Berry Baked Oatmeal

What is the best food in the world? Oats.

This is a scientific fact. Now that the truth is clear, we can extrapolate.

The oat (Avena Sativa) is a fascinating grain. A type of cereal grain, the oat enjoys cool, rainy climates. Thus, Northern Europe is oat-heaven (Switzerland’s muesli is famous for a reason). In terms of health benefits, oats help lower cholesterol, they contain a large amount of fiber, and oats are gluten-free (I understand eating gluten-free is popular now).

But best of all, Oats are versatile. I believe oats are too often associated with “gummy oatmeal”, and thus chefs lose their culinary creativity with the grains. For the past 10 months, I’ve been experimenting with oats at the breakfast table. I’ve found, interesting enough, that oatmeal is best when made with a mixture of all three of the major oat varieties: steel-cut, long-rolled, and quick oats.

Perhaps the most significant result of my oat experimentation is…. wait for it………… (homemade) ice cream and oatmeal.

I won’t say anymore. It’s a combo that I believe could emerge as a “cash cow”, or perhaps an idea for a successful food truck. I believe in the power of the oat!

BenGusto's Berry Baked Oatmeal

BenGusto’s Berry Baked Oatmeal

Instead of posting a more radical oatmeal recipe of mine from my oat experimentations, I’d like to share a more simple, humble recipe that is easy and versatile, and tastes like delicious muffins. While this recipe for baked oatmeal is not far from the original “gummy oatmeal”, it is a creative spin on the traditional breakfast dish that adds much-needed umph to any table. The ingredient list can be changed without disrupting the balance of the dish, encouraging culinary creativity. If you don’t particularly enjoy blueberries (although, who wouldn’t?), you can always replace them with another fruit of your choice.

Berry Baked Oatmeal 

Level: Easy        Time: 15 minutes prep, 45 minutes of cooking

  • 5 cups Long-Rolled Oats
  • 1/4 cup chopped Walnuts
  • 1/4 cup chopped Almonds
  • 1 cup Blueberries (fresh or frozen)
  • 1 1/2 cup Strawberries (fresh or frozen)
  • 1/2 cup Raisins
  • 1/2 cup chopped Dates
  • 3 cups Milk
  • 1 cup Water
  • 1/2 cup Honey
  • Zest of a Naval Orange
  • Zest of a Lemon
  • 1 tbsp. Cinnamon
  • Butter (for greasing)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Roughly chop the walnuts and almonds.

And here we go again with all of BenGusto's food pictures.... Oh brother!

And here we go again with all of BenGusto’s food pictures…. Oh brother!

Chopped Almonds and Walnuts

In a large bowl, toss the oats and nuts together.

Put the long-rolled oat in a big bowl and mix in the nuts.

Put the long-rolled oat in a big bowl and mix in the nuts.

Slice the strawberries on a cutting board and add them to the bowl.

Mix in the blueberries, dates, and raisins.

Add a cup of blueberries (I used frozen because I made this in the dead of winter).

Add a cup of blueberries (I used frozen because I made this in the dead of winter).

Mix the oats, raisins, dates, strawberries, and blueberries together.

Mix the oats, raisins, dates, strawberries, and blueberries together.

 

In a medium-sized bowl, mix the milk, water, honey, cinnamon, lemon zest, and orange zest together.

Mix the milk and water together in a large pitcher or bowl.

Mix the milk and water together in a large pitcher or bowl.

Please take a moment to appreciate the natural color that the honey bees produce. It is marvelous!

Please take a moment to appreciate the natural color that the honey bees produce. It is marvelous!

Zest an orange and a lemon.

Zest an orange and a lemon.

Add the cinnamon.

Add the cinnamon.

 

Grease a square baking pan or dish with butter. Add the oat mixture.

Spread the dry oat mixture out on a greased baking dish.

Spread the dry oat mixture out on a greased baking dish.

Pour the milk mixture over the oats.

Pour the wet milk mixture over the oats.

Pour the wet milk mixture over the oats.

Berry Baked Oatmeal

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes, or until the top turns golden brown.

Done and done!

Done and done!

Berry Baked Oatmeal

Serve warm with a drizzle of honey and a spoonful of yogurt.

Serve warm with a drizzle of honey and a spoonful of yogurt.

Apetit!

 

 

 

245 responses on “Berry Baked Oatmeal

  1. This sounds lovely! I am also an oat lover! Does the oat mixture go solid in the oven? I’m just wondering if I could make this and then eat it cold for breakfast over the new few days?

    • Yes, the oat mixture goes solid and can serve a week’s worth of breakfast if desired. I always make it a day in advance, and then store it in the fridge.
      Best of luck! Have fun!
      -Ben

      • Hi Ben, this is also delicious! I’ve made it a couple of times now (only half the recipe as it does make a lot) and been taking it to work for my morning snack every day, I love it and will be !taking this every week! Thanks so much 🙂

  2. Another great recipe!
    I had the fortune of trying your special oatmeal before departing for my trip, great stuff. A big “ciao” from Italy & Switzerland.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.