Apple Pie Baked Oatmeal

Oh my goodness, I've been on an oatmeal rant. I'm completely and utterly obsessed. Normally these kinds of intense obsessions are unhealthy, but in this case, this obsession is quite the opposite. It's heart healthy and it's doing all kinds of good for me. Whew...

Apple Pie Oatmeal. It's comforting, nourishing and delicious. Filled with baked apples AND topped with caramelized apple topping. I've experimented with my baked oatmeal recipe more times than I can count and every time I make it, I often omit the sugars and oils and replace them with more apple sauce. I don't include this in the recipe but I wanted to tell you guys that this oatmeal is still every bit as fabulous without those unneeded extras. For that little bit of sweetness that I crave, just a drizzle of sugar free maple syrup does it for me!
For me, it's really important to try to cut down on unnecessary sugars and fats. My dad has Type II diabetes and making healthy snacks that he enjoys and CAN enjoy makes me happy. If it still tastes delicious without that stuff then why add it? That's what I think at least :)

Apple Pie Baked Oatmeal

Yields: about 6 - 8 servings

2 1/2 cups regular rolled oats

1/2 cup steel cut oats

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 cup packed brown sugar (or more to your taste)

2 cups milk

2/3 cup applesauce

1/4 cup cooking oil (I used coconut oil)

1 apple, peeled, cored and chopped into bits (I used Granny smith)

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. vanilla

Healthier version that I always make:

- exclude the brown sugar

- reduce cooking oil to 1/8 cup

- add another 1/3 cup applesauce

- for sweetness when serving, I like to drizzle a little sugar-free maple syrup on top :)

For the apple pie topping:

3 medium apples (I used Granny Smith)

2 tbsn. unsalted butter

1 tbsn. brown sugar

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

pinch of allspice

Preheat oven to 400 F. Lightly grease a baking dish, set aside. In a large bowl combine the oats, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar (if using). In another bowl, combine the milk, applesauce and oil. Add the wet mixture to the dry and mix to combine. Fold in the apple bits and then place mixture into a baking dish and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and gently stir the mixture. Bake for another 20 minutes or until top is lightly browned.

To make the apple pie topping, heat the butter in a medium saucepan until melted. Add the apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Saute until desired consistency and slightly caramelized, about 5 - 7 minutes. Serve the hot oatmeal with the apple pie topping and some sugar-free maple syrup!

To fork or not to fork?