There’s something about a warm bowl of Spiced Apple Porridge that makes breakfast feel instantly more comforting. This simple version combines creamy rolled oats with freshly grated apple, plump raisins, cinnamon, and just a touch of coconut sugar, then gets finished with a generous spoonful of almond butter. It’s warm, naturally fruity, lightly spiced, and ready in about 15 minutes, which makes it ideal for busy mornings when I still want something homemade.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in 15 minutes: Perfect for mornings when you don’t have much time.
- Warm and comforting: Apple, cinnamon, and raisins give this porridge plenty of cozy flavor.
- Naturally plant-based: Almond milk and almond butter keep the recipe completely dairy-free.
- Simple ingredients: Everything can be found in most supermarkets and many ingredients are pantry staples.
- Naturally creamy: The grated apple cooks directly into the oats and helps create a lovely soft texture.
- Easy to customize: Change the fruit, nut butter, spices, or toppings depending on what you have.
- A satisfying breakfast: Oats, fruit, raisins, and almond butter make this considerably more interesting than plain oatmeal.
Also try my Breakfast Quesadillas recipe.
What You’ll Need to Make Spiced Apple Porridge
You only need seven simple ingredients:
- 3.5 ounces (100 g) rolled oats
- 1 red apple, coarsely grated
- 14 fluid ounces (400 ml) unsweetened almond milk
- 3 teaspoons coconut sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons raisins
- 2 tablespoons almond butter
That’s it. A pretty short shopping list for a breakfast with this much flavor.
Try my Stuffed Omelet Roll-ups recipe.
What You’ll Need to Do
Grab a medium saucepan and add the rolled oats, almond milk, grated apple, coconut sugar, raisins, and cinnamon.
Place the saucepan over medium heat and give everything a good stir.
Let the porridge cook for around 7 to 8 minutes, stirring regularly so nothing sticks to the bottom. As it cooks, the oats will soften, the apple will melt into the mixture, and those raisins will plump up nicely.
Keep going until the porridge looks thick, smooth, and creamy.
If it gets a little thicker than you like, just splash in some extra almond milk and stir. Porridge consistency is personal business, so make it exactly how you like it.
Divide the warm porridge between two bowls.
Finish each bowl with 1 tablespoon of almond butter and let it melt slightly into the hot oats.
Breakfast done. Grab a spoon.
Easy Ingredient Swaps
Red apple: Green apple works perfectly if you prefer a slightly more tart flavor. Pear is another excellent option.
Almond milk: Oat, soy, cashew, or regular dairy milk can all be used.
Almond butter: Peanut butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter are easy alternatives.
Coconut sugar: Brown sugar, maple syrup, or a little honey can work instead.
Raisins: Try chopped dates, dried cranberries, sultanas, or dried cherries.
Rolled oats: Quick oats will work, although they cook faster and create a softer texture.
Cinnamon: Apple pie spice is an easy shortcut if you have some in the pantry.
Some Twist and Tweak Ideas
Make It Apple Pie Inspired – Add a small pinch of ground nutmeg and ginger along with the cinnamon. It gives the porridge an even warmer, apple-pie-style flavor.
Add Some Crunch – Top your bowl with chopped walnuts, pecans, almonds, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds.
Add More Fruit – Fresh blueberries, sliced banana, pear, or berries can all go on top.
Boost the Protein – Stir in a spoonful of chia seeds or hemp seeds, or use a higher-protein soy milk instead of almond milk.
Make It Extra Creamy – Add another splash of almond milk right before serving or stir a spoonful of plant-based yogurt through the finished porridge.
Add Vanilla – A small splash of vanilla extract pairs beautifully with the apple and cinnamon.
Turn It Into Chocolate Apple Porridge – A little cocoa powder and a few dark chocolate chips can take this breakfast in a completely different direction.
Some Helpful Tips
Grate the apple rather than chopping it. The smaller pieces cook quickly and blend right into the oats.
Leave the apple skin on if you like. There’s no need to peel it unless you prefer an extra-smooth texture.
Stir frequently. Oats can stick to the bottom once they begin thickening.
