Apple + Walnut Steel Cut Oatmeal

We received a Hamilton Beach® Rice Cooker in exchange for creating this recipe. The opinions and ideas are 100% mine.

Listen, I've been telling ya'll that I'm on a mission to bring back breakfast. You are going to love this wholesome and satisfying recipe for Apple + Walnut Steel Cut Oatmeal. Whole grains simmered with fresh apples and cinnamon and topped with crunchy walnuts, honey and butter. (No bland oats for me.)

Plus you'll get our EASY way to make oatmeal without having to stand over it.

Apple + Walnut Steel Cut Oatmeal

Everyone in my home loves oatmeal. Well...except for my husband. But the kids love it, so I'll take it! They love the quick cook, the old fashioned, and our favorite, steel cut oats.

If you have never tried steel cut oats, you should. And here's why:

• The flavor of steel cut oats is "nuttier" than rolled oats.
• Steel cut oats have a satisfying "chew" to them, with more texture than old fashioned oats.
• Steel cut oats are less processed than other forms of oatmeal.
• Your body digests steel cut oatmeal more slowly, keeping you full and energized longer.

To me, the only drawback with steel cut oats is they take longer to cook than other oat varieties. If you are trying to prepare steel cut oats in the morning before work and school, it can become a little bothersome. Why? You've got to make trips back and forth to the stove while you are trying to get the kids dressed and do something with that hair.

So we've got a little trick for you to try so you can enjoy Apple + Walnut Steel Cut Oats with zero hassle.

The secret to perfect steel cut oats? Cook them in your rice cooker.  Get your Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker from Amazon. I am in love with mine for rice, oatmeal, soups and more.

Listen, if you are only using your rice cooker to prepare rice in, you are missing out. I use mine like a slow cooker and steamer. Don't get me wrong, it makes perfect, fluffy rice like a dream. But it also is great for simmering soups and chili. My favorite meal to make in it is rice in the bottom and steam veggies and fish in the top. (Seriously hands-free cooking.)

Using it to prepare your morning oatmeal is the best. Just add your ingredients, press a button, and go do your thing.

Here's how to do it:

1. Add the steel cut oats, flavorings and liquid to the rice cooker.
2. Close the cooker and press the whole grains button.
3. Go get ready for work and school.
4. Eat.

I'm not even kidding. Hot breakfast is happening.

More wholesome breakfast ideas:

Cheesy Easy Biscuit Breakfast Pizzas

Morning Makeover in 3 Simple Steps

Turkey Breakfast Bake Casserole

What You'll Need to Make Apple + Walnut Steel Cut Oatmeal:

The great thing about making this easy breakfast recipe is there are no fancy, hidden ingredients. Plus, you get to control the sweetness. And did I mention how affordable this oatmeal recipe is? CHEAP.

• Steel cut oats
• Salt
• Cinnamon
• Chopped apples
• Raisins or cranberries
• Water and / or milk
• Nuts
• Butter + honey (very tasty but optional toppings)

Dump all of the ingredients into the rice cooker pot. Yep, just throw it in. (Get the exact amounts in the recipe at the bottom of this post.) Stir everything together.

Some notes for the best results:

• Use the measuring cup that comes with the rice cooker. It is a little less than a normal measuring cup. If you don't have that cup, just make sure you use a 1 to 2.5 ratio of oats to liquid. (For every cup of oats, add two and a half cups of liquid.)
• For a creamier bowl of oats, use half milk and half water.
• Chop your apples in ½ inch chunks. This way they are still bite-sized, but not so small that they completely turn into mush.
• Don't put the walnuts in the cooker. They have a much better texture when sprinkled on top just before serving.

Once you have everything ready, close the lid. On the Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker, press the 'WHOLE GRAINS' button. Then the rice cooker will do all the work. It took about 45 minutes until my oatmeal was finished. It may take a little shorter or longer depending on the amount of liquid you add. But that's the cool thing, the rice cooker knows when they are done and will turn off and keep the oatmeal warm until you are ready.

No peeking. No stirring. No boil overs. Nice, huh?

What about overnight oats? Yep, you can totally prepare this the night before. Just place the ingredients in the cooker and close the lid. Use the delay start setting on the rice cooker, and then choose the 'HOT CEREALS' button instead.

Look at how perfect this bowl of Apple + Walnut Steel Cut Oatmeal is! And can I tell you something? It tastes just as wonderful as it looks. Warm and comforting, nutritious and filling, this is a tasty way to start your day. Every day.

To serve, scoop a generous amount of the warm oatmeal into a bowl. Top with a pat of butter, drizzle with honey and sprinkle with chopped walnuts.

This recipe makes about 6 servings. Depending on the size of your family, you may have leftovers. No problem. Just store any leftovers in the fridge. To reheat, add a splash of milk, heat, and serve. You could even double the recipe to have a week of yummy steel cut oatmeal ready to go.

More flavor ideas for Steel Cut Oatmeal:

• Swap the apples for bananas and sprinkle a few chocolate chips instead of walnuts. I won't tell.
• Use almonds in place of walnuts.
• Instead of using water, use apple juice.
• Seasonal pears would be perfect in this recipe.
• How about using dried cranberries in place of the raisins?
• Make it Southern-style: use peaches and pecans instead of apples and walnuts.

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