Delicious Baked Oatmeal "Your Way"

A favourite recipe for slow starts to the morning - be it a week day or the weekend!

I'm not normally a fan of oatmeal. Don't get me wrong. I love the incredible smell and idea of all the different varieties you can make. But it's the texture that I can't handle. So I found and tweaked a basic recipe of baked oatmeal and found that it meets all the oaty goodness that I have always envisioned with a good oatmeal...and it has a crunchy topping!

This is also a great dish for brunch with friends or to make for calming your gut and grounding you when times are busy and stressful.

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Baked Oatmeal "Your Way"

Serves 4

Dry mixture

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (or any rolled flakes), choose gluten free if you are intollerant

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp ground ginger (optional)

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground cardamom (optional)

1/4 tsp ground vanilla or 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 pinch coarse sea salt

Your fruit/veggie choice

1 apple, cored and grated (skin on)

1-2 banana, mashed

1-2 Grated raw carrot

Berries - blueberries, raspberries, mixed berries, fresh or frozen

Decide what fruit(s) you like and add approximately 200g total or 1 1/2 cups. The amount of grated or mashed fruit/veg will determine if you like your oats more moist or on the dryer side. I always mix it up depending on my mood and the season. I love "carrot cake" with grated carrots and walnuts, as well as apple-cinnamon with apple, pecans and a bit more cinnamon. Summer is all about berries. Make it your own!

Wet mixture

2 eggs or chia seed mixture (see * note below)

2 1/4 cups / 500 ml / 17 oz plant milk of your choice

Crunchy top layer

4 tbsp maple syrup, honey or apple syrup

2 tbsp coconut oil, room temperature + extra for greasing the pan

1/2 cup / 100 g chopped nuts of your choice

3/4 cup / 100 g sunflower seeds or seeds of your choice

Preheat the oven to 375°F (180°C). Grease the base of a 8 x 10 inch (20 x 25 cm) baking dish with coconut oil and then set aside. Combine the rolled oats, baking powder, spices and salt in a mixing bowl, then add fruit and carefully stir to mix. Add in milk, eggs (or chia mixture) and grated/mashed fruit or veggie. If adding berries, first stir dry mixture with milk and eggs before adding the berries.

To create the top layer, warm the maple syrup and coconut oil until melted. Add in nuts and seeds and stir to coat them. Pour the oat mixture into the baking dish and using a spoon, spoon the crunchy topping over the top. You can spread it lightly into the oat mixture if you want the sweetness to seep in better.

Bake for 25-35 minutes or until topping is lightly browned and crunchy. Leave to cool slightly before serving.

Serve it with fresh fruit (banana, pear, apple, berries), a sprinkle of cinnamon, drizzle of maple syrup or honey and some warm, frothy milk of your choice.

Sit back and eat slowly and mindfully!

*For a vegan alternative: measure 2 tbsp chia seeds into a small bowl and add 1/3 cup (90 ml) water. Stir with a spoon and set a side for 15 minutes. Use in place of the eggs.