Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Until I tried this oatmeal, I was convinced that the only oatmeal I would eat would be in cookies or on a fruit crisp. I know how healthy oatmeal is supposed to be and it is supposed to keep you full throughout the morning. But no matter how many times I tried oatmeal, I just couldn’t make myself like it. It wasn’t the taste so much as the texture. Too mushy. Too soupy.

I tried this oatmeal for the first time when we had a couple apples that were past their eating point (which in our house, is completely crisp and crunchy). It was the best oatmeal I’ve ever had, by far. Slightly soupy when first out of the oven, the oats soak up the extra liquid after sitting for a little while. I loved the large chunks of apples and the walnuts I added as a crunchy topping. This oatmeal is great for overnight guests (it takes only a few minutes to prepare it) and for weekday meals (it reheats wonderfully).

Cooking & Serving Notes: Feel free to add in an extra apple, if you’d like. It makes no difference to the texture or baking time of the oatmeal. If you prefer your oatmeal a bit soupier, go ahead and add a little extra milk after cooking, before serving (or when you’re reheating it).

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Adapted from Two Peas and Their Pod

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

~  2 c. old-fashioned oats
~  1/4 c. brown sugar
~  1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
~  1 tsp. baking powder
~  1/4 tsp. salt
~  1 1/2 c. skim milk
~  1/2 c. applesauce
~  1 Tbs. melted butter
~  2 egg whites
~  1 tsp. vanilla
~  1 large apple, diced (peel before dicing, if desired)
~  desired toppings: nuts, dried cranberries, extra cinnamon or sugar, etc.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F and coat an 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together milk, apple sauce, butter, egg white, and vanilla. Whisk in cinnamon, salt, and baking powder. Next, whisk in brown sugar, and lastly oats. Gently stir in diced apples.

Pour into prepared baking dish and bake until golden brown and set, 20-30 minutes. Remove from oven.

Serve hot with desired toppings. Or, refrigerate and heat up leftovers (with additional milk, if desired).

Nutrition: Without toppings, approximately 200 calories per serving.

2 thoughts on “Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal”

  1. Hi, was wondering if i could make this with quick oats? or does it need to be old-fashioned oats?

    1. I’ve never tried it, but a quick google search indicates that quick oats cook up to be a mushier texture. If that’s ok with you, you could give it a try.

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