We are big oatmeal fans in this house. In fact, it’s something my kids often request for breakfast. We especially love them during cooler mornings. There is something so comforting about a big bowl of oats to warm you up after you crawl out of bed!
Ever since I first made this baked oatmeal recipe from Sally’s Bake Blog, we became hooked on it. There are several reasons to love them. In case you’re new here, I’ll share them:
- They are made in a single bowl in the time it takes to preheat your oven. Hardly any prep at all.
- They are made with normal ingredients. Oats, butter, brown sugar, almond milk, etc. You likely won’t have to make a grocery run to make this!
- Speaking of ingredients, you can use whatever fruit you’d like! Or maybe no fruit at all.
- They are surprisingly macro friendly. The recipe on its own is a bit higher in carbs, but I like to balance that out with a serving of Greek yogurt. The yogurt adds a protein boost and also a creamy element. Win-win!
- They can serve as a great meal prep! Bake them once, refrigerate any leftovers, and reheat as needed throughout the week.
- They are delicious! Seriously, it’s almost like a dessert.
The Recipe
I first started out sharing this recipe with a Peaches and Cream Baked Oatmeal. I knew I wanted to create another recipe using this base to help celebrate the flavors of the fall season. Although I never get sick of pumpkin, I decided to try out a different flavor profile. I did some research and settled on combining a bit more unique combo, pear and chai.
Pear is a popular fruit at our house! It comes “in season” during the fall and winter months. I often pick up a box when I’m at Costco, and my kids love to eat them. They are easy for little mouths to eat since they are so soft. They also bake well, so I knew that they would be great in this oatmeal.
Chai is one of my favorite flavors, too. If you have ever had a chai latte before, you’d probably agree that chai tastes like Christmas! To create the classic chai flavor, you’ll need to combine six different spices: cinnamon, cardamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and all spice.
To create this oatmeal, you’ll simply add to the base some peeled and diced pears and the spices that I listed above. If you happen to not have all of the spices on hand, that’s ok. I only had whole cloves and didn’t feel like grinding them, so I omitted them. I’ve read that the most important spice to add to give it the Chai flavor is cardamon, so don’t skip that one!
Let me tell you guys, this is probably one of my favorite baked oatmeal combos I’ve made yet. It definitely reminded me of eating a pear crisp. Anytime I can feel like I’m eating dessert for breakfast, I’m a happy camper! I think you and your family will love it, too!
Pear and Chai Baked Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 420 ml almond milk (1 and 3/4 cups)
- 60 g butter, melted and slightly cooled (1/4 cup)
- 100 g brown sugar (1/2 cup)
- 240 g Old Fashioned Oats (3 cups)
- 144 g unsweetened apple sauce (1/2 + 1 and a half tablespoons)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp cardamon
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp all spice
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 pears, peeled and diced (~284 g)
- Greek yogurt, for serving
- Sugar Free Maple Syrup, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 2 1/2 quart corning ware dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients listed above, except for the pears. Stir until completely combined. Add in diced pears and give a good stir.
- Pour oat mixture into prepare dish. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes, or until the oats are beginning to brown and are mostly set.
- Allow to cool for a few minutes and then serve with Greek yogurt and sugar free maple syrup, as desired.
Notes