Caramelized Cinnamon Apple Oats

Since autumn is upon us, I thought I’d get around to posting on here again. Life has been quite a whirlwind with moving across the country and getting settled into a whole new routine. My favorite thing so far about our new home is being right across the street from a farmers market that is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays through the end of October. I always grab a bunch of fresh local apples there, and they taste just so much better than any apple I can remember in ages.

This recipe is easy to make and comes together in under 15 minutes. The caramelized apples are warm and gooey, and they also make a great topping for pancakes or nice cream. Feel free to use any oats or extra toppings you like for this recipe.

Ingredients (Oats):

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp raw pumpkin seeds (optional, for topping)
• 1 tsp almond butter (optional, for topping)

Ingredients (Caramelized Apples):

• 1 Whole apple, sliced no more than 1 inch thick
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tbsp coconut sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

1. Bring water to a boil in a small sauce pan and stir in oats. Lower heat to simmer. Stir in cinnamon and vanilla.
2. While oats are cooking, heat a sauce pan over medium-high heat with 1/4 cup of water. Once warm, add apples and coconut sugar.
3. Stir the apples frequently as the sauce thickens. Add cinnamon after a couple minutes. Once the sauce has thickened and is low in the pan, and the apples have softened (after about 7-10 minutes), remove from heat and stir. If you find your sauce is getting too thick too fast, lower heat and add a bit more water.
4. Add the cooked oats to a bowl and top with the caramelized apples. Add additional toppings if desired.