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    Home » Breakfast Recipes

    Oatmeal With Water (Without Milk) - Apple Cinnamon Flavored

    Last Updated : Apr 26, 2025. This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Vegan apple cinnamon oatmeal without milk and sugar (cooked using plain water) or without any dairy products can be made easily at home for breakfast. In fact, this is an easy, perfect oatmeal porridge made with water.

    vegan oatmeal without milk & sugar

    It is sweetened with natural sweetners & fruits like apples and warm spices like cinnamon, which is so delicious and healthy since there is no refined white sugar used!

    Contents hide
    1 main ingredients used in oatmeal without milk:
    2 Substitutes For Milk In Oatmeal
    3 you can see my video on making oatmeal with water, apples and cinnamon here!
    4 more oatmeal recipes and posts:
    5 is oatmeal better with water or milk?
    6 Is Oatmeal Vegan?
    7 Can You Make Tasty Oatmeal With Water?
    8 How To Sweeten Oatmeal Without Sugar?
    9 Oatmeal Without Any Milk Or White Sugar
    10 How To Make Vegan Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Without Milk Or Sugar
    11 Ingredients to make oatmeal without milk
    12 Stove Top Method Instructions
    13 Microwave Instructions
    14 Oatmeal With Water (Without Milk) - Apple Cinnamon Flavored
    14.1 Ingredients
    14.2 Instructions
    14.2.1 Stove Top Method
    14.2.2 Microwave Method
    14.3 Video
    14.4 Notes
    14.5 Nutrition

    main ingredients used in oatmeal without milk:

    Oats - I used steel cut rolled oats but you can use quick cooking oats too, just adjust the cooking time accordingly

    Water - I used water but you may use plant based milks like oat milk, almond milk etc

    Apples - apples add a nice, warm flavor and taste to the oatmeal with water. You can more fruits you like as well.

    Cinnamon - Adding cinnamon with apples is classic and adds great aroma and flavor to your oatmeal

    Maple Syrup - make sure to use pure fresh maple syrup! You may use another sweetener of your choice as well

    Substitutes For Milk In Oatmeal

    There are many replacements or substitutes for milk in oatmeal.

    The easy way to substitute milk in oatmeal is to use any of your favorite plant based milk.

    Plant based milks include coconut milk, almond milk, cashew milk, soy milk etc which can be used to make vegan oatmeal.

    Instead of using milk or any dairy products, you may also use any other dairy free plant based milk or ingredients to make delicious vegan oatmeal.

    you can see my video on making oatmeal with water, apples and cinnamon here!

    This apple cinnamon flavored oatmeal without milk is made on stove top as well as microwave. You can also see my easy recipe for microwave cinnamon oatmeal with apples here!

    If you are looking for easy recipes without milk or dairy free recipes, also try this easy, delicious and fluffy pancakes without milk, dairy free brownies with oil, vegan corn on the cob, vegan pumpkin banana bread, blueberry pineapple smoothie without milk, dairy free watermelon strawberry smoothie etc which are great for breakfast or snack!

    more oatmeal recipes and posts:

    • oatmeal porridge on stove top
    • how to make oatmeal taste good
    • how to microwave oatmeal without boiling over
    • blueberry oatmeal porridge
    • banana oats porridge
    • peanut butter oatmeal
    • chocolate oatmeal
    • peaches and cream oatmeal
    • pineapple oatmeal porridge

    is oatmeal better with water or milk?

    Oatmeal can be made using water or milk based on your preferences. If you wonder, if oatmeal is better with water or milk, the answer is it depends.

    This is because, the taste of oatmeal will also depend on the other ingredients that you use for cooking the oatmeal.

    If you want dairy free oatmeal, you can use plain water to cook the oatmeal or you can use any dairy free or plant based milk to make the oatmeal.

    Usually, I use a mixture of water and milk to prepare oatmeal. In this recipe, I have skipped milk and used just water to make the oatmeal.

    When we use milk to make the oatmeal, the porridge is more thick and creamy in texture.

    When you use water to make the oatmeal, the oatmeal is more lighter in consistency and you will need to add something extra to make it more creamy, like peanut butter and you can add more fruits like apples and warm spices like cinnamon to make it very tasty.

    Made with apples, cinnamons, raisins & maple syrup, this vegan sugar free oatmeal is so delicious!

    vegan oatmeal without milk

    I have added a short video of this vegan oatmeal preparation on stove top.

    In the pictures, you can see thick oatmeal & also oatmeal diluted with more water to be of more liquid like consistency.

    You can adjust the consistency of your oatmeal based on your preference.

    Also you may adjsut the amount of sweetner, cinnamon, toppings etc based on your preferences.

    Is Oatmeal Vegan?

    Oats, whether steel cut rolled oats or quick cooking oats, in its original form without any added ingredient is a vegan food.

    They are simply grains obtained from plants (though they may be processed in a facility that may process other products too, so always make sure to read the ingredients and labels in a food package to make sure its vegan).

    The quaker oats I have used in this oatmeal recipe is labelled vegan and so the oatmeal that I make with it without using any butter or milk or dairy products is vegan too.

    Though oats in normally a vegan products, often non vegan ingredients are added to make oatmeal.

    So if you are buying oats, always make sure to check the ingredients list to make sure you are buying vegan, if you follow a vegan diet.

    In restaurants too, the oatmeal may contain dairy products like milk, as often milk is added with oatmeal, unless its specified as vegan oatmeal or you can ask them too to avoid any milk if they can.

    However, when you make oats at home, you can easily make your oatmeal vegan by avoiding any non vegan products or dairy products including milk.

    Can You Make Tasty Oatmeal With Water?

    Yes absolutely! You can make easy and delicious oatmeal with water!

    You can make plain oatmeal with water instead of milk and its simply awesome on its own, especially when you sweeten up the oatmeal with natural sweetners.

    You can make thick oatmeal or adjust the consistency of your oatmeal by adding mor water or vegan substitutes like almond milk if you want a creamy tetxure.

    vegan oatmeal without milk sugar

    You can also add toppings like fruits, nuts and stir in nut butters like peanut butter if you like, to make it even more delicious.

    oatmeal with apples & cinnamon

    In this blog post, you can read how to make oatmeal with water without using any kind of milk. However to make delicious vegan oatmeal, you do not even need any plant based milk.

    apple cinnamon oatmeal with maple syrup

    The most easy substitute for milk in oatmeal is just plain water and you can make delicious oatmeal with plain water.

    How To Sweeten Oatmeal Without Sugar?

    To sweeten oatmeal without sugar, we can use natural sweeteners.

    In this oatmeal recipe without sugar, we use pure fresh maple syrup to sweeten the oatmeal naturally.

    Pure fresh maple syrup is a natural sweetener obtained from the maple trees and the only ingredient in it will be 100% maple syrup.

    There are different kinds available with more added ingredients, but we will stick with the natural fresh maple syrup that has only maple syrup as the ingredient in it.

    There are other substitutes for white sugar which includes stevia, raw honey etc which are all natural sweeteners you may use instead of sugar.

    In this post on how to make oatmeal taste good without sugar, you can read more tips on how to make delicious oatmeal without sugar.

    Oatmeal Without Any Milk Or White Sugar

    This is an easy recipe for oatmeal with plain water.

    vegan apple cinnamon maple oatmeal

    This is dairy free vegan oatmeal and its simple and easy to make and delicious as well.

    This is also a yummy vegan apple cinnamon oatmeal recipe made without white sugar.

    vegan apple cinnamon oatmeal

    You do not need any kind of milk including plant based milks to make this delicious oatmeal as we use plain water to prepare this.

    We are using pure fresh maple syrup to naturally sweeten the oatmeal and it makes a delicious breakfast or brunch perfect for any busy morning including holidays.

    To make this oatmeal made in water so delicious, we use few key ingredients - pure fresh maple syrup, cinnamon powder and apples.

    The combination of maple syrup, cinnamon & apples is what makes this oatmeal so delicious even without any milk.

    So make sure not to skip any of these key ingredients when you make this oatmeal without milk.

    vegan oatmeal without milk recipe

    You can make delicious oatmeal using any of the above mentioned plant based milks or by just using plain water, fruits, nuts and maybe dried fruits like raisins, apricots, prunes, dates.

    See my tips and ideas on how to make oatmeal taste good without sugar here.

    As I menioned, you can also add more toppings like cashews, almonds etc if you wish, to add a delicious crunchy texture to the oatmeal which will make it even more tasty.

    dairy free oatmeal without milk recipe

    The options are many when it comes to what to add to your vegan oatmeal without milk.

    Fruits like chopped apples, bananas, blueberries, peaches are all my favorites for adding to my oatmeal.

    vegan oatmeal without milk

    One thing I especially love to use when I make the dairy free oatmeal is pure fresh maple syrup, which not only sweetens the oatmeal, but also adds a wonderful flavor to the dairy free oatmeal.

    You may also try other natural sweeteners like vegan honey, stevia or whatever sweetener you like even if it is white sugar.

    However white sugar do not have any specific flavor, as it is plain and only adds sweetness to the oatmeal.

    I highly recommend using pure fresh maple syrup in vegan oatmeal without milk.

    Another ingredient that adds much flavor to the dairy free oatmeal (other kinds of oatmeal too) is cinnamon powder.

    You can use organic ceylon cinnamon powder if you use it regularly, as it is the best, but you can use any good quality ground cinnamon powder too.

    In this oatmeal recipe without milk, I chose a combination of apples and cinnamon, which is great when paired together.

    How To Make Vegan Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Without Milk Or Sugar

    Below you can see ingredients and instructions on how to make this easy apple cinnamon oatmeal with water (without using milk & sugar) using either microwave or on stove top.

    We use the following ingredients in this simple, easy and delicious vegan oatmeal recipe without milk.

    As I said, I make this kind of oatmeal in stove top as well as microwave though I often make this oatmeal without milk in a microwave to make it easy and more quick.

    When making this oatmeal on stove top, you just need to use a saucepan and a large spoon to make this delicious oatmeal.

    To make this oatmeal in the microwave, you need a good quality microwave safe bowl ( I do not recommend using plastic, I prefer using ceramic bowl) that is large enough to hold the cooked oatmeal.

    Use the same ingredients for the microwave recipe and stove top recipe and follow the instructions given below for both methods.

    Ingredients to make oatmeal without milk

    • ½ cup oats (I used steel cut rolled oats)
    • 1 cup water
    • 1 large apple (or 2 medium sized apples)
    • 1 tablespoon raisins (optional)
    • 2 tablespoons pure fresh maple syrup (to 4 tablespoons, adjust to taste)
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon powder

    Stove Top Method Instructions

    Add the oatmeal and water in a sauce pan and bring the mixture to a boil.

    making oatmeal
    oatmeal & water in sauce pan

    Add the maple syrup and cinnamon powder, mix well and cook in low to medium heat for about 2 to 3 minutes or until the oatmeal is cooked enough and soft.

    oatmeal with cinnamon powder & maple syrup
    oatmeal boiling

    Make sure to keep stirring to avoid the oatmeal burning at the bottom of the saucepan.

    oatmeal cooked with plain water
    cooked oatmeal with water

    Once cooked, add the chopped apples & also raisins, mix in with the oatmeal.

    vegan oatmeal with apples & cinnamon
    vegan oatmeal with apples and cinnamon

    Also stir in a little more cinnamon powder if desired.

    You can also add a little more water (about ¼ cup) and stir in with the prepared oatmeal to adjust the consistency of the oatmeal if you wish.

    May use almond milk if you want a creamy texture.

    Transfer the prepared oatmeal to serving bowls, serve warm or chilled as it tastes great both ways!

    Oatmeal thickens as it cools down, you may always add a little more water or almond milk for the preferred consistency.

    vegan oatmeal without milk and sugar
    oatmeal without milk and sugar

    Microwave Instructions

    • Add oats in a microwave safe bowl with one cup of water. Microwave in high power for 2 minutes .
    • Add the maple syrup & cinnamon powder. Microwave for another 1 minute or few more extra seconds until the oatmeal is cooked.
    • Stir the cooked oatmeal very well using a spoon.

    You may add a little extra water if needed.

    • Add the chopped apples and raisins also, gently mix the contents. You may microwave the oatmeal for another 30 seconds if needed, just to warm up everything
    • Give a few minutes of cool off time as the oatmeal. Stir in little more cinnamon powder as desired.
    • You can top the oatmeal with your favorite nuts (toasted nuts taste even more delicious) like sliced almonds, cashews or pecans if you wish.
    • You can also enjoy the delicious oatmeal with maple syrup, apples and raisins for breakfast, brunch, snack or dinner.

    Just make sure you use a good quality microwave safe bowl.

    I highly recommend using ceramic bowl, as plastic bowls may not hold well for long when you cook in microwave.

    I have more recipes on oatmeal in this blog and you might like to see this easy baked vegan oatmeal recipe.

    If you like to try spicy oatmeal which is also vegan, here you can find my simple recipe for spicy oatmeal soup in microwave.

    Below you can read the easy vegan oatmeal recipe without milk in detail.

    vegan oatmeal without milk
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    Oatmeal With Water (Without Milk) - Apple Cinnamon Flavored

    This easy apple cinnamon oatmeal without milk or sugar or oatmeal with plain water is a delicious and easy to prepare vegan oatmeal recipe for breakfast, brunch or snack!
    Prep Time2 minutes mins
    Cook Time3 minutes mins
    Total Time5 minutes mins
    Course: Breakfast, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: apple cinnamon oatmeal, cinnamon oatmeal, how to make oatmeal with water, how to make oatmeal without milk, oatmeal with water, oatmeal without milk, oatmeal without sugar
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 183kcal
    Author: Parvathy

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup oats (I used steel cut rolled oats)
    • 1 cup water
    • 1 large apple (or 2 medium sized apples)
    • 1 tablespoon raisins (optional)
    • 2 tablespoons pure fresh maple syrup (to 4 tablespoons, adjust to taste)
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder

    Instructions

    Stove Top Method

    • Add the oatmeal and water in a sauce pan and bring the mixture to a boil.
    • Add the maple syrup and cinnamon powder, mix well and cook in low to medium heat for about 2 to 3 minutes or until the oatmeal is cooked enough and soft.
    • Make sure to keep stirring to avoid the oatmeal burning at the bottom of the saucepan.
    • Once cooked, add the chopped apples & also raisins, mix in with the oatmeal. Also stir in a little more cinnamon powder if desired. You can also add a little more water (about ¼ cup) and stir in with the prepared oatmeal to adjust the consistency of the oatmeal if you wish. May use almond milk if you want a creamy texture.
    • Transfer the prepared oatmeal to serving bowls, serve warm or chilled as it tastes great both ways! Oatmeal thickens as it cools down, you may always add a little more water or almond milk for the preferred consistency.

    Microwave Method

    • Take the oats in a microwave safe bowl and add one cup of water.
    • Microwave in high power for 2 minutes .
    • Give a cool off time of about a minute and then add the maple syrup and cinnamon powder.
    • Microwave for another 1 minute or few more extra seconds until the oatmeal is cooked.
    • Stir the cooked oatmeal very well using a spoon. You may add a little extra water at this point and mix the contents, if the water is all absorbed.
    • Chop the apple and add the apple slices to the cooked oatmeal.
    • Add the raisins and gently mix the contents. You may microwave the oatmeal for another 30 seconds if you wish, just to warm up the apples and raisins together with the oatmeal.
    • Give a few minutes of cool off time as the oatmeal will be too hot at this point. Stir in little more cinnamon powder if desired, and serve the oatmeal while it is still warm!

    Video

    Notes

    You can top the oatmeal with your favorite nuts (toasted nuts taste even more delicious) like sliced almonds, cashews or pecans if you wish.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 183kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 37mg | Potassium: 254mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

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    Comments

    1. Robert Erman says

      August 31, 2017 at 7:33 am

      A very interesting recipe. I will try this recipe at home. Thanks for the information. It's a easy oatmeal i like this.

      Reply
      • Recipe Garden says

        September 06, 2017 at 3:59 pm

        I am glad you want to try this recipe. Hope you will like it!

        Reply

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