Baked Oatmeal

A friend shared her recipe for baked oatmeal with me, after I tried it and loved her version. I tweaked it to my likes, and cleaned it up a bit, which was very easy to do. I love having a warm, hearty, fulling breakfast that only takes a minute to heat up in the microwave!

I tried it first with 1/3 cup maple syrup, but I think it could use a tad more sweetness, so I am going with the full 1/2 cup next time. Also, I like my oatmeal on the firmer side, so I used less milk than the original recipe calls for.

Baked Oatmeal
Serves:  12

• 2 apples, cored and rough chopped
• 1 cup fresh, frozen, or dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 3 cups quick cooking oats 
• 4 cups skim milk (can go up to 4.5 cups)
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup, or agave nectar, or sucanat
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients in a casserole or large oven proof dish (roughly 9x13).  Bake at 350 for 45 min.  Dish can be ahead ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator overnight before baking in the morning.

Nutritional Information, per serving:
Calories - 194
Total Fat - 5 g
Saturated Fat: 0.7 g
Cholesterol - 20 mg
Sodium - 236 mg
Potassium - 182 mg
Carbohydrate - 31 g
Fiber - 2.7 g
Sugar - 12.8 g
Protein - 6.5 g