When one thinks of cooking oatmeal, its often either on the stovetop or in a microwave. Add water to your oats, and cook until theyve softened. Ive been doing it this way all my life, never giving the process much thought, because it always worked. And to be honest, when youre just cooking for one or two, and you want it fast, stovetop or microwave is ideal.
The Benefits of Baking Oatmeal
But theres another, lesser known way to make oatmeal, and though it takes a little longer, its super easy and great for entertaining: baked oatmeal. If you never thought oatmeal could be “hands off,” let alone considered fit for guests, then youre in luck, because weve got not one, but three great ways to do it.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__s__2014__08__20140805-banana-baked-oatmeal.1-yvonne-ruperti-hires-cdcfe317716540059a4642b7e4e85c20.jpg)
Over the years Ive created more than my fair share of oatmeal volcanoes in the microwave. And standing over the stove stirring the pot is not really what I want to be doing first thing in the morning. With baked oatmeal, all you have to do is toss it all in a baking dish and slide it into the oven. In about 30 minutes, youve got a dish of steaming, tender oats. To enrich it, I use milk instead of water, and just one egg lightens the texture. Its the perfect stress-free hot breakfast to serve to guests. Why? Theres no à la minute cooking: the oven does all the work.
Baked Oatmeal Add-Ins
Because oats on their own are rather plain, oatmeal benefits tremendously from a few add-ins to dress it up. A juicy strawberries-and-almond baked oatmeal is bursting with fresh sweet-tart flavor. In my maple-banana baked oatmeal with walnuts, sugar is swapped out for delicious maple syrup. And, for the last recipe, cinnamon-apple baked oatmeal, tart Granny Smith apples provide contrast to the sweet oatmeal. Pre-cooking the apples first in the baking dish gives the apples a head start on softening before baking with the oats. For optimum texture, be sure to serve immediately, piping hot, as any oatmeal will continue to thicken as it cools.
Healthy Baked Oatmeal You Can Make Ahead (REHEATS SO WELL!)
FAQ
Is baked oatmeal good for you?
Are Quaker oats good for baking?
How do you soften oats for baking?
Why are my baked oats soggy?
How do you eat warm baked oatmeal?
So, scoop your portion of warm baked oatmeal into a shallow dish, then pour on a bit of cream. And if you like things on the sweeter side, go ahead and give it an additional drizzle of maple syrup or honey. Dig in and rest assured, you’ve done a very good thing.
Can one eat raw oatmeal?
You can eat raw oats without a problem. Raw oats are high in soluble fiber and they are perfect to eat in smoothies, with yogurt and fruit.
How do you make easy baked oatmeal?
Easy baked oatmeal is a breakfast favorite and a healthy way to start any day! Make in advance and reheat all week! Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.
What can I use to make oatmeal?
You can use coconut sugar, pure maple syrup, or honey. Cinnamon – a must for oatmeal! Baking powder – to help the oats rise in the oven. Salt – a little salt for flavor. Milk – I use unsweetened vanilla almond milk, but you can use your favorite milk (soy, oat, cow, rice, cashew, etc).