These Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal Cups are easy to make in one bowl and are toddler-friendly! Save This Recipe! Enter your email and I'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get new recipes from me every week! By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Happy Healthy Mama.
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.
I would love to try this recipe, but my pre-schooler would likely struggle with the texture of the diced apples (he likes homogeneous textures). Do you think this would work with applesauce instead of the apple?
Hi, I’m excited to try these. Do you happen to know the calorie, carb, sugar, fat, etc.? ?
Hello Maryea! Tried these last week and I’m already cooling my 3rd (!) batch in the fridge for tomorrow morning. Really awesome recipe, you rock! 🙂
Aww so glad to hear that! 🙂 Thanks, Klara!
I don’t really like it. It not sweet it needs some sugar I
You can add more sugar if you are looking for a sweeter muffin cup.
I’m sorry; I haven’t figured that out.
Oops I replied to the wrong comment. This was meant for a different post. 🙂
I just made these for my 9 month old son. They turned out great! Super healthy with just enough sweetness. I’m excited for him to try them after nap 🙂
Oh and I added 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
I made these just now. They definitely tasted like heath food. As far as the recipe goes, they turned out perfect. My husband and I are ok with them since we are trying to cut back on sugar. But I knew after trying them myself, they weren’t going to be sweet enough for my kiddos. My daughter spit them out, even with sugar free syrup on them. My son did eat most of his. We have never given our kids health food before so it’s expected that this would not taste as good as a pancake or waffle which is their usual breakfast food. It’s hard going from sweet to healthy instead of the other way around.
It definitely takes time before foods that are less sweet taste sweet enough when you’re used to ultra-processed and overly sweet foods. Give it time and I’m sure your little ones will come around. Offer less of the other stuff and more fresh foods and eventually their taste buds will appreciate the naturally sweet foods. You’re doing great! 🙂
Could I use vanilla Greek yogurt instead of the banana?
I have a feeling that would work, but I’ve not tried it. Please let me know if you give it a try!
I love these little muffins. The recipe is so easy, quick, and yummy. My 21-month-old loves them and always asks for more. I have already made this twice in 2 weeks! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
Has anyone tried using paper cups liners for these?
They look amazing I can’t wait to try them!
I used paper liners and it worked ok!
Could you use quick oats for this recipe?
No I used old fashioned oats.
I think I read your comment wrong, sorry! I do think quick cooking oats would work. The texture will be a little different, but I think it will still work. Let me know how it goes!
I’m so glad I found this! My picky toddler loves these! I plan on making a big batch to freeze for quick breakfast some mornings. How would you recommend reheating, just sticking them in the over or would they be okay in the microwave? Thanks 🙂
We reheat in the microwave!
What is the calorie content of these?
They are 135 calories each.
I made the bluberry version of these which were somewhat of a disappointment flavour-wise, and I am trying to figure it out…. Is it the banana maybe? Regardless I love the concept of these “muffins” and I am looking forward to trying the apple cinnamon ones (love cinnamon) but am wondering if apple sauce would work instead of the banana?
Yes I do think these would work with apple sauce instead of banana. They may need a touch more sweetener because I think banana adds more sweetness than apple sauce. Good luck–I hope you love this version!
Found these on pinterest and they looked delicious. I’m trying to find more on the go healthy meals, especially because breakfast is so hard for me to find time for. I made these just now, but all I taste is just oats and an apple when I get to one. I used one banana because that filled up 1/2 a cup for me, maybe I should have just put in the extra 1/2. It seems other people really enjoyed, but I think I need to add either honey or vanilla and probably 4 tablespoons of cinnamon for my liking. My taste buds are a lot different from the majority of people I know. I will try again, and thanks!
Try adding honey next time. If you’re used to sweeter things, these won’t be as flavorful for you. They are only lightly sweet as the recipe is written.
Thanks you for sharing this recipe. These is a good and healthy food for kids.
You’re welcome!
Any recommendations for a banana alternative? Anything else I could use in its place?
I would try apple sauce and maybe a little sweetener such as honey or maple syrup.
Have you frozen them? I know it says they can be frozen, but has anyone tried it? If so, how do you heat them?
Yes, I have frozen them. I reheat them in the microwave.
I just made a batch of these last night. Loved them.
So glad to hear it! 🙂
Hi Maryea,
Thank you for the recipe, My daughter loved it , I shared it in my pinterest board and it is going viral over there 🙂
Aww thanks so much for sharing it, Hemapriya! I’m glad your daughter loved these.
HI, I would just want to ask how long do these last in the fridge after it’s already baked? Like for instance we don’t get to finish them all and would just like to microwave it the next morning?
They will last in the fridge for 2-4 days after they are baked.