Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oatmeal is the kind of smells and tastes you want to wake up to in the mornings. Bonus: Steel Cut Oats are perfectly creamy with just the right amount of chew to make any wary oatmeal eater fall in love with oats again!
I watch a lot of cooking shows. In fact, other than Shark Tank (obsessed!), that's about all I watch.
Not to say I sit around watching cooking shows all day. In fact, I literally can't remember the last time I actually sat on our living room sofa. That sounds so weird to admit . . .
Fortunately (or perhaps, unfortunately?) I developed a bit of my father's borderline OCD/go-getter personality and if I'm to justify watching TV, it's because I'm multitasking it with a hard run on my treadmill.
Sometimes I even have my IPad in front of me as well so I can check my email. #we'veallgotproblems
All this to say, oftentimes on cooking shows, I hear the expression, “this dish is like a big hug.”
Previously, I would scoff, roll my eyes, and “puh-lease” that lame statement.
Well, I stand corrected.
Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats is like a big, warm, comforting hug that says, “you are okay, life is wonderful, and you are loved in a big way.”
That's what you're gonna get out of this bowl of oats: Hugs and Loves to keep you smiling all day.
I actually perfected this recipe thanks to my daughter's complete disgust of cooked apples.
Because I love starting my kids day out with oatmeal (brain food and all), I resorted to using my homemade Instant Pot Applesauce instead of chopped apples and it was a very wise decision! Thank you, my mushy apple hater, daughter of mine!
WHY YOU WILL LOVE PRESSURE COOK APPLE CINNAMON OATMEAL
- Alive with apple flavor, warm and cozy with cinnamon spice, just what you need in the morning.
- Fresh, CRISPY apples on top for texture – again, my daughter's idea; you'll flip.
- Continuing on our texture train are crunchy pecans and this Cinnamon Cream Syrup to tie everything together.
- This particular recipe is cooked with a mixture of water and almond milk which is a new discovery of mine, and is the only way I will make oats from now on.
Let this bowl of beauty be your breakfast today and let it be representative of a big, warm hug from yours truly. Unless that feels weird then I guess it can remind you of a loved one that you actually know. What ev'.
HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT APPLE CINNAMON OATS
- Add your oats, spices, syrup, and applesauce to the pot
- Add the liquids and give it a good stir
- While it cooks, prepare your toppings (go for a diced Honey Crisp Apple)
- Let the oats rest a bit before you release the pressure, that starchy, foamy liquid can be really messy
- Give it a stir and let it sit a few minutes to thicken
- Top it to your heart's content and devour
SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR DETAILED COOKING INSTRUCTIONS
Now would be a good time to remind you of these Frozen Whipped Cream Dollops. I have these on hand at all times for Crio Bru and Oatmeal. They are fantastic in these oats and they are a breeze to whip up.
TIPS FOR MAKING NEXT LEVEL APPLE CINNAMON OATS
- Use homemade applesauce or apple butter. AMAZING!
- Dice up an apple and throw it in the pot to cook along with the oatmeal.
- Toppings for days: Almond Butter or Peanut Butter (you must), raisins, granola, cream, yogurt, or even an extra dollop of apple sauce. If you have an oatmeal hater in your life, load it up with these toppings and I'm 99% sure you'll change their mind.
- Add 1/4 cup chia seeds right after you take the lid off. Stir it in well then place the lid back on top to let the chia seeds swell and thicken the oats. You may not be hungry until dinner time.
WHAT TO DO WITH LEFTOVER OATMEAL
- Option A: Oatmeal refrigerates and reheats well. Add a splash of milk when you warm it up and it will be like new.
- Option B: Once the oats are chilled, use 1/4 cup ice cream scoop to put portions on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Freeze, then once frozen, place in a freezer-safe ziplock bag. Pull out a couple the night before and thaw overnight in the fridge for a super quick, healthy breakfast.
MORE OATMEAL RECIPES FOR THE INSTANT POT
- Instant Pot Maple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- Instant Pot Custardy Blueberry Oatmeal
- Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Steel Cut Oats
- Instant Pot Banana Custard Steel Cut Oats
- Instant Pot Mason Jar Steel Cut Oats
- Instant Pot Peaches and Cream Steel Cut Oats
Want even more Instant Pot Oatmeal recipes? Be sure to check out this detailed post on how to cook many different varieties of oatmeal in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker.
Clearly, I have a very strong infatuation with Oats and Pressure Cooking. If you've tried any of these recipes, I'm sure you can understand why!
Enjoy this warm, loving apple cinnamon hug in a bowl!
TOOLS/INGREDIENTS USED TO MAKE INSTANT POT APPLE CINNAMON STEEL CUT OATMEAL
- Instant Pot
- Steel Cut Oats (love Bob's Red Mill brand)
- Vietnamese Cinnamon
Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oatmeal
Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oatmeal is a warm, cozy, and healthy start to your day!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups steel cut oats
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
Optional toppings: Instant Pot Creamy Cinnamon Syrup, diced apple, cream or frozen dollops, pecans, raisins, etc
Instructions
- Add oats, water, almond milk, applesauce, syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt to the pressure cooker pot and stir.
