Cranberry pear baked oatmeal
I love cranberries! I look forward to this time of the year when fresh cranberries start to show up at the grocery stores. Every year at the end of the season, I buy some extra bags and freeze them, this way I can make some cranberry dishes even when they are not available. Some stores will sell frozen cranberries when they are not in season, but I freeze some just in case I can't find them!
Today I made this baked oatmeal dish using the last few frozen cranberries from last season I had in the freezer.
Baked oatmeal (a combination of oats, milk, spices, fruits & nuts) is one of those comforting dishes that are a perfect breakfast and also a great filling snack.
Today I made some, using one of my favorite fruit combos: **Cranberry and pear**
Baked pears are already a very perfect wonderful food on their own: tender, sweet, melt in your mouth kind of feeling.
Combined with the cranberry's tartness they go to an even higher level of deliciousness. If you enjoy these two fruits and haven't tried them together in a baked oatmeal dish, you must try this recipe ASAP!
Here's what you will need:
🌿 2 ¼ cups unsweetened non dairy milk
🌿 1 medium ripe banana (can use frozen)
🌿 1/3 cup pitted dates (about 4 medium to large dates – can use ¼ cup of maple syrup instead of dates or can remove this completely if you like it less sweet or prefer to drizzle the maple syrup when serving)
🌿 2 tsp vanilla extract
🌿 2 cups rolled oats
🌿 1 tsp cinnamon
🌿 ½ tsp ginger powder
🌿 ¼ tsp salt
🌿 1 Tbsp flaxseed meal
🌿 2 pears (I like the pears chopped into large chunks, about 1 inch)
🌿 1 cup cranberries (can use frozen)
🌿 ½ cup pecans or walnuts (optional)
✋🏾 Preheat oven to 350 F.
✋🏾 Combine dates, milk, banana and vanilla extract in a blender. Blend until smooth. If your dates are dry, let them soak in the milk for about a half hour to make them softer and easier to blend.
✋🏾 Combine the oats, cinnamon, ginger, salt and flaxseed meal mixing well.
✋🏾 Add the wet mix to the dry ingredients and mix well.
✋🏾 Fold in the chopped pear and the cranberries.
✋🏾 Pour the mix into a baking dish (9x9)
✋🏾 Sprinkle with the chopped walnuts/pecans if using, pressing them slightly into the oatmeal.
✋🏾 Cook for 45 minutes.
✋🏾 Let it cool for at least 15 to 20 minutes before slicing.
Cranberry and pear is my favorite combination but this dish is also delicious using other fruit combos like apple & pear for example.
Note: the mixture will look a bit soupy at first but the oats will absorb some of the liquid. You can play a bit with the oats/liquid ratio to get a firmer or softer result depending on your texture preference.
https://cinnamon.video/watch?v=424075146622404339
Check this article for more ideas using oats:
More cranberry ideas:
Cranberry chocolate chickpea bites
Cintia