The folks from Sprouts Farmers Market challenged me to create a delicious heart-healthy recipe to help celebrate the last few days of February which is National Heart Month. I knew immediately that I wanted to share my baked oatmeal recipe. Oatmeal is a good source of magnesium, zinc, protein and fiber. It can lower levels of LDL (or bad) cholesterol and help keep arteries clear. Now, I’ve traditionally done this with dried cranberries and apricots but decided to mix things up a bit and give it even more heart-health benefit so I added raspberries. Not only did they make a delicious dish even more delicious-er :), but raspberries are an excellent source of dietary fiber, vitamin C and manganese, and in a healthy diet have the potential to lower your risk of heart disease.
Now, I’m not always posting the most healthy recipes – I realize that. And I think it bears repeating that, as with everything in life, moderation is key. The original recipe contains a stick of butter – gasp! BUT, I’ve also given you the option to replace that butter with applesauce, which is a delicious substitution that cuts way down on the fat.
This Baked Oatmeal is an absolute favorite breakfast of mine. I’ve been making it for years. It’s so different than oatmeal prepared the traditional way. Baking it gives it a granola flavor that I really love. And the truth is you can add just about anything as a mix-in. Other berries, nuts, and dried fruits all work great – just about anything to suit your taste. Give it a try! I know you’ll love it… and your heart will too! 🙂 And be sure to check out a host of other heart healthy foods on Sprouts’ website.
Recipe Card
Raspberry Baked Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 3 cups old fashioned oats
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted (or 1/2 cup applesauce for a lighter version)
- 1 cup raspberries or other favorite berry
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly spray an 8x8 inch (or 9 inch pie dish) with nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl, stir the oats, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon together. Add the brown sugar and stir to combine. In another bowl, whisk together the milk, vanilla, and eggs. Add the liquid to the oat mixture and mix well. Add the butter ( or applesauce) and mix well. Fold in the berries and pour the mixture into the prepared dish and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.
