Dessert

Baked Apple Cranberry Oatmeal Recipe

BySophie Carsel December 14, 2025December 14, 2025

Introduction

This Baked Apple Cranberry Oatmeal is a cozy and wholesome breakfast perfect for chilly mornings. Packed with tart apples, sweet cranberries, and crunchy nuts, it offers a delightful combination of flavors and textures. Easy to prepare and bake, it’s a comforting start to your day.

A rough-textured brown and beige crumbly baked dish with visible oats and pieces of dried cranberries fills a square white baking dish in the background, with a silver spoon resting inside. In the foreground, a smaller white bowl holds a serving of the same crumbly dessert, showing more details of the oats and cranberries, along with pieces of nuts or other bits, with a silver spoon sticking out. The bowl sits on a white cloth napkin with a thin gold ribbon and dried cranberries scattered around, all placed on a white marbled surface with some green leaves and pinecones blurred in the back. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

2 cups 2% Reduced Fat Milk
2 Large Eggs
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon Ground Allspice
1/4 teaspoon Ground Ginger
1/8 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
2 Granny Smith Apples
2 cups Large Flake Oats
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 cup Dried Cranberries
1/2 cup Assorted Nuts
2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
2 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
2 tablespoons Brown Sugar (for topping)
1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon (for topping)
1/4 cup Assorted Nuts (for topping)

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, salt, allspice, ginger, and nutmeg until well combined.
Step 3: Peel and core the apples, then cut them into 1/2-inch chunks and add to the bowl with the wet ingredients.
Step 4: Stir in the oats and baking powder, then fold in the dried cranberries and half the assorted nuts. Pour the mixture into a greased 9×9 or 7×11-inch baking dish.
Step 5: In a small bowl, combine the butter, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and remaining nuts. Use a fork or pastry cutter to mix until crumbly. Sprinkle this topping evenly over the oatmeal mixture.
Step 6: Bake for 25 to 28 minutes until the oatmeal is set and the topping is golden brown.
Step 7: Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy it warm with milk, cream, or yogurt.

Tips & Variations

For a dairy-free option, substitute almond or oat milk and use a plant-based butter alternative.
Swap dried cranberries for other dried fruits like raisins or chopped dates to change the flavor profile.
Add a handful of chopped fresh or frozen berries for extra color and antioxidants.
Try different nuts such as walnuts, pecans, or almonds for varied texture and taste.

Storage

Store any leftover baked oatmeal in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave for about 1 to 2 minutes until warm. You can also freeze portions for up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

How to Serve

A white square dish filled with a crumbly, light brown baked dessert that has a coarse texture with bits of nuts and dried fruit. Next to it is a white bowl with a rough beige outer texture, holding a scoop of the same dessert showing visible chunks, nuts, and a few red dried berries on top. A silver spoon rests inside the bowl. The dish and bowl sit on a white cloth with a thin gold grid pattern, scattered with a few red dried berries and a gold ribbon. The whole setting is on a white marbled texture with green leaves and pinecones slightly visible in the back. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I prepare this oatmeal the night before?

Yes, you can assemble the oatmeal mixture and topping the night before and keep it covered in the refrigerator. Bake it fresh in the morning for best texture and flavor.

Can I use steel-cut oats instead of rolled oats?

Steel-cut oats require longer cooking times and more liquid, so they are not the best choice for this baked pudding. It’s best to use large flake oats for the right texture and baking time.