When I think of fall, I think about all the warm spices that I love such as cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and nutmeg just to name a few. I also think about comfort foods that can warm me up on a chilly day. Having a nice hot breakfast can be a great way to help get you moving in the morning (especially if you aren’t a morning person). Blueberry baked oatmeal is a great recipe that is easy to make ahead of time and will please even the pickiest breakfast eater.
Breakfast Time!
Baked oatmeal has just recently become a favorite in my house. My kids were always the ones that just wanted a pancake for breakfast. They both grew up loving oatmeal as babies, but neither one would touch it now! While the pancakes I make are healthy, I still wanted to be sure that they were getting a variety of foods for breakfast. Baked oatmeal is a great way to get them to eat oats, which are really good for them, while at the same time making them think they are eating some sort of special treat. It’s that good!
I love making things ahead of time because mornings here are quite hectic. I can understand why so many families reach for sugary cereals and premade foods. It is just way easier. But the truth is, easier is not better. While you can’t argue the convenience, you are not starting your child’s day off right if their food is loaded with sugar and artificial stuff. So your best bet is to make a batch of something healthy such as pancakes, egg sandwiches and of course blueberry baked oatmeal and freeze it. This way, you have something you can feel good about giving your child for breakfast on the table in no time!
Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
This recipe is really very simple and even customizable once you get the hang of it. One of my children is a huge blueberry fan, so I wanted to be sure to incorporate blueberries in this recipe. Do you know what goes really well with blueberries? Cinnamon! Cue the spice! It is almost like a blueberry crumble, but way better for you!
To start, let’s talk about oats. You can get oats in several different forms, such as quick cooking, whole and steel cut. Steel cut oats are definitely one of the best choices in terms of health benefits, but it is not the best when you are quick cooking. They need a lot more time to cook and soften, making them a better choice for an overnight oat recipe. So that leaves whole and quick cooking. Cookie recipes often call for whole oats because they can help the cookie better hold it’s shape. For this recipe, I prefer to use quick cooking because I know that they will be done in the short baking time, and because we aren’t making a bar cookie.
All About The Blueberries
Now let’s talk about blueberries. I happen to love blueberries. They are sweet and full of antioxidants. So good for you! If the time of year is right, you could probably get some great fresh ones (or even grow your own), but my personal favorite actually comes from the frozen section of my local store. They are frozen, wild blueberries which are much smaller than the ones you find in the produce section. They are sweeter (in my opinion) and blend much better in baked goods. Whichever blueberry variety you choose will be just fine though.
The other star ingredient in this blueberry baked oatmeal is the blueberry preserves. It adds another layer of blueberry flavor and just a touch of sweetness. There are so many brands to choose from, so take time to look them over and choose one that is natural and not loaded with sugar. You could even make your own blueberry preserves if that’s your thing. I was able to find a great one where I live, so it is definitely out there! The swirls of blueberry preserves are just what the oatmeal needs to get your kids to the table!
Ready In No Time
Making the oatmeal really could not be easier. You will need just one bowl to mix it all together. I’ll admit, on my busiest days, I have even mixed it right in the baking dish. Once it is all combined (minus the preserves), you just have to spread it into an 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish. Then, you drop the preserves by teaspoonfuls in rows. Once you have your rows, take a butter knife and gently swirl it around. You are not stirring it, just swirling so that there is a little preserve in every bite. This recipe would also be great with some walnuts or almonds too. My kids just aren’t fans of crunchy oatmeal yet, but we’ll get there. 😉
After you have baked the oatmeal, you will need to let it cool slightly if you are going to serve it right away. If you want to be able to cut it into bars, then you will need to give it extra cooling time. For me, I let it cool all the way before cutting it up so that I can freeze individual servings. Then, when I am ready to serve it, I grab a bar and pop it into the microwave to heat it up. It’s as good as fresh! And that’s it! Breakfast is served!
Peanut Butter Banana Version:
Omit blueberries and preserves and add ½ cup of creamy peanut butter and one mashed, ripe banana.
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Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 ½ c quick oats
- ¼ c packed light brown sugar
- ⅛ c granulated sugar
- ¾ c unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- ¼ c unsalted butter melted
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼-½ c blueberries fresh or frozen
- 5-6 tsp blueberry preserves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °
- In a large mixing bowl, combine first nine ingredients until well mixed.
- Stir in blueberries.
- Drop teaspoons of blueberry preserves in rows, evenly spaced apart.
- Using a butter knife, gently swirl the preserves throughout the oats. (do not stir)
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned and set. (will firm a little more as it cools).
- Cool slightly before cutting, or cool completely and cut into squares to wrap and freeze.
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