Apple Baked Oatmeal

Prep Time: 10 Mins

Cook Time: 35 Mins

Total Time: 45 Mins

Serves: 6-8

Although I love apples all year round, when fall rolls around, the bountiful harvest of fresh apples has me thinking of different ways to cook them up. I've been really hooked on baked oatmeal recently. It truly tastes like dessert for breakfast, yet is equally as healthy as a microwaved bowl of instant oats. A lot of the baked oatmeal recipes out there have lots of added sugar, defeating the purpose of a healthy breakfast (I'll take the pancakes instead). This recipe uses a banana to help sweeten the mix and only 2 tablespoons of maple syrup for the entire batch.

Ingredients

2 bananas

1 3/4 cup milk (any milk product can be used)

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats 

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

1-2 apples, about 1 1/2 cups diced, and a few thin slices reserved for topping

Optional Toppings:

Splash of milk

Greek yogurt

Nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans are all delicious)

Maple syrup

Directions

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1. Preheat the oven to 350°F, with the rack set in the middle position. Using a paper towel grease your baking pan (I used a 9x12 inch) with coconut oil.

2. Everything comes together in one bowl. Mash the bananas, then add the milk, eggs, maple syrup, and coconut oil and stir. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until fully combined. Fold in the diced apples.

3. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan. Top with additional apple slices and/or nuts if using.

4. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the center appears almost set. Cool for 5 minutes before serving with any desired toppings. It is delicious with a drizzle of milk or a scoop of yogurt, as well as topping it with any nuts.