Apple Pie Baked Breakfast Oats

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… I’m a freak for oatmeal. Seriously, I could eat it all day everyday, and never get sick of it. No joke, oatmeal for breakfast, lunch and dinner is kind of my definition of heaven.

Warm oatmeal, cold oatmeal, overnight oats, baked oatmeal, stove top oatmeal… whatever the type just hand me a spoon and I’ll be a happy camper.

People think I’m crazy, because for some reason there is this strange and very common misconception that oatmeal has to be boring.

I think many of us have sadly been conditioned to think this way, because most of us have been scarred at some point during our childhood by a bowl of plain oats cooked in nothing but water and served as is. I mean no wonder so many of us think that oatmeal is just some yucky breakfast mush that we were all forced by our parents to choke down as children for the sake of it being “healthy”.

So yeah, I can understand where peoples oatmeal hate stems from. I get it. I won’t deny that a plain bowl of oatmeal, can be a little tough to swallow for most people.But fear oatmeal no more friends because guess what!? It doesn’t have to be this way!

This morning I am making it my mission to convince all of you oatmeal haterz that a bowl of this healthy stuff really doesn’t have to be boring, and that it can actually be the best thing ever. I have a recipe that will guaranteed be your new best breakfast friend… that’s right, I went there.

Case in point… this Apple Pie Baked Oatmeal. Mhmmmm…. Seriously I challenge any self-proclaimed oatmeal hater to try this oatmeal and not fall completely in love.

So to all you oatmeal haterz – I have just one question for you… Do you like apple pie? I know I do, and guess what? This oatmeal tastes exactly how it sounds – like apple pie. Yep, it is quite literally apple pie in breakfast form – aka, my definition of the best breakfast ever.

I can honestly say that this may very well be my new favourite oatmeal – for two reasons;

1. It’s amazingly delicious. Period.

So I feel like this Apple Pie Baked oatmeal requires no further introduction, and it’s just too yummy for you not to get up and make right this second…. Okay maybe not right this second, but definitely for your next breakfast baking adventure 😀

Here is it lovelies! I would love to hear how you like <3 <3

Apple Pie Baked Breakfast Oats

Things you need…
2 cups large flake rolled oats
1 cup quick cooking oats
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/3 cup brown sugar + extra for sprinkling
2 1/2 tsp cinnamon {divided}
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
1/8 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups whole milk
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 tbsp. vanilla
2 tbsp. maple syrup
1 tsp lemon zest
1/4 cup butter, browned
1/2 cup toasted pecans, chopped
3 apples, chopped

How to make…
Preheat your oven to 350F degrees, and chop your apples with skin on into 1 – 1/2 inch chunks.

Set a 9 inch cast iron skillet over medium heat on your stove top and melt the butter; increase the heat to medium-high and allow the butter to brown in the pan until fragrant and golden. Once browned, immediately reduce heat to medium, add in the apples, maple syrup, lemon zest & 1/2 tsp of cinnamon. Stir mixture with a heatproof spatula or wooden spoon to evenly coat the apples and cook for 3-5 minutes over medium heat or until tender. Stir in the pecans, gently tossing to coat with everything else – set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together rolled oats, quick oats, flax seeds, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Add in milk, applesauce and vanilla; stir until everything is well mixed. Next, pour in the cooked apple mixture from the skillet and stir to combine. Pour mixture back into the skillet.

**Note: Your skillet will be almost full, but this is okay.

Sprinkle the top with a little bit of brown sugar {don’t skip this part because it really makes for the most delicious, crunchy, caramelilzed top to your oatmeal}, and bake for 35-40 minutes or until thick and golden brown on top. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minute or so in the skillet.

Serve warm with additional milk or cream if desired. Oh!… And if you served it up with a dollop of whipped cream… I wouldn’t judge you 😀

Happy oatmeal baking {& eating} <3

KP xoxo