Pumpkin and warm spices join a short list of kitchen staples in this hearty breakfast that may be prepared in advance and enjoyed throughout the week.
From sweet pies, muffins, cookies, and cakes to savory soups, vinaigrettes, and even butter, there are so many ways to enjoy pumpkin.
For a quick pumpkin fix, I’ve long enjoyed stirring a quarter cup of pumpkin puree and a hearty sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice into a serving of basic stovetop oatmeal, finishing with a sprinkle of brown sugar and a spoonful of chopped nuts.
For a muffin-like variation on the stovetop approach that my whole family enjoys, I turn to the following baked oatmeal recipe.
For years, I’ve relied on homemade baked oatmeal as an easy, economical, and wholesome way to start the day. Store-bought versions can be delicious but often contain more sugar and oil than oats. Doing it yourself allows you to control the ingredients in a way that still tastes great, dare I say better? You can also work around most dietary restrictions, making the baked oatmeal dairy, gluten, soy, or nut-free as needed.
Along with the pumpkin, this baked oatmeal cleverly incorporates the natural sweetness and moisture of a freshly grated apple. If you’re in a hurry, a half cup of applesauce (or one of the pantry-stable, single-serve 4-ounce cups), may be substituted. That said, you can grate a small apple quickly with the aid of a handheld grater－no need to peel it either.
There is probably no food I have experimented with more than baked oatmeal, and I have created many seasonal renditions of my most basic recipe, which reminds me of eating a warm cinnamon oatmeal cookie for breakfast. If there’s one thing I’ve learned after preparing countless batches over the years, it’s that the recipe is very forgiving and can be adapted in a myriad of ways.
In other words, you can feel confident in the outcome no matter what kind of milk you use, if you use honey instead of maple syrup, or if you feel compelled to add nuts, raisins, shredded coconut, and so on.
I’ve made outright mistakes over the years, such as mixing up the baking soda and powder or absentmindedly adding too much milk or eggs. Despite the more egregious oversights, however, never has an outcome been bad. On occasion, a mistake has even led to a new recipe.
Note that I have burned the brown sugar topping, a seemingly bad outcome. (One would think I could walk away from the broiler for one minute without being distracted!) If the same should happen to you, the burned flecks can simply be scraped off. Now, of course, I stand beside the oven, watching attentively, until the sugar is caramelized. It doesn’t take long.
The brown sugar topping balances the modest use of sweetener in the body of the oatmeal. It may be omitted (as it is in the photo, above) if you prefer a less sweet breakfast, although the crunch it provides is rather appealing. ; )
I credit this topping (shown in the photo, below) as what won my kids over to the world of oatmeal when they were little. I’ve always found that a little sugar goes a long way when it hits your tongue first. If you like the concept but ultimately prefer less sweetness, you may use two to three tablespoons as a happy medium. Optionally, you can reduce the maple syrup that’s mixed into the oatmeal and keep the crunchy topping. As mentioned, the recipe is flexible and forgiving.
Note: As printed, the recipe is an update of the original recipe, which was first posted in 2012. In the original recipe, I used 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. The pumpkin spice craze that has swept over the country in the years since seems to call for a slightly more assertive flavor. Diehard pumpkin spice fans may wish to further increase the spice to 2 teaspoons, or shore up the warm flavors with an extra sprinkle of cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg, and/or ginger. A small pinch of cloves would likely add a little something special as well.
A fun nutrition fact from our dietitian Emily:
Canned pureed pumpkin offers the same nutritious benefits as fresh pumpkin puree, and can be used in sweet and savory dishes alike. It’s high in fiber and contains a wide variety of vitamins, most notably Vitamin A. Though they may look similar, pureed pumpkin is different from pumpkin pie filling which includes sweeteners, spices, and other additives, and is typically used to make pumpkin pie.
For those who are curious…
The reason we don’t list nutritional breakdowns next to each recipe is because the numbers can change significantly depending on brands people buy and how exact the measuring is. In saying that, if you email me separately, I can provide you with my best estimations on the nutrients you would like to know more about in this recipe. I’m happy to help!
Crunchy Top Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal (Muffins Optional)
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup (80g) maple syrup (may substitute honey)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice*
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup melted butter (may also use coconut** or vegetable oil of choice)
- ½ cup (130g) 100% pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 small apple, grated (I leave skin on; could substitute ½ cup applesauce)
- 1¼ cups (300ml) milk of choice
- 3 cups (270g) old-fashioned oats (certified gluten-free if necessary)
- ¼ cup (50g) brown sugar
Instructions
- Butter a 2-quart baking dish or muffin tins. I like a 9-inch square pan or a 10-inch cast iron skillet. (A 9-inch deep dish pie plate or 8-inch square pan work, too, if you prefer a thicker baked oatmeal. These pans will require a few extra minutes of cook time.)
- In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients except the oats and brown sugar. Then add the oats and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Transfer the mixture to the baking dish or muffin tins. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or at least 2 hours.***
- In the morning or when ready to bake, set the uncooked oatmeal on counter while the oven preheats to 375℉. Bake for 25 minutes, give or take 5 depending on oven and pan dimensions (or about 20 minutes for a muffin pan), or until the oatmeal is just cooked through the center. Remove the pan from oven, sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over top of oatmeal and broil for one minute, watching very closely, or until the sugar melts and begins to caramelize.
- Serve warm with milk, a dollop of yogurt, fruit and/or nuts－although plain is good, too. Leftovers may be covered and refrigerated. Gently reheat or enjoy cold. The baked oatmeal freezes well, too.
Notes
**When using melted coconut oil, it is helpful to bring the cold ingredients to room temperature before mixing so the oil doesn’t immediately re-solidify upon contact. If little bits harden throughout when chilled, don’t worry. They will melt and redistribute when baked.
***When baking as muffins, I refrigerate the uncooked oatmeal in the mixing bowl and transfer it to the muffin tin once the liquid has been absorbed by the oats. You can make 8 regular muffins or 6 jumbo. In a time pinch you may bake the oatmeal right away. The rest gives the oats time to absorb the liquid and plump up, which slightly enhances the finished baked oatmeal.
originally posted 9-26-12
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