This Cherry Baked Oatmeal is one of our favorite breakfast recipes! It’s delicious and easy to make, and tastes almost like crunchy cherries.
This position was created in collaboration with Cherry Marketing Institute. All opinions are ours.
A few weeks ago I found out that Alex and I were considered Xennials. Say what? A xennial is a person born between 1977 and 1983. It’s a micro-generation between Generation X and Generation Y, where They had an analogue childhood and a digital adult life. That means I didn’t have an email address until I was 16. Facebook didn’t exist before I graduated from college. Alex and I got married before Pinterest was even a thing — read: there were no jugs or wreaths of flowers. Read on for the Cherry Baked Oatmeal recipe and learn more about how technology is shaping us.
Related: Gluten-free breakfast ideas for everyone | Our favorite vegan breakfast ideas
How technology shapes us
Growing up like this, without cellphones or social media, gives me a kind of healthy cynicism about it. I can see surreal Instagram images and remind myself that this is a brief shot that may or may not represent true reality. I can get away from my screens at night and hang out with my favorite people. And instead of seeing technology as a curse, I see it as a great connection.
Because I remember when we weren’t connected that way – the world was a lonelier place. Today we can connect with people all over the world who love mountain sunrise pictures and avocado toast as much as we do. We can immediately find a recipe for baked oatmeal and the capital of Nepal, which is 46 x 23409348. We can learn to cook, do IKEA hacks, and teach our kids to sleep without leaving our couch.
However, too much technology can become overwhelming and all-consuming. We feel too “busy” to do anything because we’re busy following the Instagram stories of those bloggers in Slovenia or that tie-wearing dog. In an age when your time can be consumed with endless things, it is important to prioritize what is important.
People ask me how we still cook and work full time with a 5 month old. yes we are busy But we make it a priority. We do not give ourselves the opportunity to do without home cooking. Instead of liking a few more photos on Instagram, we whip up quick tacos or pasta while Larson takes a nap or plays on his playmat. When he goes to bed, we whip up a recipe for baked oatmeal. oven for the next day. Instead of staying up late in the blue light of our screens, we try to read an actual physical book and go to bed.
How to make cherry oatmeal
Or take this recipe for baked oatmeal. It takes 45 minutes to cook but only 10 minutes to whisk, saving you breakfast for the rest of the week. While we don’t often make breakfast recipes, we’ve found time to incorporate it: make it on the weekend or on a weekday to save for the next few days. For me, a delicious and healthy breakfast in the fridge is worth it. (I also ate it for dinner a couple of nights, to be honest. Just saying.)
We have already had this recipe tested by a few people who have also agreed. Reader Lauren sent us a message: “The oatmeal baked with cherries was a big hit at our house! My 3 year old ate it 2 mornings in a row (my 9 month old enjoyed it too!) It’s so nice to have a breakfast that comes together quickly and tastes delicious.
Also try: Banana Baked Oats
About This Baked Cherry Oatmeal
Here are some of the features of this baked oatmeal recipe that make it special:
- It is dried Montmorency sour cherries– which offer natural sweetness and have multiple nutritional benefits. On the other hand, they contain melatonin, a natural hormone that regulates our body’s internal clock and sleep cycle! So not only can tart cherries be part of nutritious breakfast recipes, but they can also help to keep you well rested.
- He has cardamom, giving it a slightly floral essence. Combined with cinnamon, it’s just enough not to overwhelm.
- He has a vegan Option: just as good without egg as with almond milk. (Several readers have tried it as a baked vegan oatmeal and given it thumbs up!)
- That is naturally sweetsweetened with sour cherries and maple syrup.
- That is naturally gluten freesimply assembled
Note that Montmorency tart cherries are a variety of cherries, not a brand, that have a distinctive sweet and sour flavor. They are distinct from fresh sweet cherries and are most commonly dried or juiced as they are delicate and are usually processed directly. (More with cherries? Head over to 12 Delicious Cherry Recipes.)
So can a tech-filled life also have time for things like cooking nutritious meals and getting plenty of rest? We think so by taking a healthy break from screen time and prioritizing what matters most. What do you think, did you grow up with technology? How do you balance technology and prioritize what’s important? Do you make breakfast recipes or just grab something to eat on the go? Let us know in the comments below.
More cardamom recipes
Cardamom is a spice that imparts a light floral essence – it is one of the spices used in Spice Chai. We’ve noticed mainstream grocery stores are starting to carry ground cardamom, or you can find it online. One reader noted that cardamom is very expensive at her grocery store; Be sure to shop around to find a reasonable price. Aside from these baked oatmeal, here are a few other recipes that use cardamom:
This Cherry Oatmeal Recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, gluten-free, naturally sweetened, with no refined sugar. (For vegans, follow the substitutions in the recipe.)
The description
This Baked Cherry Oatmeal is one of our favorite breakfast recipes. It’s delicious, easy to make, naturally sweet, vegan, and gluten-free.
- 1 cup dried Montmorency sour cherries
- ½ cup pecan chunks (or chopped pecans)
- 2 cups oatmeal
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon Cinammon
- ¾ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 Egg, beaten (omit for vegans)
- 2 cups milk (use 2 1/2 cups almond milk for vegans)*
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons Butter or coconut oil, melted and slightly cooled
- Preheat oven to 375ºF.
- If desired, coarsely chop the dried cherries. In a large bowl, combine cherries, pecans, oats, baking soda, cinnamon, cardamom, and kosher salt.
- Grease an 8- or 9-inch rectangular pan and pour in the oat-cherry mixture.
- In a small bowl, whisk the egg (if using). Stir in the milk, maple syrup and vanilla. Slowly pour the milk mixture over the oatmeal, stirring if necessary.
- Drizzle the melted butter or coconut oil over the oats. (If desired, add a few extra cherries for presentation.)
- Bake 35 to 45 minutes until top is golden brown and oat mixture is set. Remove from the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes.
- Cut into pieces to serve. Garnish with a splash of milk and additional maple syrup, if desired. Store leftovers in the fridge.
Remarks
For the vegan option, use 2 ½ cups of almond milk; The extra ½ cup makes up for the omission of the egg. Make Ahead: Mix dry goods and store in a sealed plastic bag or container; Mix liquids together and store in a mason jar or sealed container. When ready to bake, prepare the pan, add the wet and dry and drizzle with melted butter or coconut oil.
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Cooked
- Kitchen: American
Keywords: baked oatmeal, oatmeal with cherries
More breakfast recipes
This Baked Oatmeal with Cherry and Cardamom is another of our favorite breakfast recipes to date (the other current favorite is the homemade breakfast cereal below). Here are some more breakfast recipes:
