Apple-Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats in the Crock Pot

I feel like I'm very late getting on the Steel Cut Oats bandwagon. I've been hearing about them for years, but the always seemed so expensive (at least compared to Old Fashioned Rolled Oats) that I didn't even bother to try. Then, back in March, Hubby and I checked our a local Mennonite market on a kid-free weekend, and there they were, for a decent price! I transfer all my dry goods to clear containers, so I don't have the price anymore, but If I remember correctly I got enough to fill a quart mason jar for less than $1.50. Not bad!


And the oatmeal? So good! How do I love steel cut oats? Let me count the ways:

1. It has great texture. No wallpaper paste here! It's not mushy at all, and it tastes great!
2. I can make it dairy-free, but it's still creamy. I always make Steel Cut Oats with water and I don't miss the milk.
3. It's Filling. The instant stuff would never stick with me, but a bowl of Steel Cut Oats usually holds me over 'til lunch time.
4. Kiddo loves it. Something my toddler will ask to eat? Say no more!
5. It reheats well. This recipe makes a big batch, which usually lasts us three breakfasts. I scoop it into a bowl, stir/smoosh in some water, and heat for a minute in the microwave, and it tastes great. (We don't mind if it's a little lumpy.)

The only down-side? It takes a LONG time to cook!

If you use the stovetop method, it takes 30 minutes or more. That wasn't going to work for our busy mornings, so I decided to try cooking them overnight.

I had been afraid to try crock pot oatmeal because I know it can go wrong and turn into a burnt, gluey mess. But since Steel Cut Oats require longer cooking time, I thought we might have better success. I went with the simplest recipe I could find and used my small 4-quart programmable crock pot that automatically turned to warm after 8 hours, so it wouldn't overcook. 

The oatmeal turned out creamy and delicious! In full disclosure, some of the oatmeal got "crispy" and brown along one side, but the vast majority was perfect.

After a few successful runs with the plain oatmeal, I decided to give a flavored oatmeal a try. I made this dairy-free since we don't usually have milk in the house (none of us like to drink it, not even Kiddo), and because I was making it for MOPs moms, some of whom could not have dairy. I was very pleased with how it turned out!

Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats in the Crock Pot

Ingredients:

• 1 cup steel cut oats
• 1 apple, cored and chopped
• 2 Tablespoons raisins
• 2-4 Tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups water

Directions:

1. Grease the crock with butter or coconut oil.
2. Combine all ingredients in the crock pot.
3. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours.
4. Stir oatmeal before serving. Feel free to stir in a little extra cinnamon to punch up the flavor. :)

Have you tried Steel Cut Oats yet? Any crock pot oatmeal fails? I'd love to hear about it in the comments!

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