With winter well and truly here, this apple pie porridge is the perfect warming breakfast to start the day. It is full of flavour with creamy oats, apple, cinnamon and a good dash of maple syrup making it feel more like dessert than breakfast!
If your family loves oatmeal (or porridge as we call it in the UK!), then perhaps you may also like to see my carrot cake porridge, which is a fun and flavourful breakfast idea. For a bit of a change, my blackberry quinoa porridge is so tasty too!
This apple cinnamon porridge feels quite decadent from the gooey apples, maple syrup and hint of spice. It's also perfect for all the family, and whether it's for baby, kids or adults I know everyone will love it!
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⭐ Why this recipe is so good
Warming and cosy. Oatmeal is always perfect for the colder months and will definitely warm you up on a chilly morning!
Fall flavours. You can of course enjoy this porridge year-round, but it's especially lovely in the fall. Perhaps even go apple picking as we do to make the recipe!
Easy to make. It's a super simple recipe, with minimal prep and just a bit of stirring.
🍎 Ingredients
This spiced apple pie porridge only has a short list of ingredients. All are set out in the recipe card below, but some notes on a couple of them:
- Oats: it is better to use rolled oats rather than the very fine milled instant oats. Use gluten free oats if required, such as the Bob's Red Mill organic gluten free old fashioned rolled oats.
- Apple: goes so gooey and delicious when cooked. Red apples are better for oatmeal, such as Gala apples or something like Braeburn for their sweetness. Green apples have a sharper more sour taste that doesn't work so well in oatmeal.
- Non-dairy milk: use the type that works best for you. The type will change the flavour slightly, but I think any will be delicious!
- Maple syrup: used in place of sugar to keep this recipe refined sugar free.
📖 Recipe variations
If cinnamon doesn't work for you (if you are on a low histamine diet, for example), then a tiny touch of cardamom instead would be nice.
As optional toppings, you can add a chopped medjool date or flaked almonds. Both work well with the warm apple.
🔪 Step by step instructions
Making this apple pie porridge is super simple, using mostly pantry staples and basic kitchen equipment.
Step 1
Halve the apple and then remove the core. Cube half the apple and set aside, and grate the other half (image 1).
Step 2
Add the oats, grated apple, cinnamon, desiccated coconut (if using) and non-dairy milk to a saucepan (image 2). Bring to a light simmer, and then reduce the heat. Stir fairly frequently for around 6-10 minutes or until the porridge is warm and creamy (image 3). Adjust with more milk to the consistency you prefer.
Step 3
While the porridge is cooking, add the coconut oil to a small pan and heat until melted. Then add the cubed apple and maple syrup and cook for around 3-4 minutes until softened (image 4).
Spoon the porridge into your bowl and top with the heated apple pieces. Drizzle on more maple syrup to taste and a sprinkle of cinnamon, if using. Serve immediately and enjoy!
💭 Recipe tips and notes
- As already mentioned, stir the porridge quite frequently to help it cook through evenly and become more creamy in texture.
- Adjust the amount of milk to preference. If you are my dad it has to be thick enough to stand a spoon upright in, but personally I prefer a thinner consistency. Just add more to your preference!
- Saying that, if you prefer to only use all water then that works well too.
- If you are gluten free, then be sure to use certified oats gluten free oats such as the Bob's Red Mill organic gluten free traditional rolled oats. All the other ingredients are naturally gluten free.
📋 Frequently asked questions
Yes! It's just a different term depending upon where you live. In the UK we say porridge, but in the US it's mostly called oatmeal.
Whether you use all milk, all water or half and half is definitely up to you! Porridge tends to be a bit creamier if you use milk.
Don't skip this bit! You don't have to stir continuously (or near-continuously) as with risotto, but stirring helps the porridge get more creamy and so more delicious!
🥣 More tasty breakfast options
There are lots of different breakfast options to try here on the site from my peach chia pudding to my apple and pear smoothie and so many more. Some recent recipes to try out:
For ten exclusive recipes not here on the site, check out my newly released low histamine breakfast recipes ebook! It has a sweet potato bowl and tahini chia pudding amongst many other tasty ideas.
I’m always in the kitchen, so come join me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to be the first to hear of new recipes. And please do leave a star rating if you've tried the recipe!
📖 Recipe
Apple Pie Porridge
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add the oats, milk, cinnamon, grated apple and coconut (if using) to a saucepan. Bring to a high simmer and then reduce the heat. Cook for 6-10 minutes stirring often until it becomes creamy in texture. Add additional milk if you prefer your porridge to have a thinner consistency.
- While the oatmeal is cooking melt the coconut oil in a frying pan and once it has turned to liquid, add the cubed apple and maple syrup. Fry for 3-4 minutes until the apple has softened.
- Pour your oatmeal into a bowl and top with the fried apples. Sprinkle over more cinnamon and maple syrup to preference if you wish to. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- If you prefer oatmeal to have a thinner consistency add a little more milk to the saucepan.
- Stir the oatmeal quite frequently for a more creamy consistency.
- The cinnamon is optional, and can be swapped out for cardamom if this is more suitable.
- Please note that nutritional information is offered as a courtesy. It is auto-generated and should be understood to be an estimate.
- non-dairy milk has different scores, so please be mindful of your personal sensitivities.
- while the SIGHI list rates cinnamon and dates as 0, other lists have them as higher histamine.
Stephanie says
Wonderful! Hit the spot for a sweet yet filling breakfast and a nice change from our usual oatmeal with raisins.
Claire says
So glad you like it Stephanie!
Daphne says
I love oatmeal with apples. This was delicious and I added some turmeric as I didn’t have any cardamom powder. Can’t wait to make it again once I get some!
Claire says
Oh I hadn't though to use turmeric as a swap - so good it worked well!
Katie says
Loved it! It was delicious and made a lot. We had some for a snack before bed, and had enough leftovers for a small bowl with an egg the next morning! The cardamom really went with this recipe and it made me not miss cinnamon so bad bc I don’t tolerate it.
Claire says
So glad you liked it Katie! Cardamom is such a nice swap for cinnamon isn't it. Has that delicious hint of spice.
Cynthia says
Hi Claire,
Love This recipe, really nice!!! Got confused and put coconut oil and apple with oats but was really nice. Definitely make it again. Added few cherries and cranberries.
Kind regards,
Cynthia
Claire says
Hi Cynthia, so glad you like it! It's one of my favourites too. The extra fruit sounds good! Claire
Sara says
This is very comforting especially first thing in the morning. Great recipe and the fried apples on top really put it all together nicely for the perfect texture balance.
Claire says
So glad you like it Sara! It's especially nice on colder mornings I find 🙂
Lea says
Delicious
Claire says
So glad you like it Lea!
Angelique says
This tasted amazing! Thank you so much!
throughthefibrofog says
So glad you like it!
Sheryl says
Okay I rarely eat breakfast as I don't have an appetite in the mornings, but this looks so good I'll need to motivate myself and make it!
throughthefibrofog says
haha! Maybe not ideal during the hot season in Singapore - but when it gets a little cooler for you porridge may be something you enjoy!
Shruti Chopra says
This looks so comforting and I'm bookmarking it for the cooler months.
I'm now wondering... how amazing must your meals must be everyday!
Holly says
This sounds amazing! I am pinning it for later and your can't wait to try this recipe and some of your others!! Thank you!
throughthefibrofog says
Hope you like it! Perfect for cosy mornings, especially in the colder months.