Baked oatmeal w/ strawberries, bananas and chocolate

I was looking for a recipe in which to use bananas, because I somehow always have them around the house. This was a fantastic option, because I am always looking for brunch recipes that I can put together the night before (nobody wants to wake up at 7am if they don't have to). It is moderately healthy, inexpensive and easy to prep the night before. Enjoy!

http://www.inspiredtaste.net/9928/baked-oatmeal-with-strawberries-banana-and-chocolate-recipe/

Baked Oatmeal with Strawberries, Banana and Chocolate

Baked Oatmeal With Strawberries, Banana and Chocolate

We didn’t realize it until after we made this recipe, but banana split baked oatmeal is such a fitting name for this baked oatmeal with fresh strawberries, sliced bananas and chocolate chips. Maybe we were dreaming of the ice cream shop that day? Who knows. Either way, we liked it so much we made a recipe video for it (see above).

This easy recipe can be made the night before or an hour before serving. It freezes well and is a hit with picky palates. Serve for breakfast or dessert. Versatile is the keyword, here. Versatile.

We adapted the idea for baked oatmeal from Heidi’s  lovely cookbook, Super Natural Everyday Cooking. Her version didn’t include the strawberries or chocolate and used cinnamon instead of our choice of Chinese five spice and orange zest, but the general concept comes straight from her. It’s delicious, hearty and is so pleasing to look at (and eat).

There’s something special about entertaining in the morning — it’s casual, laid back and really can start the off right. Just picture this baked oatmeal recipe next to a a plate of crispy oven baked bacon or possibly (if serving a crowd) these Breakfast Enchiladas with Ham and Peppers.

If you take a read through the comments below, you’ll see so many who have shared this oatmeal with family or friends (some have even taken it to work). Since it was so popular, we created another variation of baked oatmeal – Try our Blackberry Oatmeal with Caramel Sauce. It’s flavored with lemon zest, nutmeg and packed with juicy blackberries! We know you’ll love it.

How to Make Banana Split Baked Oatmeal with Strawberries, Banana and Chocolate

As we’ve already mentioned, this is an easy recipe (with recipe video) — the dry ingredients are mixed and added to a baking dish then wet ingredients are whisked and then poured over the dry. There are many options for substitutions in this baked oatmeal recipe (as we said, it’s versatile). We’ve noted a few at the end of this post, including dairy-free, egg-free and sugar-free options.

Start by mixing together the dry ingredients — you could switch up the extras here. For example, we used walnuts and chocolate chips, but you could certainly use almonds or another nut (or none) and replace the chocolate with something else — dried cranberries would be lovely. We throw in a teaspoon of Chinese five spice, too — you can buy the blend at any grocery store, but if you don’t want to invest in another spice, go ahead and replace with ground cinnamon instead. One more thing, here — we actually only throw in half of the walnuts and chocolate during this step, because we chose to top the oatmeal before baking with the other half.

Now, add some sliced strawberries, again we only added half now and top the oatmeal before baking with the remaining half.

Grab another bowl and whisk together milk, one egg and vanilla extract.

Generously spray a baking dish with cooking spray  then pour in the oat mixture. Arrange the remaining walnuts, chocolate and strawberries on top, then do the same with some sliced banana.

Next, pour the milk mixture all over the oats and shake or shimmy the baking dish so the wet ingredients make their way throughout the dry. You can see the shimmy action in the recipe video.

Place the baking dish onto a baking sheet (that is just in case anything bubbles over) and bake in a 375 degree F oven for 35-40 minutes until the wet ingredients have been absorbed, the oatmeal puffs up a bit and is golden brown on top.

If you feel like it, once the oatmeal has baked, sprinkle with a little bit more brown sugar on top and slide it under a hot broiler for 20-30 seconds to caramelize.

A Make Ahead Meal and Freezer Friendly Oatmeal

You can mix all of the oatmeal’s ingredients the night before cooking and then bake in the morning. If you do this, place bananas on the bottom of the dish and not on top of the oats since they may brown slightly over night.

Some readers have tried freezing the oatmeal: After mixing everything together, tightly cover the oatmeal or pour into resealable plastic bags and freeze for up to one month. Then, when you want to bake the oatmeal, just remove from freezer, thaw and bake as directed. If you decide to do this, we suggest that you mix the fruit into the oatmeal instead of placing on top to prevent browning – especially the bananas.

Easy Recipe Substitutions

This baked oatmeal recipe is easily adapted for dairy-free and egg-free diets. While we call for one egg in the recipe, we have had success removing the egg completely. Another easy substitution is replacing soy, almond or even coconut milk for the milk called for in the original recipe.

You can, of course, change the fruit and chocolate in the recipe, too. To reduce calories or level of sweetness, eliminate chocolate from the recipe all together. You could also substitute blueberries, blackberries or other fruit for the strawberries and banana.

Finally, if you wish to reduce the amount of sugar, readers have had success eliminating the sugar all together. You could do this or replace the sugar with honey or agave nectar.

Baked Oatmeal Recipe Video

Take our recipe video with you into the kitchen using your smartphone or iPad. Just scan the code below to see the recipe video. Then, print the recipe below! (pssst….redlaser is a great free app for this!)

Baked Oatmeal with Strawberries, Banana and Chocolate Recipe

4.6 from 14 reviews

Print

Author: Adam and Joanne Gallagher

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 35 mins

Total time: 45 mins

Serves: 6

AdapteThis easy recipe can be made the night before or an hour before serving. It freezes well and is a hit with picky palates. Serve for breakfast or dessert. You can bake this the night before and reheat in the morning for an easy and impressive breakfast. Replace strawberries with blueberries or other berry. If you do not have Chinese five spice, you can simply substitute with 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, the flavor will be slightly different, but still delicious.

Ingredients

• 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• 1 teaspoon Chinese five spice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup walnut pieces, chopped
• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 cups milk
• 1 large egg
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 ripe banana, peeled, 1/2-inch slices

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F and generously spray the inside of a 10-1/2 by 7 inch baking dish with cooking spray and place on a baking sheet.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, sugar, baking powder, orange zest, Chinese five spice, salt, half the walnuts, half the strawberries and half the chocolate. (Save the other half of strawberries, walnuts and chocolate for the top of the oatmeal). In another large bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, butter and vanilla extract.
3. Add the oat mixture to prepared baking dish. Arrange the remaining strawberries, walnuts and chocolate on top. Add the banana slices to the top then pour the milk mixture over everything. Gently shimmy/shake the baking dish to help the milk mixture go throughout the oats.
4. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until the top is nicely golden brown and the milk mixture has set. For an extra tasty top, sprinkle a tablespoon or so of extra brown sugar on top then place back in the oven under the broiler and broil for 20-30 seconds. Serve warm with an extra sprinkle of sugar or drizzle of maple syrup.

Notes

Make Ahead Meal Idea: You can make this oatmeal the night before cooking, if you do this, place bananas on the bottom of the dish and not on top of the oats since they will brown slightly over night. Some readers have tried freezing: After mixing everything together the oatmeal is covered tightly or poured into resealable plastic bags and frozen. Then, when you want to bake the oatmeal, just take it out of the freezer, thaw and bake as directed. If you do this, we just suggest that the fruit is mixed into the oatmeal, not placed on top if you decide to freeze. We love this recipe so much, we made a quick recipe video –Watch our Video for Oatmeal with Strawberries, Banana and Chocolate.