Apple Ginger Steel-Cut Oats

I have always been an oatmeal fanatic. For as long as I can remember, it has been my breakfast of choice. And I certainly don’t discriminate–overnight oats, baked oatmeal, even savory oatmeal. I’ll eat it all–and quite happily! But my absolute favorite? Steel-cut oats. With their perfectly creamy and yet still slightly chewy texture, I can never get enough. Especially during cooler weather.

So it should come as no surprise that this apple ginger steel-cut oatmeal has become a staple at our house this fall. It’s warm, it’s comforting, it’s healthy. Between the creamy gingery base and the tender caramelized apples, it’s the perfect way to start the day!

As written, the oatmeal is slightly sweet. But you can drizzle on extra maple syrup at the very end if you want to sweeten it up. The same goes with the ground ginger. While the flavor is definitely there, it’s not over the top. So you can absolutely up the amount to give it even more spice!

One of the best parts about steel-cut oatmeal is that it reheats beautifully. Let the oatmeal cool completely and then store in an airtight container in the fridge. You can either store the oatmeal and apples in separate containers, or just go ahead and swirl the apples right into the oat base. Reheat servings throughout the week, adding in a splash or so more milk if needed to get it back to a nice and creamy consistency.

One final note–I picked up the tip to toast the oats before adding to the simmering liquid from America’s Test Kitchen many many years ago. I think this makes a difference in taste (it boosts the flavor), but you could certainly skip this step if desired.