeal and in the UK, they call it an oats porridge. Porridge usually would be made of oats but can actually be made of any grain like corn, or millets! But unless specified, a porridge is understood as oats porridge. Am I right? or should I say, “What’s in a name!” and move on :-).

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