Chances are, you’ve had applesauce oatmeal before. If you’re like me, you thought you were being super creative that first time you dumped some applesauce in your unflavored stove-top oatmeal. It was definitely one of the first flavors I tried. However, amid all the other flavors I was trying (lemon poppy seed, banana bread, carrot cake), applesauce oatmeal was quickly forgotten.
Well, I’m bringing it back. Applesauce Oatmeal is incredibly versatile. It can be a recipe you turn to when you’re lacking almost everything else, and you throw some oatmeal together with three ingredients: oats, water or milk, and applesauce.
However, if you’re looking for something a little fancier, you can pull a few tricks. The biggest enhancement you could make is using homemade applesauce! You could do something as elaborate as this Alton Brown recipe, or you could whip some up in 5 minutes using the microwave with this Eating Well recipe. Next, if you’re using a simple recipe or using store-bought applesauce, you can boost the flavors with cinnamon, vanilla extract, orange and lemon zest (or extract or juice), nutmeg, or apple pie spices. I included all of these ideas in the third step of the recipe!
What you'll need:
- 1 cup milk of choice, or water
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (I use Country Choice Organic)
- 1/3 cup applesauce (see notes above)
- pinch of salt
How to make it:
- Bring milk (I use 1/2 c almond milk and 1/2 c water) to a boil, add oats, and reduce heat to medium. (If you'd like to add flax or chia seeds, do so now.)
- Add applesauce and salt. Stir.
- If you'd like to add any extra ingredients (raisins, nuts, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp vanilla extract, pinch of nutmeg, 1/8 tsp lemon and/or orange extract, orange or lemon zest, 1/2 tsp apple pie spice, 1/8 tsp molasses, 1/2 tsp maple syrup or honey, handful of raisins or other dried fruit, nuts), do so now.
- When you're pleased with the consistency of the oatmeal, transfer to a bowl. Add a splash of your milk of choice and any other additional toppings (I topped with peanut butter and chopped pecans for the pictures).
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