Slow Cooker Apple Porridge

Fantastic. Couldn't find steel cut oats so substituted rolled oats. Doubled the quantity, but used less water (2 cups rolled oats, 4 cups of water). Put all ingredients into slow cooker and soaked them overnight. Switched on the cooker first thing in the morning and cooked on high for 1 hour. Apple pieces still a bit crunchy (even though I cut them into tiny bits) but no biggie. Had to cut back on the cinnamon though. Too overpowering. I am now using 1 teaspoon for the double quantity. My husband loves this porridge and we are eating it everyday. Leftovers heat up pretty well in the microwave with a bit of extra water. A great winter staple.  -  04 Aug 2013

This is a great recipe! I make as is or add milk or juice instead of some of the water. I add dried cherries, or cranberries, pecans. I use brown sugar, white sugar, or maple syrup. I usually add 1 cup of pumpkin puree with pumpkin spices. But however I make it, it is always yummy! If you double it, you reduce the chances of it burning on the sides and you can freeze individual portions in the small 1 cup Ziplock containers. Then microwave frozen for 3 minutes.  -  13 Oct 2011  (Review from Allrecipes USA and Canada)

For the reviewer wondering...Steel-cut oats are whole grain groats (the inner portion of the oat kernel) which have been cut into only two or three pieces by steel rather than being rolled. They are golden in color and resemble small rice pieces. Steel-cut oats are also known as coarse-cut oats, pinhead oats, or Irish oats. I usually buy them in bulk at my local farmer's market co-op store. This recipe is delish. I love the addition of the apple and the use of the crock pot. It makes the whole house smell wonderful, and there is very little effort or time required from me. My two year old would eat this for every meal of the day if I gave him the option (which is tempting on some days).  -  24 Sep 2011  (Review from Allrecipes USA and Canada)