apple cinnamon baked oatmeal

Oh hush. I know you are excited to hear about this baked oatmeal, don't deny it! :)

Seriously though, I went to bed on Saturday night dreaming up this baked oatmeal and sprung out of bed at 6:30 on Sunday morning to get to work. 6:30 people!!  I get a little excited about food...

This baked oatmeal surpassed my expectations in many ways. The best and most unexpected result, the texture was a cross between oatmeal and bread pudding. Win.

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal



In the mix::

• 4 T maple syrup
• 1/2 cups walnuts - roughly chopped
• 3/4 t cinnamon
• one apple - shredded with a cheese grater
• 1 banana - diced
• 2 T ground flax seed 
• 5 T water
• 1/4 cups raisins
• 1 cup old fashioned oatmeal - whirled in the food processor for a bit
• 1 1/2 cups almond milk
• 1/4 t salt
• 1 t vanilla
• 1 T coconut oil + plus more for greasing the dish

Pre-heat oven to 350*

Grease your baking dish (I used a medium round glass one) liberally with coconut oil. Add 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 1/2 cup walnuts and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Set aside.

In a small bowl, make a flax egg by combining ground flax and water. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine apple, banana, raisins, oatmeal, almond milk, salt, vanilla and 1 tablespoon coconut oil. Stir in flax egg.

Pour mixture over the walnuts. Make sure you choose a baking dish that is large enough to hold everything! Mine was overflowing.

Bake at 350* for 1 hour.



You might want to keep your eye one it while baking. Mine started oozing deliciousness.



Yum.

I was hoping I would be able to invert this once it was done and call it an upside down baked oatmeal, but it kind of fell apart. Oh well...

I topped mine with a splash of almond milk and a drizzle of maple syrup. OMG. I die.  It was so good and thee perfect way to start a Sunday morning! The walnuts + syrup on the bottom caramelized and were the best part of the dish - just what I was hoping for.



This could serve about 3-4 people, but Nic and I devoured the entire thing in 10 minutes flat. Okay okay, I savored it for at least 15 minutes.  With a piping hot cup of coffee................heaven.