- Secure the lid and turn pressure release knob to a sealed position. Cook at high pressure for 10 minutes.
- When cooking is complete, use a natural release for 10 minutes (can also use a full natural release if not in a hurry). If liquid sprays through the valve, turn back to the sealed position and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Stir well. Oats will thicken as they sit.
- Serve hot with Cinnamon Syrup, Frozen Whipped Cream Dollops, diced apples, and other desired toppings.
Notes
- If you are having issues with the “BURN” message, try adding the applesauce after it is cooked.
- Leftover oats can be refrigerated for 3 – 5 days
- For longer storage, use an ice cream scoop to portion chilled oats onto a sheet pan. Freeze until solid, then place in a freezer safe Ziploc bag. Thaw overnight in the fridge or in a microwave with a splash of milk to make it creamy again
- If you prefer cooked apples, add diced apples to the pot to cook with the oats.
- For a boost of fiber and protein, add 2-4 tablespoons of chia seeds after it’s cooked. Stir well then place the lid back on for 5 minutes to allow the chia seeds to swell and thicken the oats.
Keywords: Instant Pot Oatmeal, Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal, Steel Cut Oats
Delicious!!
★★★★★
Can I omit the maple syrup or use something else? I’m not a big fan of.maple flavor. Brown sugar dissolved in the water maybe?
Laura, yes, brown sugar, white sugar, honey, or coconut sugar will all be great substitutes!
Question: can I put the ingredients in a casserole dish and cook within the pot, with water at the bottom? Maybe on a trivet? I have one made for the pressure cooker and wonder if it would still cook properly or should I add extra time? I’ll experiment if you haven’t done it this way. I’ve gotten the “burn” message and stayed away from direct cooking. I love your recipes and advise so thanks in advance.
Barbara, Yes, I think that would work well. I would use this recipe as your guide and cook it longer. Let me know if you give it a try! https://tidbits-marci.com/pressure-cooker-banana-custard-steel-cut-oats/
I don’t think there is a recipe I’ve tried from your cookbook, website or the Freezer Meal classes that wasn’t a hit in the house.
These oats are so delicious and so easy to make. There are only 2 of us in the house. 1 full recipe provides breakfast for each of us for the entire week. If you are on the fence about trying these don’t be…jump in!!!!!
★★★★★
Michelle, your comment came on a perfect day. I’m failing in all things “home schooling”. Nice to know I can create recipes people love!
Hi, I made this recipe this morning in my 6 quart Instant Pot and it ended up saying burn message. I removed the lid, and sure enough, it was stuck like crazy on the bottom. So I just put lid back on and let it sit for a while hoping it would finish cooking by just sitting. It did, but it does a bit of a burn taste and after removing from the insert I had to put water and baking soda in and do on high pressure for 5 minutes to remove the really heavy burned on stuff. Soooo, my question is why do you think it did that? I followed the recipe and it was extremely full of liquid prior to my putting the lid on. I was so disappointed, as I usually made these overnight in the crockpot and was thrilled to have it done more quickly. Thanks for the recipe and I will wait for any response and if I should try again, what do you suggest? Thanks again. Claudia
Claudia, I agree, this recipe should have plenty of liquid to prevent the burn! I have heard of some people spraying the pot with nonstick spray before they put their oat ingredients in, however, I’ve never needed to do that. What kind of milk did you use? Was it just regular applesauce?
I used skim milk and I had a jar of store bought natural applesauce. So what do you think? Claudia
It’s possible the skim milk was a bit more finicky than the almond milk. I know almond milk works better than cows milk when I make Crio Bru. Maybe if you’re using skim milk try more water and less milk. Or honestly, it’s still delicious with all water too.
I made this. Super good. My only thing is I really prefer my oatmeal thick, not so liquidy. Next time, should I reduce the milk? Water? Both? Usually I do 3:1 water to oats when I do steel cut oats in the pot, but the 4c of liquid here is less than that ratio… is this making sense? Anyway. It’s more runny than I like and I’m just wondering how to adjust. Ideas?
Thanks Marci! You’re awesome. I’m always telling my friends to make your creamy Mexican chicken. Its our favorite.
So as it sat on warm for the last hour it thickened very nicely. I may just have to plan ahead more and let it cool and thicken before I eat. 🙂
Katrina, you could definitely use less liquid, I would reduce both water and milk. I love making it on the loose side so as it sits it doesn’t thicken so much. That chicken is one of my all-time faves!
Can you use other oats with this? I have toasted oat bran. Would this work?
Hey Jackie, I’m sure you could use the same flavors with it, but the cook time and liquid ratios would be different. I also wonder if oat bran would burn to the bottom of the pot, I’ve never experimented with it before, sorry!