Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats with fried apples

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These apple cinnamon overnight oats with Baked Apples are the perfect quick breakfast. They are vegan, dairy-free, prepared in no time and are great when you need to get up quickly in the morning. Since the overnight oats are prepared the evening before, all you have to do in the morning is take them out of the fridge, fry the baked apples briefly and your breakfast is ready. In addition, these purely plant-based overnight oats are also super filling and healthy. Why? I tell you in the following paragraphs.

Apple cinnamon overnight oatmeal with roasted apples

It’s hard to imagine life today without oatmeal and it has become a real trend food. Which makes totally sense, as oats aren’t only incredibly filling, but also healthy. You’re certainly already familiar with the good old porridge. But not only porridge is on everyone’s lips at the moment, but also overnight oats. As the name suggests, these are oatmeal flakes that are soaked overnight. This makes them really creamy and you don’t have to deal with cooking oatmeal early the next day. Overnight oats are the porridge for lazy people. But more about this later on.

Overnight oats can be prepared in countless variations, so they never get boring. I can actually eat them every day! But there`s one thing they always have in common, which is that it’s best to prepare them in the same jar you want to eat them. Stress-free breakfast level 10! I prefer to mix them in a mason jar and take them to work with me.

Apple cinnamon overnight oats with fried apples

Apple cinnamon overnight oats with fried apples? It’s perfect for winter, don’t you think? In fact, this recipe is more of a coincidence. I still had apple sauce leftover from a baking experiment that had to be used up. Applesauce is not exactly known for its long shelf life when opened or homemade. But since during the week the time for baking cookies or cakes is too short, another idea for recycling the leftovers had to be found. Since I prefer to take something from home to ensure a healthy breakfast at work – otherwise I bread with jam – I thought apple cinnamon overnight oats would be an option. Quickly and easily prepared within 2 minutes the evening before and therefore perfect for a morning grouch like me.
By the way, I also prepared the baked apples the evening before and put them in an airtight container in the fridge.

Apart from that cinnamon is one of my absolute favorite spices. And the combination of apple and cinnamon is absolutely heavenly. And somehow apple and cinnamon simply belongs to winter, whether in porridge, pastry, granola or just overnight oats.
The choice to combine fried apples with cinnamon arose once again from the fact that at the moment – apart from pears – no other fruits are in season and there were still some in the fridge. And to be honest, although apple, cinnamon, and overnight oats already sound enchanting, fried apples are simply the icing on the cake. Besides, a portion of fruits simply is a must with overnight oats, don’t you think?

Overnight oats vs. porridge

Overnight Oats is porridge for the comfortable or busy ones, as I mentioned above. Nevertheless, I would like to briefly explain the differences between overnight oats and porridge.

Porridge is a creamy breakfast prepared by heating oatmeal with a liquid on the stove. The oat flakes are boiled up with water or plant-based milk. This results in a sticky or creamy porridge, depending on the amount of liquid used. Speaking of which, are you team creamy or sticky porridge? I definitely prefer a little more liquid, respectively a creamy porridge.

Overnight oats are prepared without the use of heat. Again, oats are poured over with a liquid – often plant milk or water. However, they are not heated in a saucepan but are placed in the refrigerator for several hours. Overnight oats do not necessarily have to be put in the refrigerator “overnight”, but can also be prepared in the morning 1-2 hours before breakfast. But as it’s most comfortable in the evening and one doesn’t have to get up earlier the next day, the preparation of the previous day is worthwhile. Especially in this way, the result gets really nice and creamy. Of course, you can also warm up the Overnight Oats the next morning – especially during the cold season – if you don’t want to eat them cold.

This way the overnight oats become really nice and creamy

You’re free to choose the type of oatmeal. However, personal experience has shown that overnight oats with tender oatmeal are creamier than with rolled oats. I always use tender oats for porridge and of course for my overnight oats, because I find the result much better and creamier.

You can also achieve a creamier consistency by pouring a warm liquid over your oats and letting them cool before putting them in the fridge. Not an option for me personally, as I might as well make porridge then. Most of the time it has to be done quickly, so I stick with cold liquid. But if you have enough time, you can use a warm liquid. Note that you need more liquid than when using cold.

The ratio of oatmeal to liquid recommended by many is 1:1. I prefer 1:3, which is 1 part oatmeal to about 3 parts liquid. It’s best to work your way towards your optimal ratio step by step. Start with 1:1 and slowly increase the amount of liquid.

By adding yoghurt your overnight oats will also become creamy.

Are overnight oats gluten-free?

The bad boy in overnight oats is the oatmeal. The remaining ingredients can be adjusted to be gluten-free. Oatmeal would be gluten-free in principle. Unfortunately, however, it’s possible – if not specifically declared – that regular oatmeal could be contaminated with gluten. There are several reasons for this, which I’ll not go into depth. So if you don’t tolerate gluten or want to consume any, it’s best to buy oats that are labelled gluten-free.

How healthy are overnight oats?

