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Oatmeal Apple Breakfast Bake (Warm, Cozy, and Delicious!)

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This Oatmeal Apple Breakfast Bake is a delicious and wholesome way to start the day! It combines the comforting flavors of warm, spiced apples with the hearty goodness of oats, all baked into a soft and tender cake-like bake. I love how this recipe is perfect for a make-ahead breakfast, a weekend brunch, or even a satisfying snack. It's a great way to use up those apples, and it's sure to become a new family favorite.

Why You'll Love This Oatmeal Apple Breakfast Bake

  • Warm and Comforting: The combination of apples, cinnamon, and oats creates a cozy and satisfying breakfast.
  • Healthy and Nutritious: Packed with whole grains, fruit, and nuts, this bake is a wholesome way to start the day.
  • Easy to Make: This recipe uses simple ingredients and straightforward instructions.
  • Make-Ahead Friendly: You can assemble the bake the night before and bake it in the morning.
  • Versatile: Enjoy it warm or at room temperature, with or without the glaze.
Ingredients for Oatmeal Apple Breakfast Bake, including apples, oats, flour, and butter.

Ingredients for Oatmeal Apple Breakfast Bake

Here's what you'll need to make this delicious breakfast bake. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

Main Ingredients

  • Lemon juice (Acid)
  • Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into ¼" cubes (Fruit)
  • Old-fashioned oats (Grain)
  • All-purpose flour (Dry Ingredient)
  • Baking soda (Leavening Agent)
  • Ground cinnamon (Spice)
  • Unsalted butter (Fat)
  • Granulated sugar (Sweetener)
  • Pure vanilla extract (Flavoring)
  • Salt (Seasoning)
  • Large eggs (Binder)
  • Apple juice or water (Liquid)
  • Pecans, finely chopped and divided (Nuts)

Glaze (Optional)

  • Powdered sugar (Sweetener)
  • Milk (Dairy)

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)

Variations

I love this Oatmeal Apple Breakfast Bake as is, but here are a few ideas for variations:

  • Different Apples: Use a mix of different apple varieties, such as Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala.
  • Add Dried Fruit: Stir in some raisins, dried cranberries, or chopped dates.
  • Different Nuts: Use walnuts, almonds, or a mix of nuts instead of pecans.
  • Make it Spicier: Add a pinch of nutmeg, allspice, or cloves to the batter.
  • Maple Syrup: Drizzle some maple syrup over the top before serving.
Mixing the batter for Oatmeal Apple Breakfast Bake in a bowl.

How to Make Oatmeal Apple Breakfast Bake

Let me show you how easy it is to make this Oatmeal Apple Breakfast Bake:

Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish

  1. I place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F (190°C).
  2. I coat a 9" x 13" baking dish with cooking spray and then set it aside.

Prepare Apples

  1. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, I toss the diced apples with lemon juice to prevent browning. I then set it aside.

Prepare Oat Flour

  1. I place the oats in a food processor or blender.
  2. I pulse until the mixture becomes the consistency of coarse cornmeal.

Combine Dry Ingredients

  1. I sift the flour, baking soda, and cinnamon into a small bowl.
  2. I add oat flour.
  3. I stir to combine, then set it aside.

Cream Butter and Sugar

  1. In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, I cream the butter and sugar together for approximately 4 minutes, until light and fluffy.

Add Wet Ingredients

  1. I scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add the vanilla and salt.
  2. I begin beating and add the eggs one at a time, combining the first egg completely before adding the next.

Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

  1. I add half of the dry ingredients, stir to combine, then add the apple juice (or water).
  2. I mix completely before stirring in the remaining dry ingredients.

Fold in Apples and Pecans

  1. Once the batter is completely combined, I fold in the diced apples and ½ cup of the chopped pecans.

Bake

  1. When the apples and pecans are thoroughly mixed into the batter, I transfer the mixture to the baking dish.
  2. I top with the remaining ¼ cup of pecans.
  3. I bake for 25-30 minutes.

Cool, Glaze (Optional), and Serve

  1. I remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
  2. While the cake cools, I stir together the powdered sugar and milk for the glaze.
  3. I drizzle the glaze over the top of the cooled cake.
  4. Slice
  5. Serve

Tips and Tricks for the BEST Breakfast Bake

Here are my secrets for making this breakfast bake truly exceptional:

  • Use Tart Apples: Tart apples, like Granny Smith, provide a nