Description
Cinnamon Apple Quinoa Breakfast is a warm, comforting, and nutritious morning dish made with fluffy quinoa, sweet apples, and aromatic cinnamon. Packed with protein and fiber, it’s a great alternative to oatmeal and keeps you full for hours.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup quinoa (rinsed)
- 2 cups water or milk of choice (almond, oat, or dairy milk)
- 1 medium apple (peeled, cored, and diced)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg (optional)
- 2 tbsp maple syrup or honey (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional)
- 1/4 cup walnuts or pecans (chopped, optional)
- Pinch of salt
- Fresh fruit or nuts for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse the quinoa under cold water in a fine-mesh strainer to remove bitterness. Soak for 2–3 minutes, swish around, then drain.
- In a medium saucepan, combine rinsed quinoa with 2 cups of water or milk. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed. Let it rest, covered, for 5 more minutes.
- While quinoa rests, peel, core, and dice the apple. In a skillet, sauté the apples with a splash of water or oil, cinnamon, nutmeg (if using), and a pinch of salt for 3–5 minutes until tender.
- Fluff quinoa with a fork and mix in the sautéed apple mixture. Add maple syrup (or preferred sweetener), raisins or cranberries, and chopped nuts. Stir well.
- Serve warm with fresh fruit or extra nuts on top, if desired.
Notes
- Use coconut or almond milk for a dairy-free version.
- Sweeten with stevia or erythritol for a sugar-free option.
- Swap nuts for seeds like sunflower or pumpkin to make it nut-free.
- Add cardamom or ginger for extra spice depth.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: quinoa breakfast, healthy apple breakfast, cinnamon apple quinoa, vegetarian breakfast, high-protein breakfast