Description
Hearty Oatmeal Apple Breakfast Bake brings warmth and comfort to morning tables with classic ingredients. Cinnamon-spiced apples and tender oats create a nourishing dish you’ll crave on cool mornings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml) old-fashioned oats
- 1 large apple, diced (any variety)
- 1 egg (or flax egg for vegan option)
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- 1 ½ tsps cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup (60 ml) maple syrup or honey
- 2 tbsps melted butter or coconut oil
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ cup (60 ml) rolled oats
- ¼ cup (30 g) chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts, optional)
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Warm the oven to 375°F (190°C), establishing the ideal baking environment for a golden breakfast creation.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Lightly grease a 9×9-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray to prevent ingredient adhesion.
- Combine Base Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, blend rolled oats with whisked eggs, milk, and vanilla extract, creating a smooth, creamy foundation that will absorb the upcoming flavors.
- Enhance Flavor Profile: Incorporate brown sugar and cinnamon into the liquid mixture, allowing the warm spices to distribute evenly and develop a rich, aromatic essence.
- Integrate Fruit and Texture: Carefully dice apples into uniform pieces and gently fold them into the oat mixture, ensuring a balanced distribution throughout the dish.
- Add Crunchy Topping: Sprinkle chopped nuts across the surface, introducing a delightful textural contrast to the soft, pudding-like base.
- Bake to Perfection: Transfer the baking dish to the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, watching for a golden-brown top and a set center that signals complete cooking.
- Rest and Serve: Allow the breakfast bake to cool for 5-10 minutes, letting the flavors meld and settle, then serve warm with an optional drizzle of maple syrup or yogurt garnish.
Notes
- Customize Apple Choices: Select firm, slightly tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for better texture and balanced sweetness.
- Prevent Soggy Texture: Pat diced apples dry with paper towels to reduce excess moisture and maintain a crisp, fluffy breakfast bake.
- Enhance Nutrition Boost: Swap some oats with quinoa or chia seeds for added protein and nutritional value without compromising taste.
- Adapt Dietary Needs: Use gluten-free oats for celiac-friendly version, or substitute dairy milk with almond or oat milk for vegan alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg