Vegan Caramel Apple Baked Oatmeal
I firmly believe that breakfast should be a romantic affair.
I don’t mean a candlelit date with breakfast food and wine…though, now that I’ve mentioned it, that sounds kind of fantastic! I mean that you should be in love with the first meal of the day, especially on those days when you have the bandwidth to cook for yourself.
Starting the day with a nutrient-dense and filling meal that you’ve lovingly prepared for yourself helps establish a solid body/mind alignment that will benefit you throughout the day. Ask yourself: what am I in the mood for? What sounds good to me right now? What will sit well in my belly? What will I need energy for today? What is the temperature outside? What season is it?
As of now, it’s officially autumn! As we get into those deliciously crisp autumn mornings, I find myself craving a warm, hearty bowl of oatmeal. In fact, my stomach and I are having a full-blown love affair with morning oats! (As very clearly demonstrated on my Instagram!) This vegan staple is a phenomenal source of protein, whole grains, and soluble fiber, which helps keep you regular! It’s filling, warming, and grounding, which makes it an ideal food for the colder months. It’s also the perfect base for any flavor combo your heart desires—sweet OR savory!
My latest oatmeal obsession? BAKED OATMEAL. It’s almost like a cookie, a muffin, and breakfast cereal had a delicious baby. It’s warm and slightly firm like a muffin, but it still has that “ooey-gooey” goodness of a good bowl of oats. It’s a spectacular vehicle for some incredible flavors.
So, on that note, let me get to the recipe of the hour! VEGAN CARAMEL APPLE BAKED OATMEAL!
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 32 minutes (including 22 minutes in oven)
Recipe:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup unsweetened vegan yogurt
1/4 cup unsweetened nut milk
1 tbsp nut butter
pinch of stevia or dash or maple syrup
2 tsp maple syrup
1 organic apple
cinnamon, clove, ground ginger, sea salt
1/2 tbsp coconut or avocado oil
cooking spray
STEP 1
Preheat oven to 380 degrees
In a bowl, mix together:
½ cup rolled oats
¼ cup unsweetened vegan yogurt (I recommend coconut-based) *
¼ cup unsweetened nut milk*
Pinch of stevia or dash or maple syrup
Generous pinch of cinnamon
Pinch of ground ginger
Pinch of ground cloves
Pinch of sea salt
1 tbsp walnut butter (I use Artisana Organics. Cashew, almond, macadamia, or hemp butter will also work, but I’d avoid peanut butter as it will overpower the other flavors)
Set aside
STEP 2
Dice 1 apple (organic, ideally) into ½ inch-ish cubes (perfection here is not necessary in the least!)
Mix with:
A generous pinch of cinnamon
2 tsp maple syrup
STEP 3
Preheat a frying pan to medium/low heat, then add 1/2 tbsp coconut or avocado oil
Add apple mix (note: if your syrup begins to sizzle/burn, lower the temperature)
Cook on low heat, stirring occasionally, until apples have begun to soften and caramelize (about 6 minutes)
Remove ½ the apple mix and stir into the oatmeal mixture
STEP 4
Spray an oven-safe dish or bowl with cooking spray
Pour in oat mixture
Bake for 22 minutes
STEP 5
While it’s baking, finish sautéing the rest of the apple mixture until it is soft and gooey – like the inside of an apple pie (about 6 more minutes)
STEP 6
Remove oats from the oven
Place in a new bowl/vessel or patiently wait (if you can!) for the baking dish to cool
Top oats with remaining apples
Drizzle/pour on some extra unsweetened vegan yogurt
Drizzle with more maple syrup
For added fuel/satiety, add 1 additional tbsp nut butter
*this recipe can easily be made with non-vegan unsweetened yogurt and milk
Take 3 deep breaths and give yourself some well-earned gratitude for preparing a filling meal for yourself with love and intention. And then dig in!
Did you try this recipe? Comment below with your thoughts!
xoxo,
Sara
