Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal Mix
By Better Plate RecipesHave a recipe from another site? Import it →
Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal Mix is a big-batch version of the store packets, made with gluten-free quick oats, chopped dried apples, ground flaxseed, cinnamon, and a little maple sugar. Scoop a heaping half cup, add water or milk, and you have a warm, cinnamon-sweet bowl in about two minutes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This is the homemade version of those instant oatmeal packets, made in one big batch. You stir six things together once, and you've got 10 breakfasts sitting in the pantry. On a busy morning you scoop, add water or milk, and have a warm bowl in about two minutes. It has less sugar than most store-bought packets, and the ground flaxseed adds fiber without changing the taste much. Each serving has 6 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein, so it holds you over better than the sweet packet kind. The mix is gluten-free when you use gluten-free oats, and it's easy to change up with a different dried fruit. It also makes a nice homemade gift in a jar.
Texture and Flavor Notes
Quick oats cook up soft and creamy, with just enough body to hold on a spoon. The dried apple pieces plump up as they cook and turn soft and slightly chewy, so you get little bits of sweet apple in every bite. Cinnamon is the main flavor here, warm and strong, with the maple or coconut sugar adding a light caramel sweetness instead of a sugary one. The ground flaxseed blends right in and adds a faint nutty taste you'll barely notice. Made with water, it's light and clean-tasting. Made with milk, it's richer and creamier. The salt keeps it from tasting flat, and if you like it thicker, just let it sit a minute after cooking.
Serving Ideas
Eat it plain on a busy morning, or dress it up when you have an extra minute. Fresh apple slices or a sprinkle of chopped walnuts on top add some crunch that goes well with the soft oats. A spoonful of Greek yogurt or a splash of cold milk over the hot oatmeal makes it creamier and adds protein. If you left the sugar out of the mix, a small drizzle of maple syrup at the table works well. For a weekend breakfast, set out the mix with a few toppings and let everyone build their own bowl. You can also fill small jars with heaping ½-cup portions so kids, or anyone in a hurry, can grab one and make it themselves.
Ingredient Notes & Easy Swaps
Gluten-free quick-cooking oats: Quick oats cook in a couple of minutes, which is what makes this "instant." Use certified gluten-free oats if anyone eating is sensitive to gluten; regular quick oats work otherwise. Old-fashioned rolled oats also work but take longer to cook and come out chewier.
Dried apples: Soft, chewy dried apples work best. Cut them small so every scoop gets some. The same amount of raisins, dried blueberries, or dried cranberries can replace them.
Ground flaxseed: It adds fiber and a mild nutty taste. Buy it already ground (sometimes sold as flax meal), since whole flaxseeds pass through your body mostly undigested.
Maple sugar or coconut sugar: Either one adds light, caramel-like sweetness. Brown sugar works too. For no added sugar, leave it out and add a small drizzle of maple syrup to your bowl instead.
Ground cinnamon: One tablespoon gives a strong cinnamon flavor. Use 2 teaspoons if you like it milder.
Kosher salt: A little salt keeps the oatmeal from tasting flat. If you only have table salt, use ½ teaspoon instead.
Water: Water keeps it light; milk makes it creamier. Any milk works, including almond or oat milk. The nutrition is for the mix cooked with water, so milk adds calories and protein.
Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal Mix
Description
Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal Mix is a big-batch version of the store packets, made with gluten-free quick oats, chopped dried apples, ground flaxseed, cinnamon, and a little maple sugar. Scoop a heaping half cup, add water or milk, and you have a warm, cinnamon-sweet bowl in about two minutes.
Ingredients
- 4 cups (416 g) gluten-free quick-cooking oats
- 1 cup (60 g) finely diced dried apples
- ½ cup (56 g) ground flaxseed
- ¼ cup (40 g) maple sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup (240 ml) water, for cooking each serving
Instructions
- 1Equipment: a cutting board, a sharp knife, a large bowl, measuring cups and spoons, a large spoon, an airtight container that holds at least 6 cups, an oven mitt or kitchen towel, and either a microwave-safe bowl that holds at least 2 cups or a small saucepan.
- 2Make the mix: If your dried apples come in rings or large pieces, cut them into small pieces about ¼ inch (6 mm) across. Put the 4 cups (416 g) oats, 1 cup (60 g) dried apples, ½ cup (56 g) ground flaxseed, ¼ cup (40 g) maple sugar, 1 tablespoon cinnamon and 1 teaspoon salt in the large bowl. Stir for about 1 minute, breaking up any clumps of apple, until the cinnamon is evenly mixed in and you don't see any streaks.
- 3Pour the mix into the airtight container, seal it, and keep it in the pantry. Shake or stir the container before each use, since the flaxseed and cinnamon settle to the bottom.
- 4To cook one serving in the microwave: Scoop a heaping ½ cup (about 58 g) of the mix into the microwave-safe bowl. Add 1 cup (240 ml) water or milk and stir. Microwave on high for 1½ minutes, then stir. If you want it thicker, microwave 30 seconds more. Let it sit for 1 minute, since it thickens as it cools. Use an oven mitt or towel to lift the bowl, because it will be hot.
- 5To cook one serving on the stovetop: Pour 1 cup (240 ml) water or milk into the small saucepan and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in a heaping ½ cup (about 58 g) of the mix, then turn the heat down to medium-low. Simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring now and then, until the oats are soft and thick enough to hold on a spoon. If you're using milk, stir more often and watch closely, since milk can boil over quickly.
- 6Spoon the oatmeal into a bowl, let it cool for a minute, and serve.
Tips and Tricks
- 1
Shake or stir the container before every scoop. The flaxseed, sugar, and cinnamon settle, and mixing keeps every bowl tasting the same.
- 2
Use a bigger bowl than you think for the microwave. Oatmeal bubbles up fast, and a 2-cup bowl keeps it from spilling over.
- 3
If your dried apples are sticky, pull the pieces apart with your fingers before mixing so they don't end up in one clump.
- 4
For a thicker bowl, use ¾ cup (180 ml) liquid instead of 1 cup. For a looser one, stir in a splash more after cooking.
- 5
Oatmeal keeps thickening as it sits, so take it off the heat when it's a little looser than you want.
- 6
Cooking for more people? On the stovetop, use 1 cup (240 ml) liquid for every heaping ½ cup (about 58 g) mix in a larger saucepan, and stir often. A bigger batch takes a few minutes longer to thicken.
Nutrition
Serving size: a heaping ½ cup dry mix (about 58 g)
Calories: 226kcal, Protein: 7g, Carbs: 41g, Fat: 5g, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 8g, Sodium: 121mg.
Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary based on ingredient brands, product sizes, preparation methods, and substitutions. It is not intended as medical or dietary advice.