Baked Oatmeal Casserole

You are going to love making and eating this Baked Oatmeal Casserole! Berries, cinnamon, walnuts, eggs, milk (any kind), and breakfast goodness all in one pan. 

Baked Oatmeal Casserole is a recipe that is almost a decade old in our house. We’ve kept it around because it makes simple oatmeal into something utterly delightful.

Just picture this: oatmeal with a hint of cinnamon and touch of unrefined sweetener or honey (if you want) sprinkled with organic berries and chopped walnuts. And if that isn’t good enough, it’s topped with whipped milk and eggs and then baked into this easy, yet glorious breakfast casserole. Need a vegan option? No worries! I’ve got you covered; just see the recipe notes.

I actually made this Baked Oatmeal Casserole for Christmas morning this year. It was perfect! Threw it together the night before after getting the house ready for the kids, added some 70% bitter dark chocolate chips to make it “special”, and refrigerated it until the morning. The kids loved eating “chocolate” for breakfast and we got to enjoy opening stockings as family before it was time to go to church.

Side note — it’s not a bad idea to make this breakfast casserole the night before. Consider adding a tablespoon of yogurt, whey, lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar to your milk and eggs which will help break down the phytic acid in the oatmeal (sort of like predigesting it for you).

It is nice to use a blend of berries, but any berries will do and in a pinch just plain old banana slices works too! I find nice frozen organic berry blends at Costco for around $3/pound.

Check the distressed fruits/vegetables section of your local markets for organic berries at great prices (these berries might not be good for eating but they’ll bake wonderfully).

What makes this Baked Oatmeal Casserole nutrient dense?

• Organic thick rolled oatmeal: choose thick rolled because it contains more nutrients than quick oats. Organic oatmeal has little to no glyphosate and lowered risk of exposure to heavy metals. It is a good source of fiber and is considered a prebiotic (the stuff that feeds the probiotics, aka the good bacteria in your gut). If you are gluten-free make sure to choose certified gluten-free organic oatmeal!
• Organic berries: berries are high on the pesticide residue list so buy them organic. Berries are a wonderful antioxidant and are a low-glycemic fruit.
• Walnuts: anti-inflammatory and an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).
• Free range eggs: when hens are allowed to eat insects and run around in the pasture they produce pure liquid gold yolks! With a ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids of 1:1, good cholesterol, choline (hey – pregnant mama’s, the choline helps you have less baby brain), and so many more health benefits.
• Cinnamon: considered an antioxidant that lowers inflammation.
• Butter (if tolerated or use coconut oil like we do): butter from grass-fed cows is high is fat soluble vitamins A & E, a good source of cholesterol (which is now know to NOT be linked to heart disease), & more.
• Organic Unrefined Coconut oil: a saturated fat that helps the body produce more good cholesterol (HDL). It contains medium chain triglycerides (MCT). MCT’s are wonderful because, unlike long chain triglycerides, they are easy to digest, are not readily stored as fat, smaller in size which makes them available for a quicker energy boost, and they contain antimicrobial and antifungal properties.
• Coconut sugar or honey: if you choose to sweeten this casserole, then coconut sugar (low glycemic index) or honey (pure simple sugar makeup called fructose) are good natural sources.

Enjoy! – Rashele, BSN, RN, CEN

Print

Baked Oatmeal Casserole {Healthy, Easy}

You are going to love making and eating this Baked Oatmeal Casserole! Berries, cinnamon, walnuts, eggs, milk (any kind), and breakfast goodness all in one pan. 

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Servings 6 people

Calories 268 kcal

Author Rashele Birmingham

Ingredients

• 2 cups thick rolled oats
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar or 2 Tbsp honey
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup walnuts chopped
• 1 cup berries
• 2 cups milk any kind
• 3 large eggs
• 3 Tbsp coconut oil or butter
• 1 Tbsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips optional

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Farenheight. Lightly oil a 9 x 13 glass or stone pan. 

2. Mix dry ingredients: oats, coconut sugar, baking powder, cinnamon. Pour into pan. 

3. Sprinkle chopped walnuts and whole berries on top of the oatmeal mixture. 

4. In separate bowl, mix wet ingredients: milk, eggs, vanilla, coconut oil/butter (and honey if using). Pour over the top of the oatmeal and berries. 

5. Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly and beginning to turn golden brown on top. 

6. Serve with milk of choice. 

Recipe Notes

1. Side note -- it's not a bad idea to make this breakfast casserole the night before. Consider adding a tablespoon of yogurt, whey, lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar to your milk and eggs which will help break down the phytic acid in the oatmeal (sort of like predigesting it for you).
2. Vegan option: replace eggs with "flax-eggs". Each flax egg is made up of 1 Tbsp ground flax seed + 2.5 Tbsp warm water.

Tools used to make this recipe (click photo or link to shop):

Don’t forget to pin this Baked Oatmeal Casserole {Healthy, Easy} to you favorite Pinterest board for later!

Did you like this recipe? Want to learn more about raising a healthy family? Check out these blog posts:

• The 7 Best Vitamins & Supplements for Children
• How to Make Easy Homemade Baby Wipes 
• 20 Ways to Keep Your Kids Healthy this Winter