✨✨Baked Oats with Banana & Cinnamon✨✨

How’s your Spring going so far?

I’m pretty sure we all imagined our year going completely different a few months ago. I just found out that gyms won’t be opening in our state for about 3 more weeks! I’m seriously going to just die, I miss the gym SOOOOO badly. Yes, working out at home is fine, but there are so many reasons I love going somewhere else to workout. It’s a mood.

Anyway, I’m over here trying to distract myself by creating recipes and taking way too many photos of food. So I know we’ve all heard a million times how healthy oats are. I know that for a lot of people, however, they can seem super boring. That’s especially true if you just make porridge style oats and don’t have any fun with it.

I’m a creature of habit and can totally eat the same thing day after day, but even I like to switch things up sometimes. The first time I tried baked oats was such a game-changer. It completely changes the texture and flavor when you bake them, yum! After first discovering this recipe I used to make this for breakfast every single day for the longest time. I don’t even remember why I stopped. I realize it does take a few more minutes than instant oats. Hey, but if you are an up and out kinda person you can throw this recipe into the oven first thing in the morning and it’ll be ready before you know it.

It’s so simple and if you’d like it a little sweeter then add the optional sweetener but for me it’s plenty sweet with just the banana. As for toppings, there are so many things you can add. I went with some chocolate chips, tahini, and of course, fresh berries, but the sky is the limit.

I would honestly love to know what you think if you try this, especially if I get you hooked like I was!

--Recipe--
Tired of basic oatmeal? This recipe is super easy and will have you craving oats for breakfast.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Servings 1 serving

--Ingredients--
1/2 cup quick or old-fashioned oats
1 small to medium, very ripe, banana
3/4 cup plant-based milk (almond, oat, cashew....)
1/8 teaspoon sea salt optional
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon optional
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1-2 tablespoons maple syrup or organic cane sugar optional (I prefer it without)
Topping Ideas:
chocolate chips
fresh berries
nut butter or tahini

--Instructions--
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180C). (If you have one, a toaster oven is perfect for this single serving recipe.) In a ramekin or extra large mug (*see note for larger serving), smash the banana with a fork until completely mashed. Stir in the remaining ingredients until evenly mixed.

Place in the oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, depending on your oven, until the top is golden brown. Remove and serve with whatever toppings you like.

--Recipe Notes--
*If you'd like to make multiple servings this recipe can be made x6 and baked in an 8x8 inch square pan.