This Almond Baked Oatmeal Is the Ultimate Make-Ahead Breakfast

Baked oatmeal is the perfect dish to make on the weekends. Whether you’re whipping up a batch to share with a crowd for brunch or slicing it into squares to enjoy all week long, it should definitely be on your radar. This version has tart cherries, sliced almonds, and coconut flakes — and it’s calling your name.

The premise of baked oatmeal is simple: Instead of standing at the stove, stirring and fretting over a pot of oatmeal, you can simply combine a bunch of ingredients in a baking dish and throw it in the oven. While yes, technically, it’s more of an oatmeal casserole than a creamy, porridge-like bowl of oats, you still get all the flavors you love from oatmeal — just without the hassle.

For this recipe you combine old-fashioned oats, brown sugar, sliced almonds, baking powder, and salt in a bowl, and then add in a mixture of melted (and cooled) butter, milk, unsweetened applesauce, egg, and almond extract. Sprinkle some frozen tart cherries around your baking dish and then pour the oatmeal “batter” into the dish.

To ensure your oatmeal has some crunchy texture, sprinkle some more sliced almonds on top in the last five minutes of baking. If you’re serving this at brunch, simply slice it up and serve it warm to your guests with plain yogurt, coconut flakes, cacao nibs, and hemp seeds.

If you’re making this with the intention of eating it all week long, you can let it cool, cut it into big squares, package the squares individually, and store them in the fridge. When you’re ready for breakfast, simply pull a square out and reheat it quickly (a splash of milk added after heating helps with any dryness). And just like that you have breakfast all week!

→ Get the Recipe: Tart Cherry Almond Baked Oatmeal from The Faux Martha