Apples and cinnamon are a flavour match made in heaven and that’s what makes my Applesauce Overnight Oats just so good. Creamy oats are sweetened with applesauce and topped with the wholesome cinnamon stewed apples and a sprinkle of hemp seeds. This recipe is filled with wholesome and nourishing ingredients to help you start your day right! This is a great recipe to keep on hand for apple season and one that the whole family will love.
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Overnight oats will always be the perfect make-ahead breakfast. I have so many yummy overnight oats recipes on my website that I just know you will love, like my Pistachio Overnight Oats, Overnight Oats with Frozen Fruit, Overnight Oats with Protein Powder and my Peanut Butter Chocolate Overnight Oats.
What’s To Love About Applesauce Overnight Oats
- no added sugar – I’ve sweetened these overnight oats with applesauce, however if you would like a little extra sweetness you absolutely can add some with pure maple syrup or honey. I find the stewed apples help to add enough sweetness to this recipe so that they don’t need extra sweetening.
- perfect for meal prep – there’s nothing better than a delicious breakfast on busy mornings, that’s already made for you. Make these overnight oats and divide between four glass jars or airtight containers and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- nutrient dense – these overnight oats are loaded with healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, protein, dietary fibre and prebiotics (hello pectin from the apple skin!).
- simple ingredients – this overnight oats recipe uses simple ingredients, all of which I was able to find at my local grocery store.
- vegan – this recipe is completely dairy free, plant-based and vegan.
Ingredients Notes & Substitutions
As I mentioned above, this recipe is made using simple, easy to find ingredients. I’ve listed all of the ingredients that you need below along with any notes and possible substitutions.
- old fashioned rolled oats – you can also use quick oats / instant oats instead of regular old-fashioned oats. I’ve made sure to buy non-contaminated, wheat free oats as I have a wheat food intolerance. Do not use steel cut oats for this recipe as they are not suitable. If you’re in the US then these would be labelled as certified gluten-free oats.
- unsweetened applesauce – I’ve used my homemade applesauce recipe but you can also use bottled applesauce, just make sure that it doesn’t have any added sugars if that is what you are using.
- almond milk – you can use any other plant based milk / dairy-free milk or regular milk here like oat milk, cashew milk, soy milk or coconut milk beverage. And if you’re not worried about making this recipe dairy free then feel free to use cows milk.
- flaxseed meal – also known as ground flaxseeds – flaxseeds add fibre and healthy fats (like omega 3) to this healthy breakfast. You can swap for LSA (linseed-sunflower-almond meal), almond meal or chia seeds or ground chia seeds.
- hemp seeds – another highly nutritious food, hemp seeds add healthy fats, protein and fibre to this overnight oatmeal. Swap for chia seeds if desired.
- ground cinnamon – you can also use apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice in place of the cinnamon.
Stewed Apples
- fresh apples
- water
- brown sugar or coconut sugar
- ground cinnamon
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Optional Sweetener
I have found this recipe sweet enough for my own personal taste but if you prefer a little extra sweetener then I would recommend using pure maple syrup, honey or agave syrup.
Extra Protein
If you would like to add some extra protein into this meal, try adding one of the ingredients below:
- nut butter – almond butter or cashew butter would be delicious in these overnight oats. Aim for 1 tablespoon per serve.
- Greek yogurt – yoghurt is a good source of protein, add some to the top before serving or add to the overnight oats mixture and stir through. Aim for 1/4 cup per serve. If you prefer to use a vegan yogurt then I would suggest a soy yogurt as it will contain more protein than a coconut yogurt.
- protein powder – not all protein powders work well with overnight oats, which you can read all about in my Protein Powder Overnight Oats post. Whey protein has the most neutral taste but can make the overnight oats a bit liquid-y so you might want to consider reducing the amount of milk.
How to Make Applesauce Overnight Oats
One of my favourite things about making overnight oats is how easy they are to prepare, not to mention the delicious creamy texture. You really don’t need much cooking experience at all to make these. To make these apple cinnamon overnight oats, follow my step-by-step instructions below.
First, add the rolled oats, applesauce, hemp seeds, flaxseed meal, cinnamon and almond milk into a large mixing bowl. Stir everything together really well, cover and store in the fridge.
Meanwhile, make the stewed apples. Add the diced apples to a medium saucepan along with the water, coconut sugar and cinnamon. Stir to combine and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a medium heat to simmer. Stir occasionally and once the liquid has reduced right down to a syrup consistency, turn off the heat and set aside.
Divide the overnight oats mixture between four airtight containers or individual mason jars. Top with the stewed apples, place the lids on securely and refrigerate for up to 4-5days. I like to add a sprinkle of hemp seeds to the top as well but this is optional.
Tip: if you prefer a hot breakfast, particularly on those colder mornings, heat the overnight oats up in a saucepan on low until warmed to your liking. I would recommend adding a little milk as needed if heating them up.
Applesauce Overnight Oats
Equipment
- Sharp knife
- Chopping Board
- Spoon
- Medium saucepan
- 4 Glass jars with lids
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 1 tablespoon flaxseed meal
- 2 tablespoons hemp seeds
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
- 1 1/2 cups almond milk
Stewed Apples
- 3 apples, peeled, cored and diced
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- To make the overnight oats, add the applesauce, rolled oats, flaxseed meal, hemp seeds, cinnamon and almond milk to a large mixing bowl. Stir well to combine all of the ingredients. Cover the bowl with aluminium foil or compostable plastic wrap and place in the fridge to set.
- Next, stew the apples. Add the diced apples to a medium saucepan along with water, coconut sugar and cinnamon. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce to a medium heat, stirring occasionally as the apples simmer. Once the liquid is reduced down to a syrup-like consistency, turn off the heat and set aside.
- Divide the overnight oats mixture between four glass jars or airtight containers. Top with the cinnamon apples and a sprinkle of hemp seeds (optional).
- Place in the fridge and allow to set overnight or for at least two hours.
Notes
Serving Suggestion
I love these oats just as they are but here are some optional extras that you can add to serve.- yoghurt – use Greek, coconut or soy yoghurt.
- coconut flakes or toasted flaked almonds.
- extra sweetener – pure maple syrup, honey or agave.
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