Adjust the milk as needed. Different oats absorb slightly different amounts of liquid.
Use unsweetened almond milk. Since the recipe already contains coconut sugar, raisins, and apple, sweetened milk can make the finished porridge unnecessarily sweet.
Add the almond butter at the end. It stays rich and creamy and creates lovely little swirls through the warm oats.
Some Budget-Friendly Tips
Rolled oats are one of the easiest ingredients to buy in larger packs, which usually makes them considerably cheaper per serving.
There’s also no need to buy premium apples. Use whichever variety is affordable or already sitting in your fruit bowl.
Peanut butter can replace almond butter if almonds are expensive in your area. It changes the flavor slightly but works extremely well with apples and cinnamon.
Store-brand raisins, cinnamon, and plant milk are perfectly fine for this recipe too.
And if you regularly use plant-based milk, buying larger cartons usually makes more sense than purchasing smaller specialty varieties specifically for one recipe.
Some Serving Ideas
This porridge is satisfying on its own, but toppings are where breakfast gets fun.
Try adding:
- Sliced fresh apple
- Banana
- Fresh berries
- Chopped almonds
- Walnuts or pecans
- Pumpkin seeds
- Chia seeds
- Hemp seeds
- Extra raisins
- Plant-based yogurt
- An extra drizzle of almond butter
- A sprinkle of cinnamon
- A small drizzle of maple syrup
For a particularly cozy bowl, I like adding a few apple slices, another sprinkle of cinnamon, and letting that almond butter melt right into the center.
Some Storage and Reheating Tips
Porridge is at its best freshly cooked, but leftovers are easy to save.
Refrigerating: Allow the porridge to cool and transfer it to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Storing the almond butter: If you’re meal prepping, I’d add the almond butter after reheating rather than storing it mixed into the porridge.
Stovetop reheating: Add the porridge to a saucepan with a splash of almond milk and warm gently, stirring until creamy again.
Microwave: Add a little almond milk and microwave in short intervals, stirring between each one.
Oats continue absorbing liquid while refrigerated, so don’t be surprised if yesterday’s creamy porridge looks considerably thicker the following morning. A little extra milk fixes that immediately.
Make-Ahead Breakfast Tip
If your mornings tend to be rushed, grate the apple and measure the dry ingredients the night before.
You can also prepare the entire porridge ahead and divide it between two containers. In the morning, simply add a splash of almond milk, reheat, and finish with the almond butter.
It’s a small bit of prep that makes breakfast considerably easier.
Final Thoughts
This Spiced Apple Porridge proves that an everyday bowl of oatmeal doesn’t need much to become something you actually look forward to eating.
The grated apple adds freshness and natural sweetness, cinnamon brings the warmth, raisins add little bursts of sweetness, and almond butter gives the whole bowl a rich, nutty finish.
And because it takes only about 15 minutes from start to finish, it’s just as practical for a weekday morning as it is for a slow weekend breakfast.
Simple ingredients, one saucepan, two cozy bowls. That works for me.
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Spiced Apple Porridge
This Spiced Apple Porridge is my kind of easy morning breakfast! 🍏✨ I cook oats with grated apple, cinnamon, raisins, and almond milk, then finish everything with a creamy spoonful of almond butter.
Ingredients
Instructions
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Place the rolled oats, unsweetened almond milk, grated apple, coconut sugar, raisins, and ground cinnamon in a medium saucepan.
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Set the saucepan over medium heat and stir thoroughly to combine.
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Cook for approximately 7 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent the oats from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
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Continue cooking until the oats are tender and the mixture has developed a smooth, creamy consistency.
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If the porridge becomes too thick, add a small amount of additional almond milk and stir until the desired consistency is reached.
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Divide the cooked porridge evenly between two serving bowls.
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Top each serving with 1 tablespoon of almond butter.
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Serve immediately while warm.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 2
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 433kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 14.8g23%
- Sodium 95mg4%
- Total Carbohydrate 67g23%
- Dietary Fiber 10g40%
- Sugars 25.6g
- Protein 13.3g27%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
Estimated Glycemic Index: ~48
Estimated Glycemic Load per Serving: ~27
