Apple Cinnamon Stove-top Oatmeal with Vegan Icing
Warm Golden Delicious apples, rolled oats, almond milk, brown sugar, and cinnamon come together to create the comforting seasonal breakfast of your dreams.
Warm Apple Cinnamon Stove-top Oatmeal
I don’t know about you, but when the winter months roll around, I ditch all the breakfast smoothies, yogurt bowls, and anything the slightest bit cold for breakfast, and switch to more warm, comforting meals like this apple cinnamon stove-top oatmeal. This oatmeal is a breakfast that warms your soul from the inside out, encapsulating all the wonderful flavors of fall and wintertime.
With softened Golden Delicious apples, aromatic cinnamon, and sweet flavors of brown sugar, these oats resemble the coziest fall hug you could ever receive.
How to Make Apple Cinnamon Stove-top Oatmeal
Cooking up this oatmeal is quick and simple, making it a convenient warm breakfast recipe for the chilly months.
Begin by boiling almond milk, water, brown sugar, cinnamon & salt.
Add oats & apples, then simmer.
Mix in vegan butter & vanilla essence.
Serve with homemade vegan icing drizzle (recipe below), and top with walnuts & hemp hearts.
Double or triple the measurements in this recipe to make large batches for holiday brunch or weekend family breakfasts!
For leftovers, store in the fridge in glass food containers for up to 3 days. Warm in the microwave or on the stove-top. Keep in mind, you may have to add more milk or water for reheating purposes. Store vegan icing separately.
Apple Cinnamon Stove-top Oatmeal with Vegan Icing
Recipe Author: Nicole Riggs
Warm Golden Delicious apples, rolled oats, almond milk, brown sugar, and cinnamon come together to create the comforting seasonal breakfast of your dreams. Top with homemade vegan icing, walnuts, and hemp hearts for a nourishing, protein-packed meal for your mornings.
Makes 2-3 servings
Equipment:
Medium-sized pot for stove-top, liquid measuring cups, dry measuring cups, measuring spoons, cutting board
Ingredients:
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
2 cups water
1 cup almond milk
2 tsp cinnamon
5 tbsp brown sugar
1 1/2 cups gluten-free old fashioned rolled oats
2 small-medium Golden Delicious apples, chopped
1 1/2 tbsp vegan butter
splash vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
Vegan Icing Drizzle
3 tbsp vegan sour cream
3 tbsp powdered sugar
1/4 cup almond milk
Optional Toppings:
Raw walnuts
Hemp hearts
Instructions:
Bring water, almond milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt to a boil on the stove.
Add oats and chopped apples. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 13 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed. Stir every couple of minutes to avoid sticking.
Remove oats from heat and add vegan butter and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
To make vegan icing, simple whisk together all ingredients until creamy and smooth. Use more or less almond milk depending on desired consistency. Taste test and add more powdered sugar if you like it sweeter.
Drizzle oats with vegan icing and add desired toppings. Best enjoyed immediately!
Health Benefits of Apple Cinnamon Stove-top Oatmeal
Golden Delicious Apples: you know what they say, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. And this statement might actually be true.
Golden delicious apples are a unique type of apple because they have yellow skin. Their yellow hue presents from their high carotenoid content - an antioxidant responsible for yellow, orange, and red pigments. Carotenoids can be converted to Vitamin A in the body, enhancing immune support, growth, and eye health. Antioxidants, including carotenoids, come with a wide range of amazing health benefits, including improved heart health, brain health, and reduced disease risk.
Additionally, golden delicious apples are loaded with other vitamins and minerals, like zinc, iron, and potassium.
Another antioxidant-rich ingredient, rolled oats are most notably known for their avenanthramides. Avenanthramides are powerful antioxidants that may reduce the risk of heart disease by increasing nitric oxide production, which aids in dilation of blood vessels, resulting in increased blood flow. Avenanthramides also have anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and anti-itching properties.
Rolled oats are also known for being a heart-healthy food because of their high beta-glucan content. Beta-glucan is a unique, soluble fiber that partially dissolves in water and partially forms a gel-like solution in the gut. Beta-glucan is extremely beneficial for gut health, lowering cholesterol levels, stabilizing blood sugar levels, and stimulating the immune system.
Cinnamon: studies have found that cinnamon protects against cardiovascular diseases in numerous ways, including heart protection, regulation of immune response, lowering of blood lipids, anti-oxidative properties, and anti-inflammatory properties.
In studies using cells and animals, cinnamon even had the ability to slow cancer growth and kill tumor cells.
Walnuts & Hemp Hearts: hemp seeds are so easy to add on anything because of their versatility and subtle taste. Hemp seeds are a great source of polyunsaturated and essential fatty acids. They have a 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3, which is considered to be optimal range.
Like hemp hearts, walnuts have alpha-linolenic and linoleic acids, which have anti-inflammatory effects that keeps blood vessels healthy. Walnuts also contain a lot of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are healthier than saturated fats.
