Apple & Cinnamon Porridge Recipe

This apple & cinnamon porridge can be made in a slow cooker over night, in microwave or on the hob. Made with fresh apples and water, so it’s budget friendly recipe. Can be made dairy free (just leave out the butter). Great for cold mornings, very filling and nutritious.

This recipe is also super frugal, because it’s made with water instead milk. Since you need quite a lot of liquid for the oats to soak up, I thought I’d use water to make this recipe very budget friendly.

Porridge is one of my favourite breakfasts in autumn and winter. It’s such a comforting food, which can be made in so many different varieties and it’s also so brilliantly filling!

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How to make this recipe if you don’t have a slow cooker

This recipe for slow cooker morning oats is a great way of using your time efficiently in the morning, as your breakfast will be ready and waiting for you when you get up.

If you don’t have a slow cooker pot, you can make these from normal oats, which are much softer and take next to no time to make on the hob (or even in the microwave).

What sort of oats are best for this recipe

To make this porridge recipe you’ll need so called ‘steal cut’ porridge oats (if you are in USA) or rough cut Scottish Oats if you are in UK. If you use basic oats, you’ll end up with a sticky mess after all night in a slow cooker. The solution is to cut the time of cooking in half and set your slow cooker timer for about 3 hrs before you want to have your breakfast porridge.

Slow cooker instructions

The slow cooker time can vary from make to make, so please check your manufactures instructions. The time will also vary depending on the volume of your oats. I’ve used fairly small amount of oats (just one cup) as it’s just the two of us, but if you are a family of four or more, you’d want to double up the recipe. This would also increase the time to about 6-8 hrs.

How to make this recipe with different fruit

This recipe is also using apples, but you can replace them with any fruit you like. Pears or plums are particularly good. Alternatively, you can leave out the apples and just use the basic recipe for slow porridge oats and add softer fruit on top afterwards.

Ingredients you will need

• 1 apple sliced extra small pieces for microwave and on the hob version
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup oats coarse for slow cooker or fine oats for microwave or on the hob version
• 2 cups water
• 1 tbsp butter leave out or use dairy free butter for dairy free version of this recipe

How to make my porridge recipe dairy free & vegan

This is such a versatile recipe, which can be easily made dairy free and vegan. The only thing you need to change is either to leave out the butter or use a dairy free version.

It’s only a small amount, which doesn’t make much difference. Since I’m using water for this recipe, I do like to add the butter in for flavour by honestly it’s not a big deal if you don’t add it in.

Slow Cooker Porridge Recipe Version

• Use the butter to coat the bottom of the slow cooker to prevent possible sticking of the oats.
• Add the apple slices, followed by the sugar and cinnamon
• Add oats and pour water over it
• Set your slow cooker on about 4 hrs and leave to cook on very low (overnight)
• Serve with extra slices of apple, dash of cream and honey.

On the Hob Porridge Recipe Version

• Add the oats, apple slices, cinnamon and the water into a medium size saucepan and set on very low heat. If you want to you can bring the water to boil and then turn the heat right down.
• Keep slow boiling for 5-10 minutes, adding water if needed and stirring slowly once in a while.
• The apples should be soft after this time, but do check them in case they need a longer. I also find that cutting the apples into smaller pieces helps quite a bit.
• Once the apples are soft, add the sugar and stir it in.
• Pour into bowls, add your toppings and serve straightaway.

Microwave Porridge Version Recipe

• Add all ingredients in a large microwavable bowl and place in a microwave on a full power. Set initially for 2-3 minutes, but watch the bowl as the oats can easily overboil. Stir after 1 minute and continue stirring every 30 seconds or so.
• Check the apples and when they are soft (and most of the water is absorbed by the oats) your porridge is done.
• Pour into bowls, add your toppings and serve straightaway.

Toppings for Apple & Cinnamon Porridge

I like to serve my porridge oats with cinnamon and a little bit of honey, maple syrup or my homemade dandelion honey. But there are so many other toppings you can serve this porridge with.

One of my favourite toppings is a handful of chopped nuts, like walnuts or pecans. Sometimes, I also sprinkle some seeds, such as sunflower or pumpkin seeds.

You can also add a bit of granola for some extra crunch or sprinkle cacao nibs. And for those colder mornings, a dollop of nut butter, like almond or peanut butter, melts beautifully into the warm porridge and gives me extra energy and protein.

This blog post was originally written on 2 October 2019 and last updated on 3 February 2025