This is another one of those dishes that was written as a breakfast recipe but also makes a great snack or dessert.

With the cold weather settling in on us, Eric wanted to move on from smoothies for breakfast in the warm months to a warm breakfast in the cold months. Since he likes oatmeal, I concentrated my search on oatmeal. That’s how I came upon baked oatmeal. Baked oatmeal is a breakfast casserole made from old-fashioned oats, milk, eggs, and a sweetener. Where instant oatmeal has a creamy porridge consistency, baked oatmeal is more of a chewy and soft consistency, more like a bread pudding.

As Eric also likes apples, raisins & walnuts, we both thought this particular version of baked oatmeal would be the perfect fit for him and a good place to start. And it is. He eats it cold or rewarms a piece of it before heading off to work. The mix of complex carbohydrates, protein, and fats keeps him satisfied until lunch.

When I first tasted this baked oatmeal, my thoughts immediately went to a warm dessert served with vanilla ice cream. No surprise there, as I am a firm believer in dessert with at least two meals a day. Either as breakfast or dessert, this is more than acceptable. And delicious!

Baked Oatmeal with Apples, Raisins & Walnuts (adapted from onceuponachef.com) Total Time required: 1 hour, Prep Time: 15 minutes, Cook Time: 40 -45 minutes  Makes: 6 – 8 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 cup walnuts broken into pieces, divided
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 large (about 2 cups) tart & sweet baking apples, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease an 8- or 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set the dish aside.

In a large bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, 1/2 cup of the nuts, raisins, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well.

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, then whisk in the milk and vanilla until well combined.

Add the milk mixture and the melted butter to the oat mixture, combining it all together until it is well mixed.

Scatter the apples evenly on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Pour the oatmeal mixture over top and spread it evenly.

Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup nuts on top.

Bake the oatmeal for 40-45 minutes, until the top is golden and the oats are set.

Serve warm or at room temperature. The oatmeal can be refrigerated until needed and reheated for serving.

This is a great start and end to any day!  ~Linda

Baked Oatmeal with Apples, Raisins & Walnuts (adapted from onceuponachef.com) Total Time required: 1 hour, Prep Time: 15 minutes, Cook Time: 40 -45 minutes  Makes: 6 – 8 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 cup walnuts broken into pieces, divided
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 large (about 2 cups) tart & sweet baking apples, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease an 8- or 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set the dish aside.

In a large bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, 1/2 cup of the nuts, raisins, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well.

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, then whisk in the milk and vanilla until well combined.

Add the milk mixture and the melted butter to the oat mixture, combining it all together until it is well mixed.

Scatter the apples evenly on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Pour the oatmeal mixture over top and spread it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup nuts on top. Bake the oatmeal for 40-45 minutes, until the top is golden and the oats are set. Serve warm or at room temperature. The oatmeal can be refrigerated until needed and reheated for serving.