Date-Nut Baked Oats
Nutritious breakfast that looks and tastes like cake! Date-Nut Baked Oats have a rich caramel-y flavor from dates, great crunch from nuts and a hint of warm cinnamon. This wholesome hug in a bowl is whole grain, refined sugar free, dairy free, gluten free; contain protein, fiber, antioxidants, essential vitamins and minerals. Oh, did I mention they’re sooo delicious! My kids (who don’t really like dates on their own) gobble these up for breakfast and sometimes as dessert. Go ahead and do a happy dance because you can feel good about this breakfast.
To make Date-Nut Baked Oats:
•blend ingredients in high-speed blender
•pour batter into ramekins
•bake
Do any kind of oats work?
•Old-fashioned or quick oats work best here. Steel cut oats (aka Irish oats) are too coarse in texture and won’t yield the same cakey result.
What kind of dates work best?
•Medjool dates are used in most baking recipes because they are the sweetest and softest of Date varieties. If unavailable, Deglet Noor Dates can be substituted but they may need to be softened by soaking in hot water for 10-15 minutes before adding to batter.
Is a blender necessary?
•Yes, a high speed blender is important to achieve a fine texture and incorporate air to the batter. This is what makes the final texture cakey.
Is this recipe weekday friendly?
•Yes! All you need to do is blend, pour, bake. Easy! •They can be baked in advance too. Bake Oats are delicious warm or cooled. They can be stored in an airtight container at room temp for 2 days; or in fridge for up to one week.
What about a big batch?
•This recipe is for one 8 oz ramekin. Double, triple, or quadruple the recipe based on your needs.
•Arrange multiple ramekins on a baking tray for easier handling in/out of the oven.
•Use a muffin tin for an on-the-go option. This recipe will fill 3-4 muffin cups. Multiply based on your desired amount. Reduce baking time since muffins are smaller. Start checking for doneness 18-20 minutes.
•Bake 4x this recipe in an 8”x8” baking dish. Adjust baking time if needed.
Are nuts a must?
•Nuts are optional. Skip if allergies are a concern or you simply don’t like nuts. The recipe will still taste great!
DATE-NUT BAKED OATS (1 serving)
Ingredients
1/3 c old fashioned rolled oats
1 ripe banana, peeled
1 egg
3 medjool dates, pits & stems removed
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking powder
Pinch salt
1 tbsp walnuts (or nut of your choice)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 8 oz oven safe ramekin.
Add oats to high speed blender. Pulse a few times until oats resemble fine breadcrumbs. This helps to reach a cakey texture in the finished dish.
Add remaining ingredients except walnuts. Blend until all ingredients are smooth and no large chunks of dates remain, about 1 minute.
Transfer batter into prepared ramekin.
Sprinkle nuts over top. They will toast while the batter bakes adding an extra layer of flavor and texture.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until edges pull away slightly from the ramekin and center is set.
AJDE, LET’S EAT! Tag me on IG if you try it @balkanbasics
