Recipe: Apple and Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Apple and cinnamon – a classic combination. Baked oatmeal is a hearty choice for breakfast, particularly in the colder months. I like to make this ahead of time then place it in the oven in the morning. You can use smaller sized ramekins for individual portions or one larger casserole dish. Feel free to play around with spice and fruit combinations. Adding cloves and ground ginger makes a lovely touch.

This recipe is versatile and you can have your own choice of sweetener and milk. Warm your body from the inside out with this apple cinnamon baked oatmeal.

 Baked Oatmeal

*        1 apple, peeled and chopped

*        1 large banana, chopped

*        1 cup + 1/3 cup regular rolled oats

*        1/4 cup chia seeds

*         •1 tbsp raisins

*        1 tsp ground cinnamon

*        Pinch of kosher salt

*        2 cups milk (your choice of milk)

*        2 Tbs pure maple syrup or rice malt syrup

*        1 Tbs pure vanilla extract

Crunchy Cinnamon Topping

*        2 Tbs rolled oats

*        1/4 cup almonds, chopped

*        1Tbs milk

*        1Tbs coconut sugar (raw sugar or your choice of sugar works well.)

*        1 Tbs pure maple syrup or rice malt syrup

*        Pinch cinnamon

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and grease a 4 cup baking dish.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the peeled and chopped apple, chopped banana oats, chia seeds, raisins, pinch of salt, and cinnamon. Stir in the milk, maple syrup, and vanilla. Pour into casserole dish and set aside.

3. Mix together topping ingredients in small bowl. Sprinkle over oatmeal.

4. Bake oatmeal in oven for 25-30 minutes, watching carefully to ensure it doesn’t burn near the end. Serve immediately with some grated apple and maple syrup.

* This keeps well in the fridge. To reheat simple add a dash of milk before heating up.