Overnight oats – as well as porridge – are considered a very healthy breakfast option. Why? Because they are very high in fibre. Overnight oats are also extremely filling and provide enough energy to start the day. In addition, oatmeal contains a lot of plant-based protein, magnesium and iron. In combination with nuts and fruits you supply your body with healthy fats and antioxidants. Oats contain healthy, complex carbohydrates and support our digestion and the activity of our intestines. Due to their optimal saturation level, they prevent ravenous appetite attacks.

How healthy your overnight oats also depends, of course, on what other ingredients and toppings you chose. Of course, overnight oats with added sugar, chocolate or other sugary ingredients are less healthy than those without sugar, which are simply rounded off with nuts and fruits. But overnight oats are definitely a healthier choice than white bread with jam. If only because they keep you full longer.

The perfect fried apples under 10 minutes

Okay, the traditional baked apples are actually cooked in the oven. But who wants to fire up the oven early in the morning and roast an apple in the oven for the first time? If it has to go fast for you as well, then I can highly recommend this modified baked apple variation. The apples are prepared in a covered pan. Within 5 minutes they’re ready. It’s so fast you can even do this in the morning before work. Of course, you can also prepare the apples the evening before.

All you have to do for the quick baked apple method is cut the apple into bite-sized pieces, mix them with coconut blossom sugar and cinnamon and fry them in a pan with the lid on for 2 to 3 minutes. Tastes as delicious as the original. If you’ve more time, you can, of course, roast the apples in the oven.

Low Waste tips for apple cinnamon overnight oats with fried apples

With a few tricks this recipe becomes a sustainable low waste recipe:

• buy oatmeal, spices and sweeteners at the bulk shop
• use homemade plant-based milk, for example, this almond milk
• make your own applesauce from fresh apples
• use homemade nut butter
• roast pumpkin seeds yourself with seeds from a purchased pumpkin

Alternative ingredients

Most ingredients in this recipe are interchangeable. Although I recommend tender oatmeal, you can use regular oats too. You can also choose the plant-based milk and nut butter, as well as any other toppings you like. Or you can just take what you have at home.

Apple cinnamon overnight oats – perfect for meal prep

Overnight oats are meant for you to prepare in advance. That’s how they taste best. Overnight oats should, therefore, be prepared the evening before whenever possible. You can also prepare the fried apples in advance. Leave to cool and then put them in an airtight container into the fridge. The next day you can heat them up again just before eating, preferably together with the oats.

Why you should definitely try these apple cinnamon overnight oats:

They are:

• lactose-free
• without household sugar
• completely vegan
• rich in protein
• healthy
• low waste
• easily prepared
• quickly prepared
• with local ingredients
• with seasonal ingredients
• saturating
• perfect to prepare in advance
• the perfect breakfast for the hectic everyday life

More vegan breakfast ideas:

• granola bowls
• super smoothie bowl
• Birchermüesli with fresh berries
• green power smoothie bowl
• kalavo smoothie bowl
• strawberry rhubarb crisp
• rainbow couscous bowl
• celery spirulina smoothie bowl
• arugula smoothie
• granola with nuts & dried fruits

If you are trying this apple cinnamon overnight oats, I would love your feedback here in the comments. If you share your creation of this recipe on Instagram, please don’t forget to link @velvetandvinegar and use the hashtag #velvetandvinegar. So my community and I won’t miss your contribution.

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Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats with fried apples

These apple cinnamon overnight oats with Baked Apples are the perfect quick breakfast. They are vegan, dairy-free, prepared in no time and are great when you need to get up quickly in the morning. Since the overnight oats are prepared the evening before, all you have to do in the morning is take them out of the fridge, fry the baked apples briefly and your breakfast is ready. In addition, these purely plant-based overnight oats are also super filling and healthy.

Course Breakfast

Keyword overnight oats

Prep Time 8 hours hours

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 1 serving

Author Velvet & Vinegar

Ingredients

Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats

• 75 g oats organic
• 220 ml soy milk with vanilla flavor* organic
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon organic
• 75 g applesauce organic

Fried Apples

• 20 g vegan butter or margarine organic
• 1 tbsp of coconut blossom sugar organic
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon organic
• 1 apple organic

Toppings

• 1 tbsp hazelnut butter* organic
• 1 tbsp roasted pumpkin seeds with cinnamon* organic

Instructions

• Put all ingredients for the overnight oats in a mason jar and mix well. Place in the refrigerator overnight.
• Melt butter in a pan. Cut apples into bite-sized pieces and mix with the coconut blossom sugar & cinnamon. Fry them in the covered pan for 2-3 minutes until soft.
• Put overnight oats in a bowl, add roasted apples and top off with hazelnut butter and pumpkin seeds.

Notes

Don't stir apples too hard, so that they can caramelize nicely and brown well.

Instead of vanilla-flavored soy milk, you can use flavorless or completely different plant-based milk.

Coconut blossom sugar is a good alternative to refined sugar if you want to have caramelized apples. If not, you can leave it out altogether or use another sweetener.

Instead of hazelnut butter, you can also use another nut butter.

Cinnamon pumpkin seeds can easily be made by cleaning the pumpkin seeds of a purchased pumpkin under running water, draining them, drying them well, mixing them with a little maple syrup and ground cinnamon and then roasting them in the oven for about 10 minutes.

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