Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Today's breakfast comes to you 5 days early because of my inability to wait for the weekend to make it.  I typically reserve pancakes, frittatas, and baked oatmeal for Saturday & Sunday mornings.  Mornings, where the days begin lazy, music filled and PJs driven.  However, given my own strong desire to have this for breakfast today, I gave in, and decided to live on the edge.  All aboard the baked oatmeal train....toot, toot!

I've been on somewhat of an apple cinnamon kick as of late, so that was my flavour combination of choice on this fine Tuesday morning.  The smell reminds me of my Grandma and home baked pie.  I want my house to smell like this always.  Really, can you blame me?  Fragrance aside, I think this breakfast will be a regular on the menu for the next couple weeks, I'm truly smitten.

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly

2 cups old fashioned oats

1/3 cup walnuts, chopped

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1 tsp baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce

1 large egg

2 tsp vanilla

1 Granny Smith apple; cored, peeled, & diced

1/2 cup raisins

Method:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Butter an 8-inch square baking dish.

Combine oats, walnuts, raisins, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl.

In separate bowl, whisk milk, applesauce, egg, 1 tablespoon butter, and vanilla.

Add wet ingredients to dry and combine till mixed.  Fold in diced apple.

Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish.  Drizzle with remaining butter.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until top is nicely golden and oat mixture has set.  Allow to cool slightly.

Yields: 4-6 servings

Adapted from my Baked Berry Oatmeal