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Overhead view of a white bowl of apple cinnamon couscous topped with walnuts and maple on a light wood table

Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Couscous with Toasted Walnuts

Diced apples cook in butter, cinnamon and maple, then couscous steeps in hot milk for a soft, spoonable breakfast with toasted walnuts. It takes 25 minutes and reheats well.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Calories: 284
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 180 g small couscous, dry / 1 cup
  • 2 firm apples medium (about 350 g); cored, cut into 1 cm dice, skin on
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter / 14 g
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp pure maple syrup plus extra for serving
  • 360 ml whole milk / 1 1/2 cups
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp fine salt
  • 40 g walnuts / 1/3 cup; toasted and roughly chopped

Method
 

  1. Toast the walnuts in a dry 3-quart / 2.8 L saucepan over medium heat for 3 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant and a shade darker. Tip them onto a cutting board and chop roughly.
  2. Melt the butter in the same saucepan over medium heat. Add the diced apples, cinnamon and maple syrup. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring, until the edges soften and the juices turn syrupy but the pieces still hold their shape.
  3. Pour in the milk, vanilla and salt. Bring to a gentle simmer, about 2 minutes. Stay close, because milk climbs the pan fast.
  4. Stir in the couscous, cover with the lid and take the pan fully off the heat. Let it stand for 5 minutes, until the milk is absorbed. Fluff with a fork.
  5. Spoon into 4 bowls. Top with the chopped walnuts, a small drizzle of maple syrup and a pinch of cinnamon. Serve warm.

Notes

  • Dice the apples to 1 cm so they soften in 5 minutes and keep some bite.
  • Take the pan fully off the heat once the couscous goes in.
  • Use whole milk for the creamiest texture. Oat milk works but turns out thinner.
  • Add the walnuts at the end so they stay crunchy.
  • Taste before serving. If the apples were tart, stir in another teaspoon of maple syrup.