Slow Cooker Cinnamon Apple Steel-Cut Oatmeal

Ingredients

• 2 cups steel-cut oats
• 6 cups water
• 1 cup milk (dairy or unsweetened non-dairy)
• 2 apples, peeled and diced
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp butter, for greasing the slow cooker

Instructions

1. Grease the inside of the slow cooker insert generously with the butter, going all the way up the sides; steel-cut oats can stick and scorch badly on unbuttered edges during long slow cooking.
2. Add the steel-cut oats, water, and milk to the greased slow cooker and stir to combine.
3. Add the diced apples, maple syrup, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and kosher salt, stirring again so the spices are evenly distributed.
4. Do not use quick oats or rolled oats in this recipe; they will turn to a gluey paste over a long cook time, while steel-cut oats hold their texture.
5. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours, or overnight, until the oats are tender and creamy but still have a slight chew; times vary by slow cooker, so check at the 6-hour mark the first time you make this.
6. Avoid cooking on HIGH for this recipe; the dairy and sugar in the mixture can scorch or curdle at higher slow cooker temperatures over a long stretch.
7. If the oatmeal looks too thick when you check it, stir in an additional 1/4 to 1/2 cup of milk or water and continue cooking.
8. Once done, stir in the vanilla extract; adding it at the end preserves its flavor better than cooking it in for hours.
9. Give the oatmeal a final vigorous stir, since some liquid may pool on top even when the oats underneath are fully cooked.
10. Taste and adjust sweetness with a little more maple syrup if desired.
11. Spoon into bowls and serve warm, topped with extra diced apple, a drizzle of maple syrup, or a splash of milk.
12. Leftovers keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days; reheat with a splash of milk to loosen the texture.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is an estimate per serving and is not a substitute for professional dietary advice.