Cranberry Apple Slow Cooker Oatmeal
Hearty oatmeal gets a tangy twist with Craisins® Dried Cranberries and fresh apples. Bonus! This cranberry apple oatmeal is made in the slow cooker for a hot breakfast ready when you are!
*This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BetterWithCraisins #CollectiveBias
I just started a health challenge on Monday and although it’s going to be a good thing in the long run, I’m feeling the sugar cravings and I’m definitely adjusting to smaller portions again. So when I eat something, it’s got to be hearty, filling, and full of flavor. This cranberry apple slow cooker oatmeal fits the bill! It’s thick, lightly sweet and the Craisins® Dried Cranberries add a nice zing to typically bland and boring oatmeal.
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The Craisins® and apples add nice chewy texture to the oatmeal as well, so it’s not just soft, mushy oats. I even added a little bit of cinnamon too! Yum! So I have to confess, when I buy Craisins® I get them in the big 48oz Club Pack at Sam’s Club because they are such a great deal to buy them in bulk. (If you are a Sam’s Club member, you can find the Craisins® next to the nuts and snacks.) My kids like munching on them as is, and I like putting them in things like oatmeal and salads. I especially love them in this Light Chicken Salad. They just add a little zing! And in case you are wondering: 1/4 cup of Craisins® is equal to 1/2 cup of fruit to help you get your fruit intake for the take.
There’s something delicious about a hot breakfast in the cold wintertime that helps me get out of bed in the morning. Luckily this slow cooker oatmeal cooks up in as little as 1 & 1/2 hours which is about as long as it takes us to get up and going for the day. Plus, it’s super simple. All you need is oats, water, diced apples, Craisins® dried cranberries, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
Put all the ingredients into a greased slow cooker.
Stir it all up and set it on high for 1 1/2 hours, or low for 3 hours.
Fluff the oatmeal with a spoon and you are ready to eat!
Depending on how long it takes you to get ready in the morning, you can prep a lot of the ingredients the night before and start it first thing in the morning, or you can let it cook all night, but it will be extra soft in the morning.
So, depending on your texture preference, plan your cooking time accordingly, but definitely plan on making this for breakfast sometime. The leftovers reheat well too! So pretty and so delicious! Love those pops of red Craisins®!
Cranberry Apple Slow Cooker Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 4 cups (947 ml) water
- 2 cups (160 g) old fashioned oats
- ½ cup (80 g) Craisins® dried cranberries
- 2 apples, peeled and diced
- ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp (28 g) butter, melted
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Grease a large (4-6 quart) slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Add all ingredients to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
- Cook on high for 1 ½ hours, or low for 3 hours.
- Fluff oatmeal with a spoon and serve immediately with milk, if desired.
Notes
- Reheat leftovers with a little milk or water.
- Cook on low overnight for 6 to 8 hours for a porridge-like consistency.
- Recipe lightly altered from The Slow Roasted Italian
Did you make this?
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I doubled the recipe in the crock pot and plan to freeze half. Do you have a recommendation on the best way to freeze this? I had my first serving this morning and it was fantastic! I substituted fresh cranberries instead of craisins to cut down on the sugar and they added a nice zing.
I would try freezing the oatmeal in a muffin tin for individual portions and then pop them out and put them in a freezer bag. Glad you liked the recipe!
OMG this is the best oatmeal EVER I added some chopped walnuts (just a little)
I’m soooo happy
I followed the directions and put
A crock pot liner in to save on
Clean up Thumbs up
I’m so glad you are enjoying this recipe Sheila! Those crock pot liners are definitely great! Thanks for your comment!
Can you put the ingredients in the crock pot, and put on delay start time so it can be ready when you wake up?
I’m worried it would soak up all the liquid too soon and then possibly burn. Cautiously try it.
Can you use steel cut oats? On low for the 3 hours? Thanks
That should be fine. They might take longer to cook. Up to 1 hour more, is my guess.
Just made this as part of my weekly food prep. We like oatmeal but hate the prep and getting the ingredients ready in the morning. I used 2 cups water & 2 cups skim milk. I also used splenda brown sugar and frozen cranberries to cut back on the sugar. It is great. Hope it reheats well during the week. Will def make again.
Yum! Thanks for sharing your experience Mary Ann!
I only made half of the recipe as there are only two of us. Followed directions as written. Cooked in a 1 1/2 quart crockpot for 2 hours and 15 minutes. Excellent!! I would definitely make again. Served with a packet of sweetener and half and half.
That’s so great! Thanks for your review Rose!
I only have quick oats. Anyway to make them work with the slow cooker oatmeals?
Quick oats are more likely to turn to mush. You can try them with less cook time. Maybe half the time of old fashioned oats? Quick oats will definitely not work in the slow cooker overnight. Let us know if you try it!
Thanks! I will.
Made the overnight version last night it came out as a thick bread pudding which I enjoyed. I also used frozen cranberries which was delicious. I’ll make this again. Thank you
I like to thin mine out just a little bit with coconut milk after it’s ready. MMM! Glad you liked it Chris!
Oatmeal is my favorite way to start the morning! 🙂 I love that you made this in the slow cooker too! It looks so comforting and delicious!
Thanks Kelly! It really is so nice to have a hot breakfast and my husband is already begging me to make this again. 🙂
I love oatmeal, at least this is a little different. Looks sooo good!
Thanks Linda! It’s so good! The Craisins® really give it a nice zing!
I second the thought that a warm breakfast helps me get out of bed in the morning! This slow cooker oatmeal sounds amazing, and I think I might need a batch of this going in my kitchen this weekend. I bet the house smells amazing while this cooks! Thanks for sharing! #client
It definitely smells amazing! Thanks David!