Creamy Oats with Stewed Apples and Cinnamon

This is a calm, warming breakfast: soft oats cooked in milk, topped with apples stewed gently with cinnamon until tender. It comes together in one small pan for the apples and one pan for the oats, and it suits a slow morning as well as a weekday start.

Ingredients

• 80 g rolled oats
• 400 ml milk, or a plant-based milk
• 2 apples, peeled, cored, and diced
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup, plus more to taste
• A pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts, to serve (optional)

Method

1. Put the diced apples, half the cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons of water in a small pan. Cover and cook over low heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the apples are soft.
2. Meanwhile, put the oats, milk, and salt in a second pan. Bring to a gentle simmer, then cook over low heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often, until thick and creamy.
3. Stir the remaining cinnamon and the honey or maple syrup into the oats.
4. Spoon the oats into bowls, top with the stewed apples, and scatter over the walnuts if using.
5. Serve warm.

Tip

If the oats thicken too much while standing, stir in a splash of warm milk before serving.