Blackberry Banana Baked Oatmeal

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My love for oatmeal has grown exponentially over the last 18 months. I love how many different flavor combinations can result from just the fruit you have at home and a cup or two of oats. More than regular stovetop oatmeal, however - though that is delicious as well - I have become particularly obsessed with baked oatmeal. This breakfast casserole of sorts tastes like a morning-time dessert and is SO easy to make with whatever you have available in the kitchen.

I have recently been working a lot first thing in the morning, so I have not been available to make time- and attention-consuming hot breakfasts. Most of the time I just scarf down a bowl of cereal and then hop to it. While I have nothing against cereal, as it is certainly one of my go-to snacks, it is always nice to throw a little variety into the mornings every now and then. This baked oatmeal takes 5-10 minutes to prepare, and cooks for a long enough amount of time that you can get a jump start on your day while your breakfast prepares.

As I mentioned before, this breakfast really does taste like dessert. The good news, however, is that the nutritional elements of this dish are extremely flexible. This morning I was in the mood for something a little bit sweeter, so I added vanilla and some brown sugar to this recipe. On other mornings if I am feeling a bit more healthy, had a "cheat day" the day before, or am not in the mood for such a strong sweet taste, the vanilla and brown sugar can be substituted for date paste. Date paste is a natural sweetener derived from a few pitted dates mashed in some hot water until a paste forms. Additionally, it would be very easy to sprinkle different seeds (hemp, chia, or flax) into the oatmeal mixture to give yourself an extra boost of vitamins, amino acids, and antioxidants. Just as easily, you can also sprinkle these seeds over the oatmeal as it is served after baking. One other substitution that can be made to add more substance to this breakfast is protein powder. Adding 1/2-1 scoop of your favorite protein powder can definitely take this breakfast to the next level as far as its ability to satiate you and provide ample energy for a productive morning.

I developed this recipe simply from the fruit that was available in the house this morning. There are endless flavor possibilities with this dish, and I cannot wait to share more of my favorite combinations soon!

Blackberry Banana Baked Oatmeal

Prep Time: 10 min

Cook Time: 35-45 min

Total Time: 45-55 min

Servings: 4-5 servings

Ingredients

2 cups rolled oats

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups plant-based milk of choice

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

1 banana, mashed

1 banana, sliced

1 1/2 cups fresh blackberries, divided

1 tbsp brown sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375℉. Apply non-stick cooking spray or oil of choice to 9x9 square pan or medium casserole dish. Set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine rolled oats with cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Stir until evenly mixed.

3. Add milk, vanilla, and apple cider vinegar to the oat mixture and stir until well combined.

4. Add mashed banana and most of blackberries to oatmeal mixture (save a few blackberries for topping). Stir to evenly distribute fruit.

5. Pour mixture into greased pan/baking dish. Top oatmeal with sliced banana and remaining blackberries, then sprinkle brown sugar evenly over the top of the oatmeal.

6. Bake at 375℉ for 35-45 minutes.

Serve with: splash of plant-based milk, drizzle of maple syrup, nuts/seeds, and/or additional fruit.

I hope you all love this simple and delicious breakfast recipe! Definitely try some new combinations based on your favorite fruits! As always, I love to see how your dishes turn out, so feel free to drop a picture in the comments below, or tag @joyfulvegann in your Instagram posts/stories. Happy cooking, but more importantly: happy eating!

Stay happily healthy, friends!