This recipe makes two bowls of healthy winter oatmeal with stewed apples and pears. All you need is a handful of simple ingredients, and this humble yet filling breakfast is ready in just 20 minutes! And for more delicious apple recipes, try authentic apple strudel, sweet baked apples with raisins, or savory German apple and onion pie.
Growing up in Germany, I always associated Fall with apples. We lived near lots of apple trees, and fallen apples on the ground in Autumn became food for hedgehogs. Since then, apples have been one of my favorite fruits.
And I've been making stewed apples for breakfast since I was in high school, because it's so easy and simple! All you need is apples, cinnamon, and water.
The water and cinnamon somehow make an amazingly delicious syrup that coats the fruit. It's like magic!
Apples and pears are full of flavor and nutrients like fiber and vitamin C.
If you live in a temperate climate like the Pacific Northwest, these fruits are a wonderful way to eat seasonally throughout Autumn and Winter.
Ingredients and Notes
- Apple - The best apples in oatmeal maintain a little crunchy texture and add both sweet and tart flavors like Granny Smith, Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Gala.
- Pear - The best pear varieties in oatmeal stay firm after being cooked including Anjou, Bosc, and Bartlett.
- Ground cinnamon and nutmeg - Add warm, spiced flavors. You can also add ground allspice, cloves, and cardamom.
- Water - Hydrates the oats and provides the liquid to stew the fruit.
- Oats - I recommend using rolled oats which provide a more chewy texture compared to quick oats or instant oats.
- Salt - Just a pinch or two of salt enhances the flavors of all the other ingredients.
- Sweetener - I usually top my healthy winter oatmeal with honey. But you can use maple syrup to keep your breakfast vegan. Or brown sugar also works great.
- Chopped nuts - Optional nuts such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, or hazelnuts add a crunchy texture and nutty flavor.
How to Make Stewed Apple Oatmeal
- Stew the apple and pear: Place the apple, pear, cinnamon, nutmeg, and water in a small saucepan on the stove on medium-high heat. Simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes, until the fruit has softened.
- Prepare the oatmeal: Divide the rolled oats salt between two separate bowls. Add just enough boiling water to reach the top of the oats in the bowls. Let sit for 5 minutes, then stir the oats.
- Add the stewed fruit & toppings: Add the stewed apple & pear to each bowl of oatmeal, along with any syrup collected at the bottom of the saucepan. Top with chopped nuts and honey.
Make Ahead
You can easily turn this into overnight oats with stewed apples and pears!
Prepare the stewed fruit then allow it to cool to rom temperature.
In two separate jars or airtight containers, add the oats and salt. Add just enough milk (or dairy free milk) to cover the oats.
Add the cooled fruit to the jar along with chopped nuts and your sweetener of choice.
Mix then refrigerate overnight. Enjoy your overnight winter oats in the morning!
More Breakfast Recipes
Looking for more delicious & healthy breakfast recipes? Try these!
Healthy Winter Oatmeal with Stewed Apples
Ingredients
Stewed Apple and Pear
- 1 medium apple, washed and chopped
- 1 medium pear, washed and chopped
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
- 2 tablespoon water
Oatmeal Bowls
- 1½ cups rolled oats
- 2 pinches salt
- boiling water (enough to cover the oats divided into two bowls)
Optional Toppings
- 2 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- ¼ cup chopped nuts (such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, or hazelnuts)
Instructions
- Place the chopped apple and pear with the cinnamon, nutmeg, and 2 Tablespoons of water in a small saucepan on the stove on medium-high heat. Cover with a lid until the water begins to simmer. Turn the heat down to medium-low and keep covered with the lid, stirring occasionally. Simmer the apple and pear for about 15 to 20 minutes, until they have softened and a syrup has formed in the saucepan.
- While the apple & pear are stewing, prepare the oatmeal. Divide the rolled oats into two separate bowls and add a pinch of salt to each.
- Boil water on the stove in an electric kettle. Add just enough boiling water to reach the top of the oats in the bowls. Let sit for 5 minutes, then stir the oats.
- Add the stewed apple & pear to each bowl of oatmeal, along with the cinnamon syrup at the bottom of the pot. Top with chopped nuts and honey or maple syrup. Enjoy!!
Notes
- Apples - The best apples in oatmeal maintain a little crunchy texture and add both sweet and tart flavors like Granny Smith, Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Gala.
- Pears - The best pear varieties in oatmeal stay firm after being cooked including Anjou, Bosc, and Bartlett.
- Nuts - The nuts are optional, and they add a really delicious crunchy texture. Any of your favorite nuts work including walnuts, almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, cashews, and pistachios.
- Overnight Oats - You can make this oatmeal ahead of time. Prepare the stewed fruit then allow it to cool to rom temperature. In two separate jars or airtight containers, add the oats and salt. Add just enough milk (or dairy free milk) to cover the oats. Add the cooled fruit to the jar along with chopped nuts and your sweetener of choice. Mix then refrigerate overnight. Enjoy your overnight winter oats in the morning.
Nutrition
Living in Sync with the Seasons
Here in Portland, Oregon, we usually get one last hurrah of snow in late February, before the rainy season of Spring arrives. And while it's easy to get worn down by cold, damp weather, I try to remind myself that all the rain creates snow in the mountains, which melts into clean, drinkable water.
This reminder to myself of the gift of rain (versus seeing it as a burden) fosters a sense of harmony with the seasons. When we live in sync with the seasons, we make room for gratitude and peace.
A tangible way I strive to live seasonally is by eating foods available in my area in the current season. And this healthy Winter oatmeal with stewed apples is one of my go-to comforting meals.
More Apple and Pear Recipes
Pears and apples are in season in the Northern Hemisphere in late summer though autumn. These versatile fruits taste amazing in these delicious recipes.
Shanon
Will try this in fall, can't wait!
Carissa Erzen
Yes! It's the perfect Fall breakfast!
Diane
Simple and delicious!