Baked Oatmeal

By Hklbrries

"I can microwave oatmeal any day, but serve it to company?! Never. Then I fell in love with this idea from Heidi Swanson's book Super Natural Every Day: Well-Loved Recipes from My Natural Foods Kitchen (Ten Speed Press). Oats, fruit, milk, and an egg bake up into a cross between bread pudding, pie, and oatmeal. I prep mine the night before, refrigerate, and then slide it into the oven before I even start the coffee. Now when friends suggest going out to brunch, I suggest my place."

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Ingredients

• 2 cups rolled (not instant) oats
• 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
• 1/3 cup natural cane sugar or maple syrup, plus more for serving
• 1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• Scant 1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
• 2 cups milk
• 1 large egg
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 ripe bananas, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 1/2 cups huckleberries, blueberries, or mixed berries

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375 F (190 C) with a rack in the top third of the oven. Generously butter the inside of an 8-by-8-inch baking pan.

In a bowl, mix together the oats, half the walnuts, sugar, if using, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In another bowl, whisk together the 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 thwacks on countertop to make sure milk moves through oats. Scatter remaining berries and walnuts on top.

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

Although I love this huckleberry version, feel free to substitute your favorite in-season berries, or any other fruit for that matter. Another version I love is made with plump, amaretto-soaked golden raisins in place of the berries and sliced almonds in place of the walnuts.