The Best Healthy and Easy Oatmeal Bake
A tasty, easy and healthy oatmeal bake recipe that’s easy to modify for dietary restrictions. A great make-ahead breakfast or brunch dish to be served at your next gathering.
There is something about oatmeal that never gets old. It seems to be something that I always have on hand, probably like yourself. I use oatmeal for baking, cooking, and of course, just as is, in the mornings for breakfast.
Oatmeal is a great ingredient used in many recipes to help “bond” ingredients together. Not to mention you can grind oatmeal down to make your own oat flour.
BAKED OATMEAL
A combination of fruit, spices, seeds, and nuts; interchangeable ingredients.
When it comes to baked oatmeal there are so many ways to spice this dish up. This recipe I have shared with you all is made with apples. However, you can interchange the fruits, spices, seeds, and nuts with the seasons or for your own tastebuds.
I am all about the seasons when it comes to cooking or baking. For example, pumpkin muffins are a fall favourite but can be enjoyed all year round. Just like baked apple oatmeal can be enjoyed all year round, but maybe a little more appreciated during the fall season.
I find baked oatmeal to have more of a different texture and taste, versus instant oatmeal using quick oats, warm milk, and fruit. It is a little chewier but soft with a little crunch.
BAKED OATMEAL TIPS
Two ways to best store this breakfast dish; easy to meal prep; add your own favoured add-ins.
You can make this breakfast dish ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4-6 days. This oatmeal bake also freezes great if you don’t want to eat it every day.
Refrigeration and freezing: Once the dish has cooked, and cooled, cut into 9 squares and wrap individually in saran wrap.
To reheat you can simply microwave for 45-60 seconds. If you are reheating from frozen, I recommend thawing in the microwave a little first or take out the night before and then heat for 45-60 seconds.
You can make this dish the night before and refrigerate. The next morning before placing in the oven, let it warm up a little for 10-15 minutes on the counter. Pop it in the oven and serve it hot.
One of the reasons I love this recipe is that if you are hosting a gathering for breakfast or brunch you can prep this dish in advance and serve with other side dishes or as a dessert. Yes, I said it, dessert!
This recipe is flexible meaning you can add in some extras, or change up the ingredients. For instance, apples for blueberries {fresh or frozen}, or pecans for almonds, or cinnamon for pumpkin spice, etc. Same goes for the milk, you can substitute for cow’s milk if you choose.
HEALTHY BAKED OATMEAL
Key ingredients; how to serve baked oatmeal.
Within this recipe, you will see that I’ve used ingredients like almond milk, maple syrup, etc. You can get creative with this oatmeal bake and substitute some of the ingredients I used. See below;
- Almond Milk: I prefer to use almond milk because it contains fewer calories and sugar than regular milk. But also because unsweetened vanilla almond milk adds great flavour.
- Pure Maple Syrup: you will see that his recipe not only contains pure maple syrup but also brown sugar. The reason I use both is for additional flavour.
- Chopped Pecans: You could really omit these all together or use another nut like almonds. I added the chopped pecans to give this dish an extra crunch with every bite.
- Cinnamon: There is something about apple and cinnamon that goes so good together. Of course, if I was adding apple, cinnamon had to follow. If I were to use another fruit like blueberries, I’d omit the cinnamon.
HOW TO SERVE BAKED OATMEAL
When making this dish for myself, and to make to perfectly balanced breakfast, I often top it with some Greek yogurt and a dash of cinnamon. Sometimes I’ll scramble some eggs to have on the side instead of Greek yogurt and add a little drizzle of pure maple syrup on top of my oatmeal. Delicious!
I mentioned above that this dish can be served as a dessert. You can top it with either greek yogurt, ice cream, or cream, drizzle with some honey, or pure maple syrup… viola! Dessert is served with brunch.
PS. What would be your favourite fruit to add to this oatmeal bake?
PPS. Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think by commenting below or tagging me on Instagram using the hashtag #heatherbarrettblog
Easy Healthy Oatmeal Bake
A tasty, easy and healthy oatmeal bake recipe thatโs easy to modify for dietary restrictions. A great make-ahead breakfast or brunch dish to be served at your next gathering.
Ingredients
- 3 cups Rolled oats
- 1 1/2 tsp Baking powder
- 1/2 cup Brown sugar, packed
- 1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/4 cup Pecans
- 1/2 tsp Sea salt
- 1 Apple finely chopped (roughly 1 cup), large
- 1 1/3 cups vanilla almond milk, unsweetened
- 1/4 cup, melted butter
- 2 Eggs, large
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract, pure
- 1/4 cup Maple syrup, pure
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Grease an 8×8 baking dish with spray oil.
- Mix all dry ingredients together.
- Except for the maple syrup, mix together the remaining ingredients, and beat in eggs one at a time.
- Combine the wet ingredients, including the apples and pecans, with the dry ingredients and let sit for 5-10 minutes, allowing the oats to soak up the mixture.
- Transfer to a greased baking dish; ensure the mixture is spread out evenly
- Drizzle with the maple syrup.
- Bake for 30 minutes, until the top, starts to brown.
- Once cooked, allow the dish to cool completely before cutting, unless serving right away, give it 10-15 minutes to cool before cutting.
- Using a sharp knife cut around the edges of the dish first, and cut into 9 portioned squares.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 9 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 220Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 232mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 4gSugar: 18gProtein: 5g
* This is just an estimate *
If you are looking for other oatmeal dishes try these other recipes: