Wondering what to do with your crockpot? Why not make oatmeal
Stacy Sloan
| 2 min read
As summer draws to a close, there’s a chillier feeling in the air and autumn seems like it’s just around the corner. With the kids back in school and our schedules stretched to the limit, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the prospect of putting wholesome meals on the table each and every day. Luckily, with a little planning, the most important meal of the day is a no-brainer.
Oatmeal is a breakfast staple, but with a busy morning routine, it can be a hassle to make a batch from scratch, rather than tearing a pouch open and popping it in the microwave. There’s nothing quite as comforting as a steamy bowl of freshly made oats with whole fruit, rather than a mug of pulverized oats and rehydrated apple flakes. I set out to create a recipe that was delicious and easy to grab in the morning, likely on the way out the door.
My friends can tell you that I’ve never been a fan of crockpots, and until last night, I have never even used one. I liked the idea that I could prepare a batch of oatmeal and let it sit in the crockpot overnight, and the aroma would fill the house as we woke up this morning. I love apples when they’re in season, and wanted to include them in my recipe. You can use any type of apple you like. I used what I had in the fridge (Granny Smith and Honeycrisp). Feel free to tinker with this recipe to make it your own by adding spices like cinnamon or nutmeg.
Overnight Apple Oatmeal
Ingredients
1 cup whole grain oats (not instant or quick-cooking minute oats)
1 cup skim milk
1 cup apple juice or apple cider
2 Tb. pure maple syrup
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
3 apples, peeled and chopped (large chunks)
1 Tb. freshly grated ginger (be sure to use FRESH – ground doesn’t taste the same)
1 cup skim milk
1 cup apple juice or apple cider
2 Tb. pure maple syrup
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
3 apples, peeled and chopped (large chunks)
1 Tb. freshly grated ginger (be sure to use FRESH – ground doesn’t taste the same)
Directions
Spray the crockpot with cooking spray and combine all of the ingredients. Stir to combine and set the crockpot to the low setting. Cover with the lid and set the timer to cook for 6 hours. Enjoy!
What is your favorite food to make in a crockpot?
Photo credit: SaucyGlo
