This morning we woke up to this. It’s insane. Yesterday it was so humid in my house and the day was so warm that even opening the doors didn’t bring relief. Then the temperature dropped, the furnace went back on and we woke up to snow. Holy week snow. Crazy!
Just last week I was thinking about making some granola and transitioning into summer breakfast mode. Today I was glad I did not actually get around to making it. On cold mornings there is nothing that hits the spot quite like warm oatmeal. If you’re feeling kind of lazy though or just plain frazzled it can be hard to find the time to actually get it cooked on the stove especially if you’re like me and enjoy old fashioned thick rolled oats. As a compromise for those busy mornings I’ve found that baking oatmeal in the oven can produce a delicious, low effort breakfast that everyone appreciates.
This particular recipe is a variation on my usual morning baked oatmeal in that it has slightly different ingredients. Pirate oatmeal is loaded with buried treasure. In any given bite you’ll find something a little different. Some dried fruit, a slivered almond or two and maybe even some shaved coconut. If snow has found you once more and you’re looking for a different twist on your regular morning routine, give this a whirl. You won’t regret it!
Pirate Oatmeal
Serves 4-6 people
Ingredients:
- 2 c old fashioned oats
- 1/2 c shredded almonds
- 1/2 c dried cranberries
- 1/4 c shredded coconut (I use unsweetened)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 2 c unsweetened soy milk (or whatever milk you prefer)
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 1 c unsweetened apple sauce
- 1/4 c maple syrup
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
- Prepare a 9×9 pan with a little cooking spray or oil.
- Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry, stirring well.
- Pour the mixture into the pan.
- Bake for about 30 minutes until it’s set.
- Pull out and enjoy!
Extra Information:
- This keeps very well in the fridge if you’re the only one who likes oatmeal. It makes for an even faster breakfast the next day!
- You can throw in all kinds of ingredients to this mix. Combine any number of dried fruits and nuts to give yourself variety in the morning.
- If you’re looking for something a little different to serve at brunch this is a nice addition. It goes well with scrambled tofu (and I would think eggs if you’re serving those). It’s easy but looks quite nice when it’s coming straight out of the oven.
