Baked Steel Cut Oatmeal

This baked steel cut oatmeal is irresistible. The whole thing can be assembled the night before or it can be assembled and baked immediately. It is infinitely customizable to your preferences — you can make it dairy-free, vegan, with or without nuts, and with any fruit your heart desires. Inspired by Heidi Swanson’s recipe in Super Natural Every Day Notes: I like my Pyrex 8-inch square baking dish for this one. You can also use six 6-oz ramekins. If you are mixing this at night and baking in the morning, follow the recipe through step 2, omitting the fruit. Store the mixture in a baking vessel or in a Tupperware. In the morning, give the mixture a stir. Scatter berries (if using) into an 8-inch baking dish. Pour milk-oat mixture over the berries; then proceed with the recipe. As I noted, I like these baked oats both with berries or other fruit and without, so don't hesitate to make them if you don't have any berries on hand — they are so good on their own. I have used both almonds and walnuts. I do toast the walnuts. I don't toast the almonds — it doesn't seem to matter. The mixture can be assembled the night before, though it doesn't have to be. Update, Oct 2014: Almonds are my preference. Peeled, sliced apples are also my preference. I omit the cinnamon. I also now do 1/4 cup maple syrup as opposed to 1/3 cup. If you are making individual portions, I think the easiest method is this: mix dry ingredients as instructed in step 1; spoon about three tablespoon of the dry ingredients into six 6-oz ramekins; then pour liquid over top. The liquid will reach the top of each ramekin. To prevent a catastrophe, I suggest lining a 9x13-inch baking dish with parchment paper and placing the filled ramekins in the dish to bake.

📝 Ingredients

• 3/4 cup steel cut oatmeal
• 1/2 cup (60 g) almonds (sliced, untoasted are great) or walnuts halves, toasted and chopped
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, optional
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt or kosher salt
• 3/4 to 1 1/2 cups (90 to 185 g) blueberries, optional—I like using 1 peeled, sliced apple
• 2 cups (475 ml) milk, 2% or whole
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup (80 ml) maple syrup, I find 1/4 cup to be sweet enough
• 1 large egg
• 3 tablespoons (45 grams) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1See notes if you are refrigerating this overnight. Otherwise, preheat the oven to 375ºF. In an 8- or 9-inch baking pan, mix together the oats, the nuts, baking powder, cinnamon, if using, and salt. Place the sliced apples or berries on top.
2. 2In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, maple syrup, egg, butter, and vanilla. Pour the milk mixture over the oat mixture, and shake the pan to distribute.
3. 3Transfer pan to the oven and bake for 55 to 60 minutes (Note: Several commenters have had issues with browning too quickly, so I advise checking after 30 minutes, and if it looks as though it is browning quickly, turn oven down to 350 and check periodically for doneness), or until the top is golden and the oat mixture has set. Remove from the oven, and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.