These Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal Cups are easy to make in one bowl and are toddler-friendly!
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What we have here is the perfect apple-cinnamon oatmeal breakfast. To go.
When I made my Double Chocolate Strawberry Baked Oatmeal Cups this summer, I promised that more flavors of these portable breakfast cups would be coming out of my kitchen.
Here’s the fall version that is absolutely wonderful with a strong cup of black coffee. Or a cream-filled, sugared up version. Whatever makes you happy.
I was actually motivated to make these for Luke, since he refuses to eat anything from a spoon. Regular oatmeal is way too messy, so I knew a baked version was just what he needed. These are perfect for his little fingers to pick up. (I broke the cup into pieces for him.)
Because I rarely have time to spend a whole lot of time on breakfast, I mixed the ingredients together the night before and then just baked it in the morning. It worked perfectly.
The leftovers make for a great, quick breakfast or a nourishing snack. They are just barely sweet, with only a little banana acting as a sweetener. (You can’t taste the banana that is baked into these.) The soft, cinnamon-spiked apple pieces are perfect against the creamy oatmeal center.
I’m pretty sure that these baked oatmeal cups are the perfect breakfast for busy moms who want a quick, yet healthy breakfast for their kids. You can even make a double batch and freeze some to have on hand for mornings when everyone sleeps late or you just don’t have time to sit down and have breakfast at the table.
How to Make Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal Cups
Note: Since publishing this, I have started making these in these silicone baking cups and love them for easy storage. Either way works!
Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal Cups {Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Nut-free, Soy-free}
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 muffins 1x
Ingredients
- 2 cups old fashioned oats (use certified GF if needed)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup milk (I used unsweetened coconut milk, but dairy or other milks will work, too)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup mashed banana (about 1 1/2 medium bananas)
- 1 large apple, peeled, cored, and diced (I used Fuji)
Instructions
- If you plan to bake these right away, preheat your oven to 375 degrees. If not, that part can wait until the morning.
- In a large bowl, combine the oats, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Add the milk, egg, and mashed banana and mix until combined. Stir in the apple.
- You can either put the mixture into the fridge overnight or continue with the directions and bake right away.
- Grease a muffin tin and fill each cup with the oatmeal mixture to just about the top. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 20-25 minutes, until the cups are set. Store in the fridge or these can also be frozen. Enjoy!
Notes
- Because I knew I was making these for my 9 month old son, I only used 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. If you are not making these for a baby and you prefer a stronger cinnamon flavor, increase the salt to 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon and cinnamon to 1 teaspoon.
- These are naturally sweetened with the banana and are not super sweet. You can add up to 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup if you’d like to make them sweeter.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 muffin cup
- Calories: 85
- Sugar: 4 grams
- Fat: 2 grams
- Carbohydrates: 15 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Protein: 3 grams
If you love apple cinnamon oatmeal, I have two other versions! Try my Stovetop Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal and my Baked Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal!
Luke loved these. He ate three cups. Meghan ate one cup. Yes, my 9-month-old son ate more than my 4-year-old daughter.
Meghan liked them, but they weren’t her favorite. After she ate hers she told me she didn’t like the apples inside. What? Umm…that’s the best part. And we eat baked cinnamon apples with dinner about once a week and she loves those. I don’t try to understand a four-year-old mind.
While Luke was continuing to chow down, Meghan had time to finish the craft we’d started the night before. She was much more interested in her ghost feet than breakfast.
If you try these Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal Cups, I would LOVE to see it! Please snap a picture and share in on the Happy Healthy Mama Facebook page or on your Instagram page and tag me @happyhealthymama. 🙂
Would you like to save this recipe for later? Here’s an image for your Pinterest recipe board!
Note: This recipe was first published October 2012. It was republished with a new video September 2019.
Karina says
thank you so much for posting this. My 11 month old is the same way as your Luke. She will not have anything to do with being spoon fed &I she lets us know for sure its not happening! So I’m thankful for this recipe so she’s not left out when the rest of the family is enjoying a hearty bowl of oatmeal! God bless!!!
Maryea says
You’re welcome! 🙂
Jody @easypeasymom says
Yum, I’m definitely going to give these a try! I have a ton of apples in the house and this looks like a delicious healthy treat! Pinning, thanks for sharing!
Maryea says
Thanks so much for pinning this recipe, Jody! I hope you enjoy them.
Jenn says
How could I modify this recipe to omit the banana? I just can’t handle the banana!
Maryea says
I would try omitting the banana and replacing it with 1/4 cup apple sauce and 1/4 cup liquid sweetener (maple syrup or honey). It takes away the “no added sugar” aspect, but if you take away the banana you need something to add sweetness. Please let me know if you try it!
Mariana says
Can you tell me the calories that it contains please?
Lisa Gonzales says
I didn’t have an apple so I added another banana, some chia seeds and more oats. We will see how they come out.
