Baked Oatmeal with Cranberry Apple Compote

Baked Oatmeal with Cranberry Apple Compote

YIELD: Makes 6 servings for main dish or 8-10 servings as a part of a larger meal

INGREDIENTS

For Oatmeal:

3 cups - rolled Quaker Oats

1/2 cup - brown sugar

1/2 tsp. - pumpkin pie spice

2 tsp. - baking powder

1/2 tsp. - salt

1 cup - half & half or whole milk

2 - eggs

1/2 cup - honey

1 tsp. - pure vanilla

1/2 cup - melted butter

Cranberry Apple Compote:

2 - firm, tart apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2” dice

1/2 cup - dried cranberries

1/3 cup - honey

1/2 cup - apple juice

juice and zest of one orange

2 T - butter

1 tsp. - pure vanilla

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350° Spray an 8x8 baking dish with non-stick pan spray

Combine the oats, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the half & half, eggs, honey, and vanilla. Stir the dry and wet mixtures together, add the melted butter and mix again.

Spread the mixture into an 8x8 pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.

While the oats are baking, combine the apples, cranberries, honey, along with the apple juice and juice from the orange (reserve the zest) into a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil for 1 minute and reduce to simmer for 15 more minutes, stirring often. The apples should soften and the liquid should coat the fruit. Remove the compote from the heat and stir in the orange zest, butter and vanilla, keep warm for serving or cool and store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator if making ahead.

Remove the baked oatmeal from the oven, it should be soft but set. You can cool for about 10 minutes and serve alongside the compote or cool completely, cover and refrigerate if making ahead.

TIP

You can make both parts of this recipe ahead of time and freeze. Just remove from the freezer a day ahead and let it thaw in the refrigerator. Reheat the oatmeal in the oven on 300° for about 25 minutes or until heated through and reheat the compote in the microwave or on the stovetop.