Apple Cinnamon Protein Oatmeal
I was tempted to call this Apple Cinnamon Protein Oatmeal “German Christmas Market Oatmeal”, as that’s essentially what it tastes like. Minus the Mulled wine, which I guess would just be weird in oats. It has the spices, caramelised apple flavour, creamy vanilla-caramel taste and all topped with spices caramelised almonds. This is a worthy oatmeal for Christmas morning, yet still has you covered nicely on the nutrition front with added protein.
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Why You Will Love This
German Christmas Market in a Bowl
Who wouldn’t want a Christmas market tasting, steaming bowl of oatmeal in the morning, right? I mean, it’s getting rather cold here in Ireland and all I want in the morning is, to wrap myself around a hot bowl of yummy breakfast. Bonus points for deliciousness.
More often than not, it’s a very simple Blueberry-Apple Oatmeal with protein powder mixed in, but for the season I wanted something a little more special.
So I figured I’ll try to get it as close to the thing I miss most about Germany during this time of the year: Christmas Markets.
Thinking about the essence of those for me, two things popped into my mind: Caramelised, spiced almonds and candy apples. Which is how this Apple Cinnamon Protein Oatmeal came into play.
Caramelized Spiced Almonds (optional)
These have their own recipe, as they are entirely optional, but very delicious!
I made a few versions of them, the simplest and quickest topping my Banoffee Protein Mousse Pie which is just taken to the point of the caramelised sugar crystallizing again and clinging to the almonds.
The version for this Apple Cinnamon Protein Oatmeal is taken a good bit further, to shiny caramel perfection, and just as suited as topping as it is for a snack in its own right. Or a lovely homemade Christmas gift. So better make a lager batch, as you’ll absolutely want to nibble them! (She says, sneaking into the kitchen and grabbing the last piece of them).
Stewed Caramel Apples
Where was I? Ah, yes. Oatmeal. Now I can’t really include a whole crunchy, candy apple in my bowl (Please send pictures if you tried!). But I sure can capture the flavour. So I slowly let a little bit of honey caramelise and then add the chopped apples and spices, stewing them to perfection for a few minutes.
Protein
As always, I’m adding protein powder (For flavour and the benefits it provides) mixed with ½ cup of Soy milk towards the very end of the cooking time, to just heat it through, achieving a custardy creaminess in the Oats which I absolutely love.
Very little added Sugar
Usually I add no sugar at all to my oats, as I feel the fruits and protein powder add plenty of sweetness, but we need some for the almonds here (No sugar, no caramel unfortunately) and a little maple syrup for the apples. But it’s by no means a lot and I would still happily count Apple Cinnamon Protein Oatmeal as healthy breakfast, even though it tastes utterly indulgent.
The Ingredients
- Protein Powder – As usual I’m using MyProtein here.
- In this particular case I just got a new bag of Toasted Marshmallow Flavour, which worked a treat with the general caramel theme.
- This is neither affiliated nor sponsored. Just the powder I found to taste best after trying a fair few. If you never found one you actually enjoy, give this one a try.
- Rolled Oats – As I enjoy the texture they give me and feel they are a bit more wholesome than the slightly more processed instant or porridge oats. But use what you prefer or have. If using instant oats, adjust the cooking time, as they need less time to get creamy.
- Milk – Since I’m lactose intolerant when it comes to any unfermented milk products, I’m using unsweetened almond milk for cooking the oats and soy milk to mix the protein powder and add towards the end, for delicious custardy creaminess.
- Apple – I always have Pink Lady around, as I love its sweetness with gentle acidity. And they are easily available in all supermarkets here. Use whatever apple you enjoy.
- Spices – I’m adding a mix of Cinnamon, allspice, ground ginger, clove, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt for balance. If you just have cinnamon, that’s delicious too.
- Caramelized Spiced Almonds – The recipe here makes more than you need for one portion of the oats. But once you made them, you’ll want more to nibble on. So better even double the recipe, to have some for guests and loved ones, popping by around this time of the year.
- Honey – I used honey to caramelize the apple in it. You could use maple syrup or sugar instead.