Maryea says
Please let me know! Sounds like they are going to be great!
Vanessa says
Add in a bit of cocoa as well makes it extra yummy.
Maryea says
Definitely!
Melissa says
These sound delicious. Is there an egg substitute that you know of to use. These would be great, but I have taken out egg.
Anaya says
Try 1 and 1/2 tbs of vegetable oil, added to 1 and ½ tbs water and 1 tsp baking powder mixed.
Brianna says
These look so good, I’d really love to make them for my girls. Unfortunately, two of my three are allergic to bananas (so sad, I know… I lament it practically daily) so I’d have to replace that. Would applesauce be too liquidy? Should I add an extra egg and some honey? I’m also considering a coconut dark chocolate version of these cups if they like the apple cinnamon. Oats are so cheap and healthy I love to use them whenever opportunity arises!
Maryea says
I think applesauce would work but it wouldn’t be as sweet. The banana also adds sweetness. An extra egg+honey would probably be perfect!
Allison Z says
I’m making these as a snack for my daughter (9 months) and I while we’re on our preschool field trip with my son (4 1/2). My breastfed daughter can’t tolerate certain foods so I’ve eliminated dairy, soy, nuts, seeds, legumes, corn, and wheat since December. She’s been doing great but I’m still on this very restrictive diet. As you’ve said Maryea, snacking on this diet is soooooooo hard so I’m thankful to have Happy Healthy Mama as a resource. Thank goodness for you!
Briana says
We have made these at least once a week the last three, the kids love them and they are easy and so helpful for when I need to just throw them something!
Maryea says
I love having these on hand, too. 🙂
Ali says
I made these but instead of making cups, I poured it all into a 9×13 glass baking dish and it came out amazing! I will be making it again tonight! Thanks for the recipe!
Maryea says
I’m glad to know it works that way, too. Thank you!
Shannon says
Thanks for another winner Maryea! Made them up last night…. LOVE that the ingredients are so simple and on-hand (added a little local honey), baked them up this morning at 6 ( worried that like overnight oats they may change as they soak up the liquid, but nope, fine, hearty!) and it was such a wonderful smell for my family to wake up to! Ryan ate 2 before daycare, I wanted to eat 4 but ate 2 and my husband had 3! Lily wanted a fresh apple…. 3.5 yr olds are like that! Your kids look great. I’m sure you are enjoying these ages as much as we are! Thanks for the perfect healthy and delicious recipes for busy families!!
Maryea says
You’re welcome! Glad my little girl isn’t the only one with ever-changing food preferences. 🙂
Anaya says
OMG! THESE ARE DELICIOUS! I made them for me and my friends for our sleepover, but since we all LOOOOOOOVVVVEEEEE vanilla and sugar, we added a teaspoon of vanilla and sprinkled brown sugar on top before putting them in the oven. THANK SOOOOOO MUCH!
Jill says
I’m making this now but will it still be okay in am if I bake them now? Don’t have time in am too
Maryea says
Yes, I do this all the time!
Alexis @ Hummusapien says
Luke is so adorable! What an awesome appetite for such a little guy! These would be perfect to grab on the go…I hate having to clean the oatmeal pot when I’m in a hurry.
Bree says
Well, I saw this recipe in the morning, and showed it to my 3-year-old daughter. I told her we would go to the store after preschool to get the ingredients we needed. She was so excited. Tonight we made the mixture. Now that she’s down for bed, I will bake them so she can eat some in the morning. A great baking recipe for toddlers! Thanks!
Maryea says
You’re welcome! I hope she enjoyed them. 🙂
Elizabeth @Food Ramblings says
Yum! love oatmeal cups!!!
lei says
These look yummy! what are ghost feet?
Maryea says
Just a little craft we did where she used her feet to stamp a white “ghost” on black paper. We added googely eyes to make her foot outline look like a ghost. We were at Michael’s (the craft store) the other day and a worker there gave us the idea–Meghan couldn’t wait to try it. 🙂
Candy @ Healthy in Candy Land says
You had me apple.
Yum.
Suzanne says
I guess I do understand a 4-year old mind because I like apples and raisins but I don’t always like them in my food! These sound yummy for my husband’s breakfast (he’s always leaving for work late)!
Maryea says
Good point! I hadn’t thought of it like that, but it totally makes sense. Kind of like how I love nuts, but not in my brownies.
Suzanne says
Totally! Although I like nuts AND in my brownies! 🙂
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles says
I love this quick idea! ….I’m going to make these for a new mama in town, print off your recipe, and give it as a gift 🙂 LOVE the simplicity of this! …….how cute is that picture of Luke?! AND the fact that he can out eat his sister. Adorable.
Maryea says
Thanks, Julie. 🙂
cary says
How about a pumpkin pie version of this? With craisins? 🙂
Maryea says
Yes! I’m on it. 🙂