Baked Pear-Berry Steel-Cut Oats

I've been in a baked oatmeal mood lately. 

It just sounds so good during the chilly Winter mornings.

(Although Spring is now on its way - yay!)

It is so convenient to make some baked oatmeal at the beginning of the week

so your next few breakfasts are already ready to go! 

I'm all about convenience, especially in the morning when I wake up with a monstrous appetite 

(thank you pregnancy!) and I don't feel like making anything.

With baked oatmeal, I can just take leftovers out of the fridge, scoop a serving into a small saucepan over medium heat, pour a little milk over it, and voila! Breakfast is ready in just a few minutes.

PLUS, it makes my house smell amazing. Best smell ever!

Eating steel-cut oats is also a great way to start the day! I'd say they were a "superfood" breakfast.
They are rich in dietary fiber, which has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes, lower blood pressure, and aid in weight-loss (since it keeps you full, longer!). Awesome, right?!

Isn't it wonderful that something so healthy is also super tasty? ;)

Baked Pear-Berry Steel-Cut Oats
Inspired by: This New Old Thing
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6
Nutrition (per serving):
Calories (193), Fat (3.1g), Protein (5.5g), Carbs (37.1g), Sugars (12.6g), Fiber (6.2g)
High in dietary fiber, 16% DV of Calcium

Ingredients:

• 1 c. uncooked steel-cut oats
• 1 & 1/2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)
• 1 ripe pear, chopped
• 1 c. fresh or frozen mixed berries (if you use frozen, let them thaw and drain as much liquid as you can)
• 1 Tbsp. raw honey
• 2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup (or honey or agave nectar)
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 Tbsp. chia seeds, optional (but not ;) )
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Mix oats and milk in large bowl and set aside for 10 minutes, so the oats soak up a bit of the milk.
3. While the oats are soaking, heat a small saucepan over medium heat and add the raw honey, pears, and berries. Sautee the pears and berries for a few minutes until pears are softened.
4. Add the pear-berry mixture and all other ingredients (maple syrup, baking powder, chia seeds, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt) into the bowl with the oats and milk. Stir to combine.
5. Pour the oat mixture into a lightly greased 8x8 baking dish and bake in oven for about 35-40 minutes, or until the center is firm.
6. Serve warm with an extra splash of milk (or cream if you're feeling really adventurous!).
7. Refrigerate leftovers in a airtight container. To reheat leftovers, heat a small to medium saucepan over medium heat, add the desired amount of baked oats and some almond milk. Feel free to add as much/little milk as you want, depending on how you like the consistency of your oats. More milk for thinner oats, less milk for thicker oats. 

Comment and let me know what your favorite baked oatmeal recipe is!