Black Forest Baked Oatmeal
Prep Time: 10 Mins
Cook Time: 30-35 Mins
Total Time: 45 Mins
Serves: 2
If you haven't tried baked oatmeal yet, you are missing out! For those who don't like regular oatmeal, because of the mushy texture, but enjoy a good granola or oatmeal cookie, this is the way you need to be eating oatmeal. Inspired by Black Forest cake, this recipe is brimming with fresh cherries and delivers a deep chocolate taste without too much sugar or fat thanks to the cocoa powder. 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 bananas 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
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 cups (250g) cherries, pitted and cut in half
¼ cup chocolate chips
Shredded coconut for sprinkling on top
Optional toppings:
Milk or yogurt
Nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans, coconut flakes)
Maple syrup
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F, with the rack set in the middle. Using a paper towel grease your baking pan (I used a 9x12 inch) with coconut oil.
In a large bowl, mash the banana, then add the liquid ingredients (milk, eggs, maple syrup, coconut oil, and vanilla extract) and stir.
In a small bowl combine the remaining dry ingredients and mix, then add to the wet ingredients and mix to combine.
Add half the cherries to the mix and most of the chocolate chips. Then pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan. Top with the remaining cherries cut side up, the chocolate chips, and a sprinkle of shredded coconut.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the center appears almost set. Cool for 5 minutes before serving with any desired toppings.
Notes
You can use any milk, but cow’s milk is naturally sweeter than most unsweetened nut milks, so you might need to add more maple syrup for the same desired taste.
