Overnight Crockpot Oatmeal with Apples & Cinnamon
There’s something quietly magical about waking up to a warm breakfast already waiting for you — especially when it smells like cinnamon, apples, and cozy fall mornings. This Overnight Crockpot Oatmeal with Apples & Cinnamon is my go-to when life gets hectic but I still want something nourishing and homemade. It’s hearty, lightly sweetened, and tastes like apple pie in a bowl.
You toss everything into your slow cooker before bed, let it work its magic overnight, and wake up to creamy, perfectly spiced oatmeal that feels like a little act of self-care. Bonus: it makes your kitchen smell amazing — like you’ve been baking all night.
🧡 Why You’ll Love It
- Hands-off breakfast: The slow cooker does all the work while you sleep.
- Perfect for meal prep: Keeps beautifully for days — just reheat with a splash of milk.
- Naturally sweet and wholesome: No refined sugar, just apples, oats, and a touch of maple.
- Customizable: Add nuts, raisins, or a drizzle of peanut butter to mix things up.
🧂 Ingredients
(Serves 4–6)
- 2 cups steel-cut oats (not rolled oats — they’ll get mushy)
- 4 cups water
- 2 cups milk (any kind — almond, oat, dairy all work)
- 2 medium apples, peeled and diced (Honeycrisp or Fuji are great)
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2–3 tbsp pure maple syrup (or to taste)
- Pinch of salt
- Optional toppings: chopped pecans, dried cranberries, or a spoonful of yogurt
👉 I use my trusty Crockpot 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker for this recipe — it’s big enough to prevent the oatmeal from sticking and has a “keep warm” setting that’s perfect for lazy mornings.
🍳 Instructions
- Prep the crockpot: Spray the inside lightly with non-stick cooking spray or brush with butter to keep cleanup easy.
- Combine ingredients: Add oats, water, milk, diced apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, maple syrup, and salt into the slow cooker. Stir everything together.
- Set it and forget it: Cover and cook on LOW for 7–8 hours.
- Stir and serve: In the morning, give it a good stir — it’ll look a little separated at first, but it comes together beautifully. Adjust sweetness to taste.
- Top it up: Serve warm with your favorite toppings.
If you like a creamier texture, stir in a splash of half & half or coconut milk right before serving.
🔥 What I’ve Learned
- Don’t use quick or rolled oats. They turn into paste overnight. Steel-cut oats hold their shape and create that perfect chewy-creamy balance.
- Use a slow cooker liner if you want zero cleanup — these disposable ones are a lifesaver.
- Worried about burning? Add an extra half cup of water or milk if your slow cooker runs hot.
- Add-ins: Try tossing in chopped dates or raisins for natural sweetness.
🎁 Serving Ideas
Serve it straight from the crockpot on chilly mornings with:
- A drizzle of maple syrup or honey
- Chopped walnuts or pecans for crunch
- A dollop of Greek yogurt or almond butter
- A few extra sautéed cinnamon apples on top (trust me — it’s worth it)
🕒 Make-Ahead & Storage
This oatmeal keeps up to 5 days in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop with a bit of milk or water to loosen it up. You can even freeze it in single portions — perfect for busy mornings.
Waking up to this oatmeal feels like a small luxury — the kind of simple comfort that makes weekday mornings a little softer. It’s wholesome, warm, and ready when you are. Next time you’re staring down a busy week, prep a batch of this Overnight Crockpot Oatmeal with Apples & Cinnamon and let your slow cooker do the work while you rest.