Baked Oatmeal with Strawberries, Bananas, and Cranberries
Time: 1 hour (can be baked the night before and reheated the following morning)
Serves 6 people generously as a main dish, or 12 as a side served with other brunch foods
4 cups old fashioned rolled oats
2/3 cup light brown sugar (this recipe is very sweet, I'm going to try reducing the brown sugar by 1/2 the next time I make this dish)
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons grated orange zest
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt (reduce the salt by half if you reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe)
2 cup sliced strawberries (can use slightly thawed frozen berries)
2/3 cup dried cranberries
2 ripe banana, peeled, 1/2-inch slices
4 cups milk
2 large egg
6 tablespoons butter, melted
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and generously spray the inside of a 13x9 inch baking dish with cooking spray and place on a baking sheet (to catch any spill-overs.)
In a large bowl, mix together the oats, sugar, baking powder, orange zest, cinnamon, salt, half the strawberries and half the cranberries. (Save the other half of strawberries and cranberries for the top of the oatmeal.)
In another large bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, butter and vanilla extract.
Add the oat mixture to prepared baking dish. Arrange the remaining strawberries, cranberries and bananas on top, then pour the milk mixture over everything. Gently shimmy/shake the baking dish to help the milk mixture go throughout the oats. Bake for 50 - 60 minutes or until the top is nicely golden brown and the milk mixture has set. For an extra tasty top, sprinkle a tablespoon or so of extra brown sugar on top then place back in the oven under the broiler and broil for 20-30 seconds. Serve into bowls or on plates, you can serve with additional milk, but it is delicious eaten as is.
This recipe is DELICIOUS, it seriously seems like you are having a berry crisp for dessert! This is going to be my family's Christmas morning breakfast from now on!
