Nice Baked Oatmeal
Submitted by happyzhangbo
Baked oatmeal studded with dried fruit and baked in individual cups until just set. A make-ahead, kid-friendly breakfast topped with a fun fruit smiley-face the little ones love.
YIELD
4 servingsPREP
8 minCOOK
40 minREADY
48 minBaked oatmeal skips the stovetop stir and turns breakfast into something you can portion out and walk away from. Here it bakes in individual custard cups, so each kid gets a warm, custardy serving with a fruity smiley face on top, which is exactly the kind of thing that gets a slow morning eater to the table.
The method is forgiving. Stir oats and dried fruit into the cups, whisk the milk, egg, sugar, and vanilla until the sugar dissolves, then pour it over and bake. Pull them when the centers are just barely set, not firm, so they stay creamy in the middle instead of drying out.
A drizzle of pancake syrup at the table is optional, since the dried fruit already brings plenty of natural sweetness.
Kitchen Tips
- Bake until the centers jiggle just slightly; carryover heat finishes them as they cool.
- Use quick-cooking rolled oats here, not steel-cut, which need far more liquid and time.
- Assemble the cups the night before, cover, and refrigerate so you can bake straight from the fridge in the morning.
Variations
- Swap the dried fruit mix for fresh blueberries or diced apple with a pinch of cinnamon.
- Stir in a spoonful of peanut butter or a handful of chopped nuts for extra protein and crunch.
- Use a dairy-free milk to make it vegan along with an egg replacer.
Ingredients
Directions
Lightly coat four 10-ounce custard cups with cooking spray; set aside.
Stir together the oats and the ½ cup fruit bits.
Divide oat mixture between the four custard cups.
In a medium bowl combine milk, egg product, sugar, vanilla, and salt, stirring to dissolve sugar and salt.
Pour milk mixture into the custard cups, dividing evenly.
Place custard cups in a shallow baking pan.
Bake in a 350℉ (180℃) F oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until centers are nearly set.
Arrange additional dried fruit bits on top of each serving to make a smiling face.
Serve warm.
If desired, drizzle with syrup.
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