Cranberry Apple Crockpot Oatmeal Recipe
This Cranberry Apple Crockpot Oatmeal is a warm, comforting breakfast perfect for busy mornings. Made with old-fashioned oats, diced apples, dried cranberries, and cozy spices, it cooks slowly overnight in a crockpot for an effortless and hearty start to your day. Customize with your favorite toppings like nuts or a drizzle of honey for added texture and sweetness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes to 8 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 2 cups milk (dairy or plant-based)
- 1 cup water
- 1 large apple, peeled and diced
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (or honey/maple syrup)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Pinch of salt
Optional Toppings
- Chopped nuts
- More fresh fruit
- Honey
- Cream
Instructions
- Add Ingredients to the Crockpot: Spray the inside of your crockpot with cooking spray or line it with a crockpot liner. Combine the oats, milk, water, diced apple, dried cranberries, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in the crockpot. Stir everything thoroughly to evenly distribute the ingredients.
- Cook Overnight: Cover the crockpot with the lid and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours. This slow cooking allows the oats to absorb the flavors and soften perfectly, making it ideal for overnight preparation.
- Stir and Serve: In the morning, give the oatmeal a good stir to mix all the cooked ingredients well. Serve warm in bowls and add your favorite toppings such as fresh fruit, nuts, or a drizzle of honey for extra flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use a crockpot liner for easier cleanup since oatmeal tends to stick to the sides.
- Don’t skip the pinch of salt—it balances the sweetness and enhances flavor.
- Add toppings just before serving to keep textures fresh and delightful.
- For creamier oatmeal, replace the water with milk entirely.
- Double the recipe for meal prep; leftovers reheat well for quick breakfasts.
- Milk alternatives like almond, oat, or coconut milk work well for dairy-free options.
- Swap brown sugar for honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar as preferred.
- Experiment with add-ins like chopped nuts, raisins, or shredded coconut for extra texture.
- Try substituting nutmeg with pumpkin pie spice or add a splash of vanilla extract for flavor variations.
- Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Keywords: Crockpot oatmeal, cranberry apple oatmeal, slow cooker breakfast, healthy oatmeal recipe, make-ahead breakfast, autumn breakfast, cozy breakfast
