How Do You Eat Your Baked Oatmeal?

In my house, oatmeal is always enjoyed (most especially by me!)...but when baked oatmeal enters the equation, things get even more exciting...

(if you're not a fellow oatmeal enthusiast you may want to skip this post)

Ways to Enjoy Baked Oatmeal:

Eaten straight from the pan. (Don't mind if I do!)

Eaten for breakfast with a side of fresh fruit.

Packed lovingly by your girlfriend to enjoy as a mid-morning snack.

I also think this would be wonderful for a Saturday or Sunday morning brunch, served with some fluffy scrambled eggs and fresh berries or cantaloupe. Or in a bowl with some warm milk and additional dried fruit and nuts on top! This baked oatmeal is very quick and easy to make, only takes a few minutes to throw together the ingredients, and about 25 minutes to bake. Chances are that you already have all of the fixings in your kitchen, so a trip to the grocery store is unnecessary!

Kathryn sent me this recipe the other day. I imagined it to come out like the oatmeal squares I made for Chrissy and Callie in December, but perhaps if I'd read the title I wouldn't have been confused? This really is baked oatmeal, so its better served hot on a plate, and would not be as good wrapped up as a square and eaten cold. But don't let that deter you, because this really is delicious!

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Serves 4-6

Recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat an 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.

In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, applesauce, butter, eggs whites, and vanilla.

Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and stir until combined.

Stir in diced apples.

Pour oatmeal mixture into prepared pan. Add any extra toppings you'd like (I used almond slivers on half and dried cranberries all over) and gently press in with your fingers so they stick.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, until oatmeal is golden brown and set. Remove from oven and serve warm. 

Ingredients

• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups skim milk
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tbsp melted butter
• 2 egg whites
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 large apple, peeled, cored, and diced (I used a gala)

Optional Toppings (can be added to oatmeal prior to baking and/or added after baking)

• Dried Fruit
• Nuts
• Extra cinnamon and/or brown sugar
• Flax/chia seeds (for a healthy boost!)

Enjoy!