Lemon Blueberry Baked Oatmeal (Printable Version)
A bright and wholesome breakfast bake with juicy blueberries, zesty lemon, and hearty oats.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or almonds
03 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
06 - 2 cups milk
07 - 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
10 - 1 tablespoon lemon zest
11 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
→ Add-ins
13 - 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
→ Topping
14 - 2 tablespoons coconut sugar or brown sugar
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - In a large bowl, combine rolled oats, nuts (if using), baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Mix thoroughly to distribute the spices and leavening agent evenly.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, maple syrup, eggs, melted butter, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and lemon juice until the mixture is smooth and fully blended.
04 - Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir gently with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
05 - Gently fold in the blueberries, distributing them evenly throughout the batter. If using frozen berries, do not thaw first to prevent excess moisture.
06 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer. Sprinkle the top with coconut sugar or brown sugar if using.
07 - Bake for 35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the oatmeal is set in the center. A knife inserted near the center should come out clean.
08 - Allow the baked oatmeal to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm, with additional milk or yogurt if desired. Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated or served cold.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The texture is somehow both custardy and hearty, like breakfast decided to get fancy but stayed comfortingly familiar
- It makes your whole kitchen smell like a cozy bakery and gives you six breakfasts in one go
02 -
- I once forgot the baking powder and ended up with dense, sad oatmeal bricks, so dont skip it like I did
- Letting it rest for those 5 minutes seems pointless but makes the difference between a mess and neat slices
03 -
- Zest your lemon before juicing it, otherwise youll be wrestling with a squishy fruit and making a mess
- If using frozen blueberries, dont thaw them first or theyll release too much liquid and make the oatmeal soggy