Baked Oats: a healthy and nutritious breakfast to start your morning
By Lela Star
As a food lover with lots of foodie friends, I’ve been asked the question “What do you normally eat for breakfast?” more than a couple of times. In fact, my breakfasts range from simple avocado toast or rice cakes with peanut butter, to waffles with maple syrup and whipped cream or cranberry scones glazed with lemon icing. All of these are simply delicious: if you haven’t had even one of these, you must try them at least once in your life (multiple times, and as soon as possible). However, there is a food that I haven’t mentioned yet (in both this article and this newspaper), but that I’ve had almost every morning since March 2023: baked oats. Today, we’ll be covering what baked oats actually are, the different flavour options, the (surprising?) health benefits of some of their ingredients, as well as two bonus recipes that you can try baking yourself!
Some may think of oatmeal as basic, boring, or even disgusting. I disagree with all three of these statements because there are so many different things you can do with it. A quote that I once heard in a video about oatmeal stated “If you don’t like oatmeal, you’re not making it right.” Indeed, oats are very versatile and baked oats are only one of the numerous ways you can have them: for example, you can make overnight oats, oatmeal cookies, oatmeal pancakes, oatmeal scones, oatmeal parfaits, oatmeal bars… you name it! Also, in contradiction to the title of this article, baked oatmeal is not limited to the label of breakfast, but it can be a snack or a dessert too. I, personally, have baked oats as a filling, nutritious breakfast every single weekday that gives me enough energy to survive the brutal seven hours of school. Every once in a while, though, I eat it as a snack on weekends when I’m craving it.
There are many ways you can make baked oats: if you search it up on Google, there are lots of recipes that are at your disposition. It may seem overwhelming at first, but it’s pretty easy to understand if you have the basics.
Obviously, you’ll need oatmeal, which comes in different formats, but the most common are rolled oats and quick oats. I usually go with the former, not only because of the health benefits, but also because of the taste and texture. My father likes eating plain quick oats made with water for breakfast, so if I run out, I just use those. Since we blend them, they basically serve as the flour.
Another staple for baked oatmeal is banana: not only is it a fruit that is a significant source of carbohydrates, fiber, potassium, antioxidants, and certain vitamins, but it also provides structure and texture to the dish. However, it’s essential to note that, depending on the recipe, you might not be able to taste the banana. In the recipe that I make every weekday morning, I put half a banana, which is just enough to not be tasted but also include the health benefits.
In addition, I add milk to my baked oats, but not every recipe requires it. As a milk lover, I find that this ingredient simply makes baked oats taste creamier, smoother, and better.
Depending on the recipe as well, you can add an egg or baking powder to make the baked oats fluffier. I don’t include eggs in my standard baked oats that I eat every morning, but there are many great recipes I’ve tried that contain them.
Honey and vanilla are some additives that you can choose to add or not to add, depending on your taste.
After you have the basic recipe, there are many things you can add to the baked oats to give flavor. Personally, for the recipe that I bake daily, I add vanilla and chocolate chips, though it’s also possible to mix in cocoa powder to make chocolate baked oats. You can also add fruit to the batter before baking or on top before serving.
Finally, I will be presenting three delicious recipes: the oatmeal I eat every day before school that keeps me energized throughout the entire morning, a fun oatmeal recipe that I love eating as a snack, as well as a chocolate baked oats recipe that I enjoy occasionally.
For the first recipe, which I found somewhere on Pinterest a long time ago and modified, we have a chocolate chip and banana baked oats. You will need:
½ cup oats
1 banana
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp vanilla extract
½ cup milk
Chocolate chips
The instructions are simple: blend the oats, half of the banana, the baking powder, the vanilla extract and the milk. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top (don’t be stingy!) then bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-30 minutes. Top with slices of the other half of the banana and have a glass of milk with it if desired. Note: these oats are relatively dry, simple-tasting and are a relatively small portion. It’s the main reason why I eat it regularly for breakfast.
For the second recipe, which I came across on Instagram, by the creator @tracesoats, we have a raspberry and chocolate baked oatmeal. You will need:
¾ cup oats
¾ cup milk
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp chia seeds
2 tbsp sunbutter (or peanut butter, which is what I used)
Splash of vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
½ tsp baking powder
Raspberries
Chocolate chips
To make this, you have to blend the oats, milk, maple syrup, chia seeds, sunbutter, vanilla extract, salt, and baking powder. Then, you mix in the raspberries and chocolate chips. Sprinkle a few on top as well if you’d like, then bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Personally, I loved this recipe, but the portion was WAY too big for me and even I (someone who’s known for always being hungry and talking about food) wasn’t able to finish it. In addition, it’s slightly too runny for my taste.
In conclusion, oatmeal is a wonderful way to start your morning, especially in the form of baked oats. If you liked this article, please consider leaving a like or comment telling us what you like and what you would appreciate more of. Thank you for reading!
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