Sometimes I like to explore the inverse of things.
The inverse of working is (clearly) laying on the couch watching really old episodes of Grey’s Anatomy.
The inverse of exercising is (clearly) laying on the couch watching really old episodes of Grey’s Anatomy.
The inverse of organizing my desk… Grey’s Anatomy. You catch my drift.
With this dish I wanted to explore the inverse of fruit-topped oatmeal, which is… not Grey’s Anatomy.
I usually cook my oatmeal on a stove top, spoon a hearty portion into a bowl and top with a few bites of fruit.
With this warm pan of goodness, I’ve baked heaps of sliced apples and fresh cranberries with just a bit of oats. Lost of fruit with less than lots of oatmeal. Whoa dude! With warm, steaming milk… this is bonkers delicious! It feels like breakfast dessert. Inverse accomplished.
Apple. Apple. Apple!
Three pretty Fuji apples. We have to start somewhere.
Fresh cranberries.
Every new cranberry season I enter, I pop a fresh cranberry in my mouth. It’s always unbearably tart… but I always try.
Our oatmeal.
It’s wholesome and spiced.
Sliced, spiced apples combined with fresh cranberries are topped with our moistened oatmeal mixture.
As far as news goes… this is really good news.
Oh… I forgot to tell you something about our breakfast.
Should you have a pint of Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Ice Cream in your freezer, this warm apple oat mixture can totally turn into dessert. Or you can just have ice cream for breakfast. No judgements here. None whatsoever.
A few things you should know: this oat and apple mixture doesn’t produce a lot of liquid while baking. The apples become soft and the cranberries burst (with happiness), but this isn’t a soupy situation. This breakfast dish is most lovely served with steamed milk or copious amounts of melting ice cream.
Oh! Should you be in the mood for more cranberry, this Pear and Cranberry Crumble is totally major (though not vegan).
Vegan Apple Cranberry Oatmeal Bake
makes 1 8×8-inch pan, serves 4 to 6
For the Fruit:
3 medium Fuji or Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced
6 ounces fresh cranberries
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
pinch of ground ginger and ground cloves
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
For the Oatmeal:
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon water
2 cups milk, heated to steaming, for serving (almond milk to keep it vegan, cow’s milk if you prefer)
Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium bowl, toss together apple slices, fresh cranberries, cornstarch, spices, and maple syrup. Toss with a spoon until cornstarch has disappeared into the mixture. Pour into an 8×8-inch square pan. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together oats, flour, spices, and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and water. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, all at once. Toss together, ensuring that all of the dry ingredients are moistened. Spoon the oat mixture on top of the prepared fruit mixture. Toss just slightly with a spoon.
Place in the oven to bake until cranberries have burst and apples have softened, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
While oatmeal bakes, place milk in a small saucepan over low heat. Heat until milk is steamy hot, but not boiling.
Remove fruit and oats from the oven. Scoop into bowls and pour desired amount of steamed milk over mixture. Conversely, you can also scoop cold ice cream over the warm fruit mixture. Serve warm.
Heather
I am in love with this. SERIOUSLY. Apples and cranberries are so sweet and tart, plus oatmeal is infinitely perfect. Also breakfast is my favorite and I adore excuses to have ice cream with my coffee.
The Savory and The Beautiful
Sounds like the perfect post-Thanksgiving breakfast. One question though, how is this vegan? Did you use a nut milk? If so, which one?
– Candice
joythebaker
almond milk would be divine!
The Savory and The Beautiful
Thanks, will try it :-)
stephanie
I am in love with this! I’m an oatmeal for breakfast all the time person as well, and this looks amazing! I may keep it for christmas. :)
?stephanie
robyn
mmm-looks great. christmas for breakfast, every day.
Kayleigh
Looks amazing. There’s just something about fresh cranberries that is impossibly irresistible.
Diane, A Broad
Siggghhhhhh. Oh Joy, you make breakfast look so lovely.
The Life of Clare
This looks wonderful! I’m really going to have to give it a go!
Ana Cooks
i could eat this everyday, everytime! :)
Carina
this looks delicious! i love baked oatmeal… and old episodes of grey’s anatomy…
Siobhan
Yum. These sounds delicious. Siobhan
Bakerkat
This looks so good especially with the ice cream. I see no reason not to have a little ice cream for breakfast or oatmeal for dessert. Love It.
vegeTARAian
How gorgeously messy and delicious! Can’t wait to give it a try
Kathryn
I’m totally down with breakfast desserts and the combination of apple & cranberry is just stellar. Love this.
Averie @ Averie Cooks
I love all that chewiness and texture and maple syrup and apples and cranberries – perfect and fabulous flavor combos AND that you kept it all vegan!
Margherita
Hahaha! Every year I do the same thing as well: biting a raw cranberry. They look so perfect: size, color, and weight. But then you pop one in your mouth and: big disappointment!
It’s not only that they’re uber tart; also the texture throws me off!
Good thing that cooking them turns them into one of the most delicious things ever!