Description
A comforting, self-care baked oatmeal featuring old-fashioned oats, apple butter, and warm spices. It offers a meditative cooking experience and yields a custardy, pudding-like texture that is perfect for breakfast or a snack.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup apple butter
- 1 cup milk (whole, almond, or oat)
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- Extra apple butter for drizzling (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease an 8×8 inch baking dish.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together milk, egg, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until sugar is mostly dissolved.
- Stir in the apple butter until fully incorporated.
- Add the rolled oats to the wet mixture and stir gently to coat every oat.
- Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to allow oats to absorb the liquid.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Dollop extra apple butter on top and swirl with a knife if desired, then sprinkle with nuts.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until the top is golden brown and the center is set but slightly jiggly.
- Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving to allow it to set.
Notes
Do not use instant or steel-cut oats as they will not cook correctly in this method. Letting the oats rest for 5 minutes before baking is crucial for texture. If the oatmeal seems too dry before baking, add a splash of milk. Toasting nuts beforehand enhances flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 6
Keywords: baked oatmeal, apple butter, fall recipe, cinnamon, self-care meal, healthy breakfast, gluten-free option, meal prep