Caramel Apple Healthy Oatmeal Breakfast (Vegan + Gluten Free)

This healthy caramel apple oatmeal recipe is so delicious and satisfying. It truly tastes like you’re eating dessert for breakfast but it’s made with only wholesome, nourishing ingredients. Is there anything better than a filling and nourishing breakfast that tastes like a festive treat? I really don’t think so! This bowl of oatmeal is incredibly yummy and gives me Halloween vibes with the caramel apple flavors.

The caramel sauce recipe is so easy to make in your food processor and comes together without any refined sugar. The caramel recipe I gave does make extra caramel sauce but trust me when I say you won’t mind! You can use the extra caramel sauce on oatmeal, desserts, yogurt, apple slices, bananas and so much more. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!

Healthy Oatmeal

This healthy breakfast recipe is not only delicious, but also vegan, gluten free, dairy free, soy free, nut free and refined sugar free.

Want More Vegan Breakfast Recipes?

If you’re interested in more vegan breakfast recipes, check out my Lemon Blueberry Oatmeal Bars (Vegan + Gluten Free). As well as my Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookies (Vegan + Gluten Free) and my Healthy Oatmeal Recipe with Easy Candied Walnuts (Vegan + Gluten Free).

Caramel Sauce Ingredients:

Medijool dates: This is a natural fruit that has a caramel-like flavor and texture. They taste like dessert but are also full of vitamins and minerals.

Coconut milk: This ingredient helps create a very creamy texture in the caramel sauce.

Maple syrup: An unrefined liquid sweetener with trace minerals and an amazing flavor.

Sea salt: Optional ingredient that brings a salty element to enhance the other sweet flavors.

Healthy Oatmeal Recipe Ingredients:

Rolled oats: Old fashioned rolled oats take a little longer to cook than instant oats. I would not substitute instant oats as the cooking time is much less and your apples won’t soften enough. I love these sprouted rolled oats and they have a huge bag at my local Costco.

Water: Liquid to cook oatmeal as well as soften the apples .

Coconut milk: Liquid to cook oatmeal but create a thicker, creamy texture. Adding coconut milk makes this oatmeal super satisfying.

Apple: Cooking the diced apple with the oatmeal makes it soft and caramelizes the natural sugars. I only dice half the apple to cook in the oatmeal and the other half I slice and use for topping.

Coconut sugar or maple syrup: An optional sweetener for the oatmeal. You can leave this ingredient out and just use the caramel sauce and apples for sweetness.

Cinnamon and nutmeg: These spices bring a delicious, earthy flavor that go well with the apple and caramel.

Sea salt: Adding sea salt brings out the other flavors but of course, you can leave it out if you prefer.

Pumpkin seeds: I like to add some healthy fats for topping. You can substitute any nut/seed you like or leave them out.

Healthy Oatmeal Instructions:

1. First, you’re going to make the caramel sauce. Add medijool dates (pitted), coconut milk, maple syrup and sea salt to your food processor.
2. Blend until you have a thick and creamy sauce, then transfer to a container and store in the fridge. This recipe obviously makes way more than most would put on one bowl of oatmeal. You can use the left over caramel to top desserts, yogurt or fruit.
3. To a pot on medium heat add rolled oats, water, coconut milk, diced apples, sweetener, cinnamon, nutmeg, sea salt. Bring to low boil and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Cook until the oats are soft to your preference then transfer oatmeal to a bowl and add your toppings.

Oatmeal Toppings

You can definitely add other toppings you like that I didn’t mention in the recipe. Some ideas are pecans, walnuts, almonds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, coconut yogurt, almond butter, etc.

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Caramel Apple Healthy Oatmeal Recipe (Vegan + Gluten Free)

Author: Adrianne

Serves: 1 bowl of oatmeal with extra caramel sauce

Ingredients:

Date Caramel Sauce:

• 8 large medijool dates (pitted)
• 1/2 cup coconut milk (I used light from a can)
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• a pinch sea salt

Oatmeal:

• 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats (use gluten free if needed)
• 1/2 cup of each water and coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon coconut sugar or maple syrup (optional sweetener)
• half a large apple (diced) (I used a cosmic apple)
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• a pinch nutmeg (optional)

• apple slices
• coconut flakes
• pumpkin seeds

Instructions:

1. To make your caramel sauce add medijool dates, coconut milk, maple syrup and sea salt to a food processor. Blend until you have a smooth caramel consistency, then place in the fridge. This recipe makes a lot of extra sauce that you can use on things like oatmeal, ice cream, cookies, apple slices, bananas, yogurt, etc.
2. Now it’s time to prepare your stovetop oatmeal. To a pot on medium heat, add rolled oats, water, coconut milk, sweetener, diced apple, cinnamon, sea salt and nutmeg. Bring to a low boil and cook, stirring frequently, for 5-7 minutes or until oats are cooked to your liking. If the liquid starts to boil over the pot, turn down the heat in order to avoid a mess.
3. When your oatmeal is cooked, transfer into a bowl. Finally, add apple slices, coconut flakes, pumpkin seeds and as much caramel sauce as you like for topping.

Healthy Breakfast Recipes

I have many healthy breakfast recipes on my site! If you’d like, check out the breakfast category of my menu to see the full list of breakfast recipes. Also, feel free to check out my Healthy Oatmeal Recipe with Easy Candied Walnuts (Vegan + Gluten Free). As well as The Best Granola Clusters (Gluten Free + Vegan) and my Peanut Butter and Jam Oatmeal Recipe (Gluten Free + Vegan). And finally, my Almond Butter Overnight Oats (Vegan + Gluten Free).

Thank You For Visiting My Blog

This post is a recipe for Healthy Caramel Apple Oatmeal. This healthy breakfast is vegan, gluten free and super easy to prepare. I hope you enjoyed this post and I’d love to hear if you make the recipe. Please leave a comment below telling me how it went for you and any suggestions of what you would like to see more of!