This Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal is made in the instant pot without the dreaded burn signal. Loaded with apples, walnuts and cinnamon, it is warm, cozy, ultra creamy, and is ready in under 30 minutes.
With bites of sweet apples, warm cinnamon, and crunchy walnuts, this apple cinnamon oatmeal is an absolutely delicious way to start the day! Oatmeals are comforting, hearty, filling, satisfying, and keep you full until lunch, like the carrot oatmeal or quinoa porridge.
Why use an Instant Pot? Cooking rolled oats in the pressure cooker is quick, and easy, and yields perfectly creamy oats. Compared to the stovetop method, it is very low effort, like air fryer oatmeal. (I recommend this informative article on Instant Pot burn)
There is no need to stand by the stove, making sure it doesn't spill over. Just set it and let the pressure cooker work its magic! It comes out perfectly light and fluffy every time, like the instant pot quinoa recipe.
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Why you'll love this recipe?
Tried, tested and loved! After several attempts to make oatmeal in a pressure cooker without burning, I have come up with a few tricks so you can make with confidence.
Did you know apples are made up of roughly 86% water? This significant moisture content, combined with the careful layering of liquids to ensure the dairy does not come into contact with the bottom, prevents the apple cinnamon oatmeal from burning even without adapting a pot-in-pot method.
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Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Oats - Old fashioned rolled oats are best for this recipe. Make sure you grab gluten-free oats to make it gluten free. I would advise against using steel-cut oats as they require a significant amount of time to cook and does not result in a creamy porridge consistency. Conversely, quick-cooking oats tend to become mushy when subjected to high-pressure cooking.
- Apple - As for my apple waffles recipe, I prefer to use Fuji, Honey crisp, Pink Lady, Jonagold or Granny Smith apples, but your favorite variety will work.
- Milk - Whole milk makes it creamy, thick, and delicious. Almond milk is great for a non-dairy alternative.
- Sweetener - Golden brown sugar complements the fall spices and apple with its caramelly flavor. Maple syrup, honey, or coconut sugar would be good substitutes to make it healthier.
- Spice - You can't go wrong with apple and cinnamon combo!
Substitutions & Variations
- Use maple syrup, honey or coconut sugar instead of brown sugar.
- Switch up the fruit and swap it with pears.
- Add ground cloves, allspice or freshly grated nutmeg along with cinnamon.
- Use gluten-free oats, to make it gluten-free.
- Chopped walnuts adds great texture to your bowl of oats. Use toasted pecans, toasted slivered almonds or skip nuts to make it allergy-friendly.
- Swap butter with coconut oil.
How to make?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
- Set your instant pot to saute mode, let it heat up, add butter when hot and let it melt. In the meantime, core and chop two apples into bite-sized chunks.
Tip: Butter not only enhances the flavor but also aids in preventing sticking by providing an additional layer of fat.
- Add chopped apples into the hot pot and saute for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add rolled oats and stir to toast oats.
Tip - Toasting oats in butter not only adds a delicious nutty flavor but also enhances the taste exponentially!
4. Mix in ground cinnamon and salt.
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5. Add 2 cups of water and give a good stir to combine.
6. Tip- Gently pour 1 cup of milk on top without stirring. This step is crucial to prevent the dairy from directly contacting the base, which could lead to scorching.
7 & 8. Close and lock lid, making sure that the valve is in the sealing position. This traps the steam pressure, which builds over time and eventually pressures cooking the apple cinnamon oatmeal.
Pro tip: This apple cinnamon oatmeal recipe has been tested in both 3-quart and 8-quart instant pots.
How to serve?
Although this apple cinnamon oatmeal recipe is packed with flavor, a few additional toppings will make it live up to its most delicious potential. Try topping with more chopped fresh apples, walnuts, toasted pecans, chia seeds, flax seeds, apple sauce, honey or maple syrup.
Looking for more ways to cook with fresh apples? Check out our blog post of a collection of fresh apple recipes.
Storage & Reheating
This apple cinnamon oatmeal recipe is perfect to be doubled using a larger pressure cooker so you have a healthy breakfast meal prepped in the fridge. Let the cooked oats cool to room temperature and refrigerate in small air-tight containers for up to 4 days.
Reheat - When ready to eat, warm in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until it reaches your preferred temperature. You might need to add an extra splash of milk or water because the oats tend to thicken up when refrigerated.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, old-fashioned oats are the same as rolled oats. "old-fashioned oats" and "rolled oats" are often used interchangeably to refer to oats steamed and flattened with large rollers to create flakes.
I suggest using apple varieties such as Fuji, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Braeburn, or Granny Smith that retain their shape even after the intense pressure of cooking. However, it's best to avoid using red delicious, as they don't hold up well when cooked.
Although toasting oats is optional, I would highly recommend spending that additional couple of minutes because it makes the apple cinnamon oatmeal taste nutty and exponentially better!
More recipes using apples:
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 apples core removed and cut into chunks
- 1 cup old fashioned oats or rolled oats
- 2 cups water
- ½ to 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 pinches salt
- 1 + ½ cups milk divided
- ¼ cup brown sugar or to taste
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts or as needed
Instructions
- Heat instant pot to saute. When hot, add butter and let melt.Tip: Butter not only enhances the flavor but also aids in preventing sticking by providing an additional layer of fat.
- Add chopped apples and saute for 1 to 2 minutes. Add oats and continue sautéing for another minute. Press cancel, add water, ground cinnamon and salt. Stir well.Tip - Toasting oats in butter adds a delicious nutty flavor and enhances the taste exponentially!
