Easter Breakfast Recipe Baked Oatmeal with Strawberries, Banana and Chocolate

Oh my goodness! This recipe is unbelievable! Check out other amazing recipes at inspiredtaste.net

Author: Adam and Joanne Gallagher

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 35 mins

Total time: 45 mins

Serves: 6

Adapted from the lovely cookbook, Super Natural Every Day, written by Heidi Swanson, this is perfect when serving a crowd for breakfast. 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

Method

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. 
5. 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.
6. 

Whipped Banana Oatmeal

A tribute to the world’s greatest breakfast!

Whipped Banana Oatmeal

• 1/3 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/3 cup 1% or skim or soy milk
• 1/2 cup water (I like my oats a bit liquidy – cut back to 1/3 a cup if you don’t)
• 1/2 a banana, sliced
• 1 tbsp chia seeds (they give the best fluffy texture!)
• Pinch of kosher salt
• Vanilla, stirred in at end

For two servings, we start by combining rolled oats, water, and milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Slice a banana into VERY thin pieces, leaving just a few bigger chunks. Walk away for a few minutes while the oatmeal heats. Once it begins to steam or bubble, stir vigorously at times to “whip” the banana into the oats. The oats will take about 5 minutes on medium heat from start to finish to fully absorb the liquid. They’re done when they reach your desired consistency! Then I stir in vanilla (and often pumpkin or cottage cheese) and portion into bowls. Add any toppings you like, such as almond or peanut butter dollops, nuts, granola, coconut, crumbled granola bars, or trail mix – with dark chocolate chips! 

The whipped method produces a really creamy bowl of oats. The bananas basically disappear, so there are no chunks. Since banana is an emulsifier of sorts, this method suspends the oats into a thick, creamy consistency and the whole bowl is sweeter because the banana’s sweetness permeates throughout.

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