The Process
To make your Apple Cinnamon Protein Oatmeal, prepare the optional Caramelised Spiced Almonds as per this recipe if you decided to use them. You can keep them around for about a week in an airtight container.
Caramelise the Apple
Add honey to a sauce pan* and let it bubble and caramelize on medium/high heat for a few minutes.
Stir in the chopped apple, ground cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, and cloves. Ensuring it’s coated with the fragrant, caramelised layer of spices and honey.
Cook until the apple softens slightly. If it gets too dry, add a tablespoon of water. Transfer 1/3 of the mixture to a bowl for topping later.
Cook the Oats
Add oats and unsweetened almond milk to your pot, stirring, and let it boil gently until the milk is mostly absorbed. Meanwhile, shake the protein powder and the soy milk, to get a custard like consistency.
Stir your protein “custard” to the oats until well combined. Lower the heat and just gently warm the whole mix while stirring, until the liquid is mostly absorbed but the oats are still creamy.
Serve
Transfer into a serving bowl. Garnish with the remaining apples and top with caramelised almonds and, if you like, with a little more cinnamon.
Enjoy your Apple Cinnamon Protein Oatmeal, feeling like you are walking over a German Christmas Market.
Meal Prep
I often prepare a large portion of the apples and basic oatmeal without the protein, but keep them in separate lidded containers* in the fridge.
When I want to eat, I just heat up the oats, mix the protein powder with a bit of creamy soy milk and stir it in, followed by the apples. Another minute or so in the microwave (be careful to not let them boil) and my 3 minute breakfast is ready. Or dinner frankly.
I just love curling up in the evening with a warming bowl in my hands, having the holiday spirit waft around me.
Looking for more Holiday recipes?
Cranberry Rosemary Roasted Chicken
Blood Orange and Pistachio Cake with Protein
Cranberry Chocolate Meringue Pie with Pecan Crust
Now I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
Have you tried this? Did you enjoy it?
What other recipes would you like to see?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please share and comment. It helps me a lot.
Apple Cinnamon Protein Oatmeal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 apple washed and chopped into bite sized pieces, without peeling
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp butter or olive oil for the pan
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp EACH of ground ginger allspice and nutmeg.
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 scoop protein powder I used MyProtein Toasted Marshmallow
- ½ cup soy milk
- 2 tbsp Caramelised Spiced Almonds optional
Instructions
Prepare Caramelised Spiced Almonds:
- Follow the recipe for Caramelised Spiced Almonds and set them aside. These can be stored in an airtight container for about a week.
Caramelize the Apple:
- Add honey to a cooking pot and let it bubble and caramelize on medium/high heat for a few minutes.
- Stir in the chopped apple, ground cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, and cloves. Ensuring it’s coated with the fragrant, caramelised layer of spices and honey.
- Cook until the apple softens slightly. If it gets too dry, add a tablespoon of water. Transfer 1/3 of the mixture to a bowl for topping later.
Prepare Oatmeal Base:
- In the same pot, add oats and unsweetened almond milk. Stir and let it gently boil until the milk is mostly absorbed.
- Meanwhile, shake the protein powder and soy milk to achieve a custard-like consistency.
Combine Oats and Protein Custard:
- Add the protein “custard” to the oats and stir until well combined.
- Lower the heat and gently warm the mixture while stirring until the liquid is mostly absorbed, and the oats are creamy.
Serve:
- Pour the Apple Cinnamon Protein Oatmeal into a serving bowl.
- Garnish with the remaining spiced apples and top with Caramelised Spiced Almonds if using.
- If desired, sprinkle a little more cinnamon on top.
This is the perfect fall breakfast. I made it this weekend, and we loved it!
I love this protein-packed oatmeal! A perfect dish to start the day! Yum!
This Apple Cinnamon Protein Oatmeal is everything I love about the flavors of a German Christmas market—spices, caramelized apples, and creamy vanilla-caramel goodness. The caramelized almonds on top make it extra special. It’s like a holiday treat for breakfast, with the added bonus of protein to keep things nutritious.
Just tried the Apple Cinnamon Protein Oatmeal, and it’s the perfect quick, hearty, and delicious breakfast!
Such a tasty, healthy breakfast! It’s perfect for the busy holiday season and I’ll be making it over and over again.