Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Bake
By the GreenSpoon Kids kitchen
A warm, cozy baked oatmeal studded with tender apple pieces and fragrant cinnamon. Like apple pie for breakfast but much healthier.
Baked oatmeal is the make-ahead breakfast that makes busy mornings calm. This cinnamon apple version bakes oats, milk, egg, and tender apple into a warm, sliceable bake that tastes a little like apple pie but is mostly whole grains and fruit. You make it once, cut it into squares, and reheat through the week. For a 2 to 3 year old, it is a cozy, hold-it-yourself breakfast that feels like a treat.
Ingredients(9)
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 medium apple, peeled and diced small
- 1 cup milk
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- Pinch of salt
Instructions(8 steps)
- 1
Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F. Grease a small baking dish.
- 2
Mix oats, diced apple, and cinnamon in a bowl.
- 3
In a separate bowl, whisk milk, egg, maple syrup, vanilla, and melted butter.
- 4
Pour wet ingredients over oat mixture and stir to combine.
- 5
Pour into prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
- 6
Bake for 35-40 minutes until set and golden on top.
- 7
Let cool for 5 minutes before cutting into squares.
- 8
Serve warm, optionally with a drizzle of yogurt.
Nutritional Highlights
- -Oats provide sustained energy and fiber
- -Apples add natural sweetness and vitamin C
- -Egg adds protein for growing bodies
- -Cinnamon may help regulate blood sugar
Age Appropriateness
A hearty breakfast for 2-3 year olds. Can be made ahead and reheated for busy mornings.
Introduction Tip
Make a batch on Sunday and reheat portions throughout the week. Pairs wonderfully with a side of fresh fruit.
Why this works
A baked oatmeal solves the weekday breakfast scramble: one dish on the weekend covers several mornings. The egg sets the oats into a soft, sliceable square that an older toddler can pick up or eat with a fork, while the apple and cinnamon make it naturally appealing. Oats give it staying power so your child is satisfied until snack, and because the apple brings real sweetness, you can keep the added syrup low or skip it. It reheats beautifully, which is the whole point.
Variations and swaps
- Cut the maple syrup down or leave it out entirely, since ripe apple makes it sweet enough.
- Swap the apple for pear, banana, or a handful of berries.
- Use a fortified plant-based milk and oil to make it dairy-free.
- Stir in a spoonful of smooth nut or seed butter, or a sprinkle of seeds, for extra richness.
- Serve warm with a drizzle of plain yogurt instead of syrup.
Make ahead and storage
This is a meal-prep star. Keep it covered in the fridge for up to 4 days, and reheat individual squares gently until warm. It also freezes well: slice it, freeze the portions, and reheat from frozen until piping hot, then cool before serving. One bake genuinely covers most of a week of breakfasts.
What to serve with it
Serve a warm square on its own, or with a little plain yogurt and some extra fruit. Cut it into small, manageable pieces or strips for your child, and it works equally well at the table or packed for daycare. Let an older toddler hold their square and go at their own pace.
Common questions
Can I make this without the maple syrup?
Yes. The apple provides plenty of natural sweetness, so you can reduce the syrup or leave it out entirely, especially for younger toddlers. A really ripe, sweet apple or a mashed banana stirred in covers the sweetness on its own.
How long does baked oatmeal keep?
It keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days and freezes for up to a month, which is what makes it such a useful make-ahead. Reheat squares gently until warm, and add a splash of milk if you like it softer.
Is the egg fully cooked?
Yes. Bake until the center is set and golden on top with no wet, uncooked batter, which means the egg is fully cooked through as it should be for a young child. The 35 to 40 minute bake takes care of that.
Can younger babies eat this?
The texture suits toddlers best, but you can offer soft pieces to an older baby who is confident with finger foods. Make sure the apple is diced very small and soft, cut the bake into baby-sized pieces, and supervise closely.
Parent guide
Read our toddler feeding guides
