Peanut butter apple oatmeal is a hearty yet easy to make breakfast filled with plant-based ingredients. The addition of bananas adds natural sweetness to the bowl and pairs well with the crunchy apples and cinnamon.
This recipe was originally published on May 11, 2021 but was republished with updated photos and helpful step by step instructions on January 20, 2025.
This filling meal contains crunchy apples that get mixed into peanut butter cinnamon oats creating a tasty balance of texture and flavors.
This everyday breakfast recipe is popular year round, but especially during the fall for apple season! If you’re a fan of oats, you’ll love these PB&J overnight oats, blueberry lemon overnight oats and vegan apple oat muffins!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Oatmeal is a classic breakfast! It is wholesome, filling and surprisingly flavorful.
- This simple recipe is easy enough to make every day for a fresh hot breakfast.
- Peanut butter and apple oatmeal is cozy, warming and perfect during the fall and winter seasons.
Ingredient Notes
- Rolled oats - also known as old fashioned oats. These oats will cook fast, keeping this a quick breakfast recipe.
- Apples - use your favorite variety of apples. I recommend dicing up the apple into small, bite-sized pieces.
- Banana - this is the secret ingredient to making the oats naturally sweet! Make sure the banana is nice and ripe for the maximum amount of sweetness.
- Peanut butter - adds a creamy texture and nutty flavor to every bite.
- Almond milk - pairs well with the nutty peanut butter.
- Cinnamon - a necessary warming spice that helps balance out the flavors.
- Salt - adding a small amount of salt brings out the flavor in each element.
Substitutions and Variations
- Almond butter - use almond butter in place of peanut butter.
- Nut-free - use sun butter (sunflower seed butter) in place of peanut butter, and make sure to use nut-free milk such as oat milk, soy milk or regular milk.
- Toppings - add your favorite topping like coconut shavings, chia seeds, nuts and berries.
Step by Step Instructions
Add the rolled oats, almond milk, cinnamon, and salt to a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat until the liquid begins to boil.
Stir the oatmeal and reduce the heat to low. Allow it to simmer for a few minutes until most of the almond milk has been absorbed.
Add the bananas and peanut butter. Mix well until the peanut butter has distributed and the banana has broken down into small pieces.
Stir in the apples. Add toppings of your choosing and serve immediately while nice and warm.
Top Tip
Make sure to mix in the peanut butter well as the oatmeal cooks. That way every bite will have peanut butter in it! I like to use natural peanut butter but feel free to use your favorite!
Storage
Apple peanut butter oatmeal is best served hot and fresh. I do not recommend making this ahead of time and storing it. The oatmeal will dry up a bit if it sits for too long. I do not recommend freezing this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes you can opt to use steel cut oats instead of rolled oats. Please note that steel cut oats will take longer to cook.
No the banana is not necessary but it adds natural sweetness. If you leave the banana out I recommend adding in a drizzle of honey or maple syrup to help balance it out.
Peanut Butter Apple Oatmeal
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ¾ cup almond milk
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- ½ banana diced
- 2 tablespoon peanut butter
- ¼ cup apple diced
Instructions
- Add the rolled oats, almond milk, cinnamon, and salt to a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat until the liquid begins to boil.
- Stir the oatmeal and reduce the heat to low. Allow it to simmer for a few minutes until most of the almond milk has been absorbed.
- Add the bananas and peanut butter. Mix well until the peanut butter has distributed and the banana has broken down into small pieces.
- Stir in the diced apples.
- Serve immediately while nice and warm!
Em says
What an easy and hearty breakfast! I like sprinkling brown sugar on top of my bowl of oats.