Easy Apple Baked Oatmeal Cups are a tasty, healthy on-the-go breakfast! Made with oats, applesauce, peanut butter, maple syrup and cinnamon. Make a batch for busy mornings!

Apples and peanut butter and I go waaaaaay back.

I credit my mumsy for igniting this life long love affair. And today, we're turning this heaven0sent combo into apple baked oatmeal cups! Slather 'em in salty peanut butter and call it a GOOD day.

This is serious, you guys. You know there have been a whole slew lot of healthy oatmeal breakfast recipes on the blog, from the mega popular Banana Zucchini Oatmeal Cups and Overnight Steel Cut Oatmeal top the classic Blueberry Banana Baked Oatmeal.

But these...these are certainly somethin' special.

I'm like a cartoon character with my tongue permanently hanging out over this recipe, all googly-eyed and whatnot. These apple cinnamon oatmeal muffins are just sweet enough to be totally satisfying and so ridiculously moist that it seems next to impossible that they're made sans oil and butter. But here we are!

Key ingredients and substitution tips

Baked oatmeal is pretty forgiving I've learned. Want more richness? Add a couple tablespoons of melted butter. Feeling crunchy? Add toasted walnuts or pecans. Craving sweeter? Use ½ cup maple syrup or omit for less sweet!

applesauce: For apple flavor and lots of moisture, no oil required.
old fashioned oats: The base of this recipe is whole grain rolled oats. Don't use instant, quick, or steel cut here. Use certified gluten free if needed.
maple syrup: A hint of my favorite sweetener so they're just a bit sweet!
milk: Cow's, oat, almond, coconut, or whatever milk you fancy works here.
peanut butter: For some good fat and flavor. Any nut butter works. I like salted.
egg: For flavor, binding, and rise. Sub a flax egg for vegan.
cinnamon: Plenty of spice for these muffins!
apple: I love Honeycrisp, but Granny Smith or Gala would also be nice!

How do you store baked oatmeal?

Store cooled leftover cups in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to five days. These make an amazing make-ahead breakfast for busy mornings! You can also freeze them for up to three months.

Are oatmeal muffins baby friendly?

Yes! Babies 9 months and up can enjoy these by simply omitting the salt and maple syrup. Be sure the apple chunks are soft enough so they don't present a chocking hazard. They're nice and moist for little ones!

Is oatmeal a healthy breakfast?

You betcha. Oatmeal is packed with filling fiber and energizing B vitamins. Whole grains are a splendid way to start the day, plus they're super accessible and affordable. Slather on more nut butter for a more filling meal or pair with scrambled eggs to round it out.

Holler in the comments if you give these breakfast beauts a whirl!

Craving more oatmeal? Don’t miss my other go-to recipes:

Apple Baked Oatmeal Cups Recipe

★★★★★ 5 from 9 reviews

Author: Alexis Joseph | Hummusapien
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 35 mins
Yield: 12 cups 1x
Category: Breakfast
Method: Oven
Cuisine: American

Print Recipe

Description

Easy Apple Baked Oatmeal Cups are a tasty, healthy on-the-go breakfast! Made with oats, applesauce, peanut butter, maple syrup and cinnamon. Make a batch for busy mornings!

Ingredients

Units Scale

¾ cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup milk of choice (I used unsweetened vanilla almond)
¼ cup natural salted peanut butter
⅓ cup pure maple syrup
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 ½ cups old fashioned oats
1 tbsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
¼ tsp fine sea salt (use ½ tsp if peanut butter is not salted)
1 medium apple, diced small

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray muffin tin with cooking spray.
In a medium mixing bowl, add applesauce, almond milk, peanut butter, maple syrup, egg, and vanilla extract and stir until well mixed.
Add oats, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir until combined, being careful not to over-mix. Fold in diced apple.
Spoon mixture evenly into muffin tin, filling the tins to the very top. Bake for 25-27 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean. Let cups cool for at least 15 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

VEGAN: Sub a flax or chia egg.

NUT BUTTER: Almond or cashew butter work well, too!

Photos by The Nutritious Kitchen.