- Pour 1 cup milk on top. Tip- Gently pour 1 cup of milk on top without stirring. This step is crucial to prevent the dairy from directly contacting the base, which could lead to scorching.
- Close and lock lid (making sure that valve is set to seal), cook on manual for 7 minutes. When cooking time is done, let instant pot be in warm mode for 10 minutes.
- Release pressure (but turning valve to vent), open, add remaining milk (if needed), brown sugar and chopped walnuts. Stir and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
Did you make this recipe? I’d love your feedback! Please let me know by leaving a comment, a star rating or review below.
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All contents and images are my original work, unless and otherwise mentioned. Please do not use my recipes or images without linking back to www.kitchenathoskins.com. If you wish to republish a recipe, please rewrite in your own words and don’t forget to include a link back to the original recipe.
Hannah
I don’t have a manual button it’s only other option is pressure cook what do I do
Maria Doss
pressure cook
Maria Doss
Some instant pots have it as "manual" and some as "pressure cook". Both function the same way. Hope it helps:)
Charissa
This looks so good! I am really getting into Instant pot oatmeal! My question is, can I make this with 2 cups of rolled oats but use the same amount of water/milk? I had great success with 2 cups of rolled oats and 1 can of coconut milk and about 3 and a half cups of water in a other recipe. Also, if I do double the oatmeal, can I keep the same amount of apples? We don't like our oatmeal too appley. Lol TIA!
Maria Doss
Hi Charissa, You can totally double the recipe without doubling the apples. The cooked apples tend to add release moisture, so I would recommend adding an additional 1/4 cup or so liquid to compensate for that. And, the cooking time need not altered, since the instant pot will automatically take longer to come to pressure. Hope it helps, Maria
Theresa
Have you tried a non-dairy milk with this recipe? Sounds yummy!!!
Maria Doss
Hi Teresa, I don't have any readers trying with a non-dairy milk, but I don't see any issues with using it. However, if you are using a milk with higher fat content (like coconut milk), then I would suggest replacing half the milk with water. hope it helps, Maria
Jake Courchene-Roy
When you cook on manual, is that at high pressure or normal?
Maria Doss
Hi Jake, It is Normal pressure - Maria
Wendy
@Maria Doss, Thanks for this recipe! I have Pressure Cook and High Pressure or Low Pressure options. I'm trying my first attempt at this recipe on Low Pressure. 🤞
Maria Doss
Hi Wendy, It would be normal pressure, Maria
Justina Perea
@Maria Doss, I too only have high and low pressure options . Is low pressure considered "normal"?
Maria Doss
Hi Justina,
I would say go with the low pressure especially when cooking oatmeal, Maria
Kate
Delicious! I subbed maple syrup for the brown sugar and used almond milk for the milk. I accidentally cooked for 10 minutes (this is what happens when you are talking on the phone while meal prepping), but it was delicious regardless.
Maria Doss
Hi Kate, Glad you liked the oatmeal, Maria
SHEETU
Lovely morning breakfast recipe. Thank you. I just cooked with water and while serving added oat milk.
Maria Doss
That sounds wonderful, Maria
KP
Has anyone tried the porridge button to cook this? Maria what do you think?
Maria Doss
Hi, Porridge button is sometimes used when working with steel cut oats. I do not have any readers try when using rolled or old fashion oats. I'm sorry that I'm not able to offer much help, Maria
Ashley
I made this recipe and from start to finish with waiting for warming times and preheating it took 37 minutes. Turned out very well. Definitely making again. We did swap out brown sugar for maple syrup. Next time we will try a natural release since that's what the instructions on the instant pot recommend for oats.
Maria Doss
Hi Ashley, I like the idea of using maple syrup instead. Hope the natural release method works quicker, Maria
Kim
This had way to much liquid. Did not add the last 1/2 cup of milk. Think could have reduced amount of water
Maria Doss
Hi Kim, Thank you for the feedback, Maria
Lillian
Can I use a stovetop pressure cooker for this recipe?
Maria Doss
Hi Lillian, Of course! Saute apples and then oats in a hot pressure cooker (over medium heat), as mentioned in the recipe. Stir in milk and water (increase water by an additional 1/2 cup), pressure cook (about 5 mins in low heat after the first whistle) and let pressure drop naturally. Open, stir in brown sugar and walnuts. Adjust milk/water based on your desired thickness. Hope it helps and apologies for a late reply. Wishing you a wonderful new year - Maria
Courtney
I've successfully made this recipe at least 3 times but the last 2 times my IP has given me the burn warning. 🙁 I don't stir the milk and follow the recipe exactly. Not sure what I'm doing differently that would cause this. Also, once it starts to burn is there any way to salvage it?
Maria Doss
Hmm...does you instant pot work well for other dishes - Maria
Martha
I have a pressure cooker and it has low med and high. I cooked it on low. And I only had 1 cup of oatmeal which I was happy you have a recipe with 1 cup oatmeal. It was nice and golden brown on the bottom( I expected that) and turned out perfectly.. will use this recipe again. Very happy it turned out. Low is the way to go I guess.
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear! So glad you love it – Maria ♡
Janine Kirin
This is a great recipe! I’ve made it twice this weekend. The end consistency is perfect! I have a 8qt pot and cooked it on the low pressure cook setting. So many flavor possibilities with this recipe. I also added sliced almonds to my bowl. Delicious!
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear! So glad you love it – Maria ♡