Strawberries and Cream Baked Oatmeal

One of the classic combinations with strawberries is strawberries and cream. Experimenting with surplus strawberries a few weeks back, I wanted the experience of strawberries and cream in a baked oatmeal. Desiring that flavor combination, the most obvious substitute for dairy cream, that will also bring natural sweetness, is coconut milk. The other area I have played around with through the testing for this recipe is with the final texture. I wanted an ideal texture that could be enjoyed creamy fresh from the oven; or taken a step further, it could be toasted as a baked oatmeal portable bar for my commute to work that would be both sturdy and creamy at the same time.

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Strawberries and Cream Baked Oatmeal

Yields: 9”x9” pan or 6-9 servings

Ingredients:

334 g / 2 c Quartered Strawberries

134 g / 1.5 c Rolled (Old Fashioned) Oats

128 g / ¾ c Buckwheat, Whole Wheat, or other Whole Grain Flour

75 g / ¼ c + 2 Tbsp Flax Seed Meal

1 tsp Ground Nutmeg

1 tsp Baking Powder

360 g / 1.5 c Full Fat Coconut Milk

170 g / ¾ c Water

100g / ¼ c + 1 Tbsp Maple Syrup*

1-3 Tbsp Coconut or other Natural Sugar for Sprinkling on top

*If you are concerned about sugar intake, the maple can be cut down by half and adjusted with a sugar free substitute like stevia.

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.

2. Combine the dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.

3. Add in the liquid ingredients and stir to combine

4. Grease or line pan with parchment paper. Pour in the oatmeal batter.

5. Top with strawberries and sprinkle on the desired amount of sugar.

6. Bake for 40-45 minutes, until set.

7. Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes.

For Soft Baked:

1. Serve warm, spooning from the pan (slicing may be difficult).

2. Top with extra coconut milk and a drizzle of maple syrup.

For Portable Baked Oatmeal Bars:

1. Allow the oatmeal to cool to room temperature. Then refrigerate overnight.

2. The next morning, slice oatmeal. Note it will still be a bit soft so be careful when removing that first slice.

3. Place on a greased pan and toast. It can be toasted in a toaster oven or in a standard oven set to 400F. The amount you toast is a matter of personal preference. Personally, I like the edges to start to get dark with crispness. Because of the thickness and amount of original moisture, the bars will still have a beautifully moist interior even with a crisp exterior.