Crunchy Top Strawberry Baked Oatmeal

By Ann Fulton

Fresh, sweet flavor is the highlight of this seasonal favorite, which offers make-ahead convenience and countless ways to customize.
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Red, ripe strawberries highlight this seasonal favorite, which offers make-ahead convenience and countless ways to customize. In a pinch, frozen berries may be used.

 

I clearly remember the first time I served this seasonal addition of my original baked oatmeal recipe.

My younger son, who was a rather picky fourth grader at the time, asked if I would make it for breakfast every day. After a few more bites, he asked if I could bring enough to school for a class snack.

It was an unequivocal vote of approval from one of my toughest critics!

Because Overnight Crunchy Top Baked Oatmeal was such a hit with my readers when I first started this blog, I used that recipe as the initial springboard when I began creating seasonal variations.

Baked oatmeal, after all, offers a healthy, make-ahead breakfast with broad appeal. Even those who shun “mushy” stovetop oatmeal have been known to happily dig into this more muffin-like alternative.

What could be better than a menu of flavors to choose among?

And if there’s anything I’ve learned over the many years of making baked oatmeals for my family, it’s that these recipes are endlessly versatile and incredibly forgiving.

Despite the fact that recipe perfection had seemingly been achieved, there’s reason to deviate from the plan on occasion.

Perhaps you are out of an ingredient. Or maybe you’re cooking for someone with a food allergy. Maybe you’re trying to reduce your sugar intake. All of these issues and more can be accommodated easily and successfully within the following recipe framework.

Fresh, sweet flavor is the highlight of this seasonal favorite, which offers make-ahead convenience and countless ways to customize.  

How to adapt the recipe as written:

My original intent with this recipe was to achieve the luxurious flavor of sweet cream. After all, strawberries and cream are a match made in heaven.  

For many years, I relied on canned coconut milk instead of traditional milk or actual cream in this recipe. The mild tropical flavor pairs beautifully with the berries, and the use of coconut oil further complements the flavors and creates a delightful aroma while baking.

Over the ensuing years, however, I’ve used almost every kind of milk with good results. That choice and my current go-tos are listed in the recipe. 

• Similarly, while I personally adore the subtle flavor afforded by coconut oil, melted butter or vegetable oil may be used instead. (Generally speaking, I use safflower oil as my go-to vegetable oil, but even a fruity or mild olive oil could be used here.)

Fresh, sweet flavor is the highlight of this seasonal favorite, which offers make-ahead convenience and countless ways to customize.

This recipe is flexible that way. And there’s more.

• Don’t have fresh strawberries? While fresh, seasonal berries afford the best flavor and natural sweetness, frozen offer a worthy alternative. In this case, I don’t thaw the berries but rather allow them to sit at room temperature for a few minutes, which softens them just enough to easily slice with a sharp knife.

• If you really enjoy coconut and/or nuts, you may stir some in or use as a topping.

• Though the recipe calls for real maple syrup to be used in the oatmeal (and the flavor is lovely!), any type of sweetener, syrup or granular, could be used instead. Brown sugar is my top pick for the broiled topping, but coarse sugar or regular granulated would also work.

• Looking to reduce your sugar intake? You can scale back without dramatically changing the texture of the baked oatmeal. In my recipes, I do always try to use the least amount of sugar needed to achieve great taste. But to further decrease it in this case, I’d start by reducing the sweetener in the body of the recipe by a tablespoon or two. I would then reduce the broiled brown sugar topping to three tablespoons. Ultimately, the crunchy, sweet topping means that you get an initial taste of sweetness, which in turn makes it harder to detect less added sugar throughout.

• I initially used the grated apple to enhance flavor and reduce the amount of oil and sweetener needed, although I’ve used applesauce (even mashed overripe banana) many times since as a quick substitute. Conveniently, single serving applesauce cups are easy to have on hand and just the right size. When using an apple, I reach for a sweeter variety like Fuji or Honey Crisp and don’t bother to peel before grating (although you may).

• Additionally, I’ve mentioned a variety of pan sizes that may be used depending on what you have in your kitchen.

• Prefer to bake grab-and-go muffins instead of a casserole? There’s a simple adjustment for that, too.

• Finally, the oats will plump up and absorb the flavor of the liquidy mixture as they sit. So while I developed this recipe with the idea that it could be assembled the night before and baked in the morning, sometimes we just don’t want to wait. Happily, there are options in this department, too.

Fresh, sweet flavor is the highlight of this seasonal favorite, which offers make-ahead convenience and countless ways to customize. 

How to serve baked oatmeal?

  • My favorite way to enjoy baked oatmeal is warm from the oven. For the sake of convenience, however, I frequently make it ahead of time, in which case we eat it cold or gently warmed in the microwave, depending on mood.
  • You may eat the oatmeal as is or top with yogurt or milk, additional berries, sliced banana, nuts, or anything else that sounds good to you.  

Helpful hint: To best preserve the crunchy texture of topping when making ahead, allow the oatmeal to cook thoroughly before refrigerating, and then refrigerate, uncovered, until chilled. Once cold, cover with plastic wrap. This prevents condensation from developing, which will soften the broiled brown sugar. (But even if this happens, the oatmeal will still taste great!)

A few final tips:

  • When choosing coconut oil in this or any recipe, bring the cold ingredients to room temperature before mixing. This will prevent the coconut oil from hardening upon contact.
  • Do you occasionally notice a baked good seems dry after refrigerating, even when well wrapped and originally quite moist? When using butter or coconut oil, these oils harden and contract when chilled, and that can create the perception of dryness. To remedy this, simply warm gently or opt for an oil (like a vegetable oil) that remains liquid when cool. 

Fresh, sweet flavor is the highlight of this seasonal favorite, which offers make-ahead convenience and countless ways to customize.

My family has long enjoyed this dish precisely as the recipe reads, but they’ve also been quite happy (and often unaware) when I’ve deviated.

Baking is said to be a precise science; baked oatmeals are the exception to that rule. By sharing the many possibilities, I’m hoping you will feel confident to try with the ingredients you have on hand and as time allows. 🍓

Fresh, sweet flavor is the highlight of this seasonal favorite, which offers make-ahead convenience and countless ways to customize.

If you make this recipe, please comment and give it a 5-star review if you deem worthy. The feedback is always appreciated! ❤️

Crunchy Top Strawberry Baked Oatmeal
Yield: 8-9 servings
This delicious breakfast began as a prep-at-night, bake-in-the-morning recipe, and it works quite well that way. Over the years, however, I've discovered quite a few adjustments that can successfully be made, both in terms of baking method and flexibility of ingredients.

If using coconut oil, it's helpful to bring all of the ingredients to room temperature before mixing so the melted oil doesn't harden upon mixing.
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups (360ml) milk of choice (see notes)
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • ¼ cup (80g) pure maple syrup (could use honey)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ¼ cup (60g) coconut oil, melted (could substitute melted butter or vegetable oil of choice)
  • ½ cup applesauce or one small apple, grated (may leave skin on)
  • 3 cups (270g) old fashioned oats
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup sliced or chopped strawberries (reserve a few slices for the top)
  • ¼ cup (50g) lightly packed brown sugar
  • Optional extras: ½ cup or so of unsweetened shredded coconut and/or chopped nuts of choice; zest from one lemon or lime
Instructions
  1. Grease a 9-inch square pan or 10-inch ovenproof skillet and set aside. (Alternatively, a 2-quart round casserole dish may be used. These are typically deeper, so the oatmeal will likely take an additional 5 minutes, give or take, to bake. An 8×12 Pyrex also works well, but a 9×13 is too big.) See notes for muffin adjustments. 
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients except the oats and the brown sugar. Stir in oats and combine well. (If using optional coconut, nuts, or zest add them now.) Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and spread to evenly distribute. Place the sliced, reserved strawberries on the top. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for as little as an hour or two, or as long as overnight. (It’s not a deal breaker if you bake immediately, but a rest gives the oats time to absorb the liquid and plump up, which slightly enhances the finished baked oatmeal.)
  3. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375℉. Allow the oatmeal to sit on the counter while the oven is preheating. Unwrap the oatmeal and bake for 25 minutes, give or take 5 minutes depending on oven and baking dish variances, or until just cooked through the middle. (Tip: start checking for doneness at 20 minutes until you know how long this takes in your oven.)
  4. Remove from the oven, switch the oven setting to broil, and sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the top. Broil the oatmeal for about one minute, watching very closely so as not to burn, or until the sugar is melted and the top is golden.
  5. Serving and storing: The baked oatmeal may be served hot, room temperature, or cold from the fridge. You may eat the oatmeal as is or served with milk, yogurt, additional fruit, and/or nuts. While the oatmeal is delicious fresh from the oven, I often bake it the day before for an at-the-ready breakfast the next morning. The oatmeal will keep for up to a week when tightly covered and refrigerated. Cool completely before refrigerating. The baked oatmeal freezes well, too.
Notes

When making muffins, refrigerate the uncooked oatmeal mixture in the mixing bowl, and then transfer it to the muffin tin once the liquid has been absorbed by the oats. Bake for approximately 20-25 minutes or until cooked through. Often, I will top the muffins with a teaspoon of brown sugar, some sliced almonds, and a slice of strawberry prior to baking instead of following the broil step. The recipe yields 8 regular muffins or 6 jumbo.

Which milk is best? I used to make this recipe with a (13.5-ounce) can of coconut milk (I used light) but now typically use almond or 2% milk. They all work with very modest differences in outcome. Feel free to use what you enjoy.

Helpful hint: If I’m making muffins and want to bake them sooner than later, I reduce the milk to 1¼ cups, as it’s difficult to evenly distribute a soupy oat mixture to the muffin tins. This isn’t necessary with the baking dish version, and I do ultimately prefer the recipe with the higher amount of liquid.

A few more things:
For a less sweet topping, you may reduce the brown sugar topping by a tablespoon or two.
Fresh, seasonal strawberries provide the best flavor and natural sweetness, but I have made this oatmeal many times with frozen berries, and it still tastes quite good. In this case, don’t thaw the berries. You will be able to slice them easily with a sharp knife once they have sat at room temperature for just a few minutes.

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A throwback photo from when I published the recipe in 2012!

And few old photos with some additional ideas…

Fresh, sweet flavor is the highlight of this seasonal favorite, which offers make-ahead convenience and countless ways to customize.

Prefer baked oatmeal muffins? There’s an easy adjustment for that in the recipe. Stirring in some shredded coconut (or topping with it) is another one of the many options.  

Fresh, sweet flavor is the highlight of this seasonal favorite, which offers make-ahead convenience and countless ways to customize.

Occasionally, I bake the oatmeal in a 10-inch springform pan so I can transfer it to a cake platter. (I put candles in it for a fun birthday breakfast cake and sometimes pipe letters on it with melted white chocolate! See below.) Your largest spatula will aid in transferring the baked oatmeal from springform pan to serving platter. If you use a springform pan, allow the oat mixture to rest in the mixing bowl for at least an hour or two, and then transfer to the pan for baking. The oats will absorb the liquid and reduce the possibility of liquid seeping through the crevices of the pan. For added leak protection, place the pan on a baking sheet or wrap the bottom with a piece of aluminum foil prior to baking.

Fresh, sweet flavor is the highlight of this seasonal favorite, which offers make-ahead convenience and countless ways to customize.

 

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Comments

  1. Trudy

    YUM! Just made these for myself for lunch after reading about it. I adore all your baked oatmeal recipes; this might come in second after the almond blueberry! Can’t wait to try it with summer berries 🙂

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      What a wonderful lunch this would be, Trudy! So happy it ranks high on your baked oatmeal list. I love the blueberry one, too! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Mary Chairs

    So far this is my dad’s favorite! I didn’t have applesauce so I grated an apple. I put in coconut and strawberries. Perfection!

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      Fantastic, Mary! Coincidently, I just returned from Market having bought more strawberries with this in mind…among other things. Strawberries are so good right now!

      Reply
  3. Thrift at Home

    One of my friends just recommended this recipe to me and it looks so good. However, I have only frozen strawberries right now. . . what are your thoughts on using those in this recipe? I froze some strawberries last summer because we weren’t going through them quickly enough and now I don’t know what to do with them (other than smoothies).

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      I’ve made this with frozen strawberries, partially thawed, and it worked beautifully. Hope you enjoy!

      Reply
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  5. Rila

    We went strawberry picking the other day and figured it was the perfect timing to make this recipe. We loved it! Thanks for a great recipe!

    Reply
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  7. KC

    Made 2 batches, one for home one for my dear brother. Also put coconut on top. Everyone loves this and we will make again and again. Thank you!

    Reply
  8. shasta

    I am anxious to try this for my family. Would you mind sharing what brand of oats you use? Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Ann

      Hi Shasta,
      I have used a variety of different brands, all with good results. Typically, however, I use Bob’s Red Mill or oats available in bulk at one local store. They key for this recipe is choosing the type labeled as rolled or old fashioned oats, which are the kind that cook in 5 minutes (as opposed to quick, instant, or steel cut oats). Hope that helps!

      Reply