Baked Oatmeal

By linda1949

Ingredients

• 2 cups rolled (NOT INSTANT) oats
• 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped, divided
• 1/3 cup sugar OR maple syrup, plus more for serving
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Scant 1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
• 2 cups milk
• 1 large egg
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and divided
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 ripe bananas, sliced into pieces
• 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries, huckleberries, or mixed berries

Preparation

Step 1

****You can prep the night before, refrigerate and then slide it into the oven as you are making your coffee.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees with rack in top third of oven. Butter 8x8" baking pan.

In a bowl, mix together oats, half the walnuts, sugar, if using, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In another bowl, whisk together maple syrup, if using, milk, egg, half the butter, and vanilla.

Arrange bananas in a single layer in bottom of prepared baking dish. Sprinkle two thirds of berries over top. Cover fruit with oat mixture. Slowly drizzle milk mixture over oats. Gently give baking dish a few "whacks" on countertop to make sure milk moves through the oats. Scatter remaining berries and walnuts on top.

Bake 35 - 45 minutes, until top is golden and oats have set. Remove from oven; drizzle remaining melted butter on top. Serve with extra sugar or syrup.