The Best Baked Berry and Peach Oatmeal

I love this baked oatmeal so much! It is truly my favorite way to eat oatmeal.

It is hearty and full of nutrition with berries and nuts baked in. I like to use regular oats and steel-cut oats to increase the nutrition and texture. Oatmeal itself is a whole grain and is so good for you. I like the fact that this oatmeal recipe is not gummy like most oatmeals, and it is so pretty, great for company!

I have always liked oatmeal but was not always crazy about the texture. If you have kids who have texture issues, this is a great oatmeal to try. You can easily leave out the nuts if desired.

It's easy to make, and sometimes I will make it the night before and warm it up the next morning for a quick and easy breakfast.

Tips

• I like to combine regular oats with steel-cut oats. The best ratio for me is 2 cups of oats to one cup of steel-cut oats. The texture of the steel-cut oats are stiffer and harder to chew. So my husband likes the ratio to be 2 1/2 cup oats to 1/2 cup steel-cut oats. And of course you can use all regular old-fashioned oats. I think using all steel-cut oats is too dense, even for me. But if you like the steel-cut oats, you may want to try using all steel-cut oats.

• Do not use the quick type of oats you microwave. I say this, but I have not actually tried this. I am afraid they would be too overdone. Plus, quick oats will raise your insulin levels more.

• I usually add all of the liquid from the peaches because I like the mixture on the moist side, and I like the peachy flavor. But some people like it drier. You could drain out all of the liquid or follow the recipe- and add 1/2 of the liquid. Adjust to your preference.

• Except for the canned peaches, I use frozen fruit because it stays together a little better, but fresh fruit would work fine. No need to thaw the frozen fruit. Use smaller berries, not large strawberries, or cut them up. When you add the frozen berries, stir as little as possible, or your mixture will look purple!

• If I add nuts to the top at the end, I toast the nuts which add such a great flavor. You could even add nuts on top of the dish for the last 5 minutes of cooking and they would naturally toast. Or you can put some cooking spray in a pan on medium-low heat, add some nuts, and stir for a couple of minutes until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the nuts.

• Let the oatmeal set for a couple of minutes before you serve it. However, I love it when it is still warm. It also tastes good cold. Store it n the refrigerator and heat up the leftovers when needed. It keeps for several days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze it.

• You can also add other ingredients for nutrition and flavor like raw coconut or flax seeds. Mix up the fruit. Mangos would be great in this oatmeal!

• Make it your own!

So let's get started with the recipe!

First Gather Your Ingredients!

General Ingredients to gather

*Some ingredients are left out of the picture, so be sure to see the ingredients below!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of old-fashioned oats OR 2 cups of oats and 1 cup of steel-cut oats

• 1/2 teaspoon of salt

• 1/2 cup of packed brown sugar

• 2 teaspoons of baking powder

• 1 egg and 2 egg whites OR 2 eggs

• 1 1/4 cups of low-fat milk

• 1/4 cup of olive oil or canola oil

• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extra

• One 15 oz can of sliced or diced peaches in juice, saving at least half of the juice

• 1-3 cups of fresh or frozen berries. I use about 3 cups of frozen berries. (Avoid frozen strawberries because they seem to be too big.)

• 1/2 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts and more for topping

• Additional fresh berries on top for garnish

• Additional milk for serving

Directions:

1. Combine the dry ingredients- oats, salt, brown sugar, and baking powder, and mix in a large bowl.

Mix dry ingredients

2. Add the rest of the wet ingredients: eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla extract; and stir to combine.

Add wet ingredients

3. If needed cut up the peaches into cubes, and add to the mixture to the bowl with half of the liquid. Let stand for 5 minutes or so.

Add peaches

Cut-up peaches

4. Stir in the berries and chopped nuts

Gently stir in berries

5. Transfer to an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with more nuts.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and a thermometer reads 160 degrees. Serve with milk, or half and half if desired. Also, garnish with additional nuts and berries.

Prep Time and Nutritional information:

The prep time is approximately 20 minutes with 35 minutes baking time. The calories vary depending on ingredients, but if you use the lower-fat version of the ingredients, the calories approximate 280 calories per serving, the dish serving 9 total servings.

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Slow-Cooker Iris Oats from The Pioneer Woman

This is one of my favorite slow-cooker recipes for oatmeal.

You can put it on low overnight, and you have delicious oatmeal in the morning!

Great for company!

Click on the highlighted title above for the recipe.

Have a warm healthy and happy breakfast and Bon Appetit! ❤️😘 p