Name: Baked Oatmeal With Applesauce and Dates
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 515 min
Ingredients: 2 cups rolled oats, soaked overnight in warm water; 6 eggs, whisked well; ¼ cup brown sugar; ½ cup thick cream; 1 cup applesauce; 2 tsp cinnamon; ¼ tsp unrefined salt; ½ cup halved pitted dates; 1½ cups whole milk

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This baked oatmeal with applesauce and dates is a perfect breakfast choice for a cold fall or winter morning. It smells deliciously of cinnamon and dates and the addition of cream and eggs makes it both healthy and filling.

a casserole with baked oatmeal with applesauce and dates and a metal ladle a bowl of baked oatmeal and milk a bottle of milk and dates around it

I love a hot breakfast any time of the year but especially when weather turns cold. It is so comforting to warm my hands on a bowl full of old fashioned oatmeal. The only downside of porridge for me is that it is not very filling (or at least not nearly as filling as a plate of scrambled eggs). This baked applesauce and date oatmeal is a great alternative with its addition of eggs and cream, its luscious consistency and its sweet cinnamon-y flavor.

Ingredients

a jar of milk a cup of applesauce a cup of cream a cup of pitted dates a cup of brown sugar a bowl of soaked oatmeal a jar lid with salt and cinnamon and a bowl of whisked eggs

Tips for making this baked oatmeal with applesauce and dates

soaking the oats improves their digestibility and makes it easier for your body to absorb the minerals from them (oats are naturally high in phytic acid which hinders nutrient absorption). It also makes them cook faster.
however, if you are pressed for time, skip the soaking. You will need to add extra milk (or water) to the recipe and increase the baking time (keep a closer eye on the dish as it cooks and add extra liquid if it starts to look too dry)
the recipe asks for only a little sugar because the dates add a lot of sweetness. The finished dish is only slightly sweet.
for a make ahead breakfast, soak the oats the previous morning, let them soak for the whole day in a warm place, and in the evening assemble the dish and let it sit in the fridge overnight. Bake according to instructions the next morning.

Directions

The evening before, soak the oats with 1 tablespoon lemon juice or cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon whole wheat flour and about 1 1/2 cups warm water. Leave in a warm place overnight.

In the morning (or about 30 minutes before you want to eat them – we sometimes have baked oatmeal for lunch) preheat your oven to 180C/350F and place the soaked oats, whisked eggs and sugar in your casserole dish and mix well.

a glass casserole dish with soaked oatmeal brown sugar and whisked eggs

Add in the cream, applesauce, cinnamon, and salt and mix.

a glass casserole dish with oatmeal and whisked eggs applesauce cream and cinnamon

Stir in the dates. I used date halves but you could use chopped dates if you like the date pieces smaller. The dates are really delicious when baked – sticky and gooey like toffee.

a glass casserole with mixed oatmeal cream and eggs with date halves on top

Stir in the milk. The mixture will look really runny at this point – that is fine, it will thicken considerably in the oven.

a glass casserole dish with unbaked oatmeal with applesauce and dates

Baking your oatmeal

Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for about 30 minutes. Check after about 20 minutes to make sure it does not get too dark on the top. It should be thickened and custard like. Shake the dish a little to check that the middle has set and is not wobbly.

Serve hot in a bowl with some warmed milk.

a glass casserole dish with baked oatmeal with applesauce and dates a white bowl of baked oatmeal and dates with milk and a bottle of milk

What oats should I use for this baked oatmeal with applesauce and dates?

Porridge oats, steel cut oats or rolled oats are all fine for this recipe. I personally wouldn’t use instant oats as they are the most processed of the oat varieties and may not have as many nutrients left in them.

Do I need to soak the oats before baking?

It is not absolutely necessary, but soaking does make the oats more digestible, more nutritious and quicker to cook.

I hope you enjoy this baked oatmeal with applesauce and dates recipe. Let me know in the comments if you liked it and what other breakfast recipes you would like to see here!