Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Bites
on Dec 27, 2021, Updated Dec 23, 2022
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These cinnamon apple oatmeal bites are a great handheld breakfast or snack. They store well and are a perfect mess-free way of serving oats!
I love serving oatmeal in bite-size form. Not only is it less messy, but it is so convenient, especially during a busy week. I make berry oatmeal bites and mango oatmeal bites for the boys pretty often but wanted to try something with a different flavor profile. Hence, these cinnamon apple oatmeal bites were born!
WATCH RECIPE VIDEO
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Here is what you’ll need to make these cinnamon apple oatmeal bites:
- Rolled Oats: I love baking with rolled oats as they are packed with nutrition! Certified gluten-free rolled oats make these oat bites gluten-free. I do not suggest using quick oats or steel-cut oats in this recipe as they may make the bites too soggy or too chewy.
- Milk: I use whole milk, but dairy-free alternatives also work in this recipe.
- Applesauce: For the main apple flavor in these bites. Be sure to use unsweetened applesauce.
- Maple Syrup: For added sweetness to these bites. You can adjust the amount of maple syrup added in to make them more or less sweet. You may also omit it altogether for a younger baby. If omitting, they won’t be as sweet since the applesauce alone doesn’t provide much sweetness, but a young baby likely will not mind!
- Egg: Used as a binder to help hold the oat bites together.
- Cinnamon: Provides an extra warm spice and subtle sweetness.
- Baking Powder: Leavening agent for the bites.
- Apples: For a little added sweetness and apple flavor! I used a Fuji apple in this recipe which is naturally sweet and crisp, but other varieties work as well.
PROCESS
- Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl until combined. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, applesauce, maple syrup, and egg until combined.
- Add in the dry ingredients and mix to combine. Let the oats soak up the wet ingredients for a few minutes as you prepare the apple.
- Peel and chop the apple into small pieces. Add the apples to the mixture and fold them in to combine.
- Spoon in a tablespoon of batter into a mini muffin pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, or until cooked through. Let them cool completely before removing them from the pan.
STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS
Let the oat bites completely cool and store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge. To freeze, store in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag once cooled for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply microwave the muffins for 20-30 seconds, or until warmed through!
SUBSTITUTIONS
- Eggs: You may replace the egg with a flax egg. To make a flax egg, combine 3 tablespoons of water with 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed. Let the mixture sit in the fridge for about 15 minutes until it forms a gel-like texture.
- Milk: You may substitute the milk with a dairy-free alternative, such as oat milk or coconut milk.
- Apples: The apples may be replaced with finely ground nuts, raisins, or even chocolate chips!
RECIPE NOTES
- The mixture may seem liquidy, but it will firm up as it bakes. Try to let the oats absorb some of the liquid for 3-5 minutes before transferring to the muffin pan. Also, try to make sure that there is an equal ratio of oats to liquid in each muffin cup. Allow the bites to cool completely before removing them from the muffin tray.
- This recipe makes 24 mini oat bites. You may make regular-sized oat bites by adding a few more minutes to the total bake time.
- I like to use a silicone muffin pan to bake these oat bites as they pop out easily without any sticking. If using a regular mini muffin pan, be sure to coat with a cooking spray beforehand.
Here are some other apple recipes that you make like!
Apple Oatmeal Bites
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups old fashioned rolled oats
- â…” cup milk
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 egg
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 small apple
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
- Mix the dry ingredients (rolled oats, cinnamon, and baking powder) in a bowl until combined. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, applesauce, maple syrup, and egg until combined.Â
- Add in the dry ingredients and mix to combine. Let the oats soak up the wet ingredients for a few minutes as you prepare the apple.
- Peel and chop the apple into small pieces. Add the apples to the mixture and fold them in to combine.
- Spoon in a tablespoon of batter into a mini muffin pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until the oats are firm and slightly golden. Let them cool completely before removing them from the pan.
Notes
- The mixture may seem liquidy, but it will firm up as it bakes. Try to let the oats absorb some of the liquid for 3-5 minutes before transferring to the muffin pan. Also, try to make sure that there is an equal ratio of oats to liquid in each muffin cup. Allow the bites to cool completely before removing them from the muffin tray.
- This recipe makes 24 mini oat bites. You may make regular-sized oat bites by adding a few more minutes to the total bake time.
- I like to use a silicone muffin pan to bake these oat bites as they pop out easily without any sticking. If using a regular mini muffin pan, be sure to coat with a cooking spray beforehand.
These were quick and easy to make and my toddler absolutely loves them! I’ll be serving them for breakfast throughout the week. 🙂
So glad to hear that your little one enjoys these bites!😊
love the sound of this recipe.. could I use honey instead of maple syrup?
Hi Jade! Yes, you can swap the maple syrup for honey😊
Mine fell apart & I am trying to find out why! The flavor was yummy though. Any ideas on what I did wrong?
Hi Emily! I’m so sorry that they didn’t hold together! Happy to help troubleshoot! Did you replace any of the ingredients? What type of oats did you use and did you let them fully cool before removing them from the pan?
So good! Made them with my two toddlers this morning and they were a hit! We also folded in some raisins and it was a great combo for us!
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed these bites! And I love the idea of adding in some raisins!😊
What age baby would you give something like this to?
These are suitable for babies ages 6 months+ (you can omit the maple syrup for a young baby)😊
love these as a mess free and quick to go snack. We often pack these as a healthy snack option while we are out.
I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed them! Thanks for sharing your great feedback, Alex!😊
These are super fun and easy to make with my toddler. Our whole family love them!
I’m so happy to hear that you all loved these apple bites!😊
These are delicious and so easy to make! I made them in a regular muffin pan and they were the perfect size for my almost 2 year old. These were a hit and I’ll definitely make them again.
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed these apple bites! Thanks for sharing your great feedback, Courtney😊
Just wanted to say I’ve made so many of your other recipes and they’re delicious! I was wondering if I could use almond milk for this recipe?
Hi Lauren! I’m so glad to hear that you’ve been enjoying the recipes you’ve been trying! Yes, you can use almond milk for these oatmeal bites😊
Delicious – even without the maple syrup. Hubby and I ate almost all of them ourselves though 😉
I’m so happy that you all enjoyed them! Thanks for sharing your great review😊
I made these for my daughter who has an egg allergy. I used aquafaba ( chickpea powder) as an egg substitute. she LOVED them. They were gone in three days and have become a staple in our home! Thank you.
I’m so happy to hear that your daughter loved them! And thank you for sharing your success with that egg substitution!😊
Hi Tiffany,
Would you mind sharing how much of the chickpea powder you used? My babe also has an egg allergy.
Thanks,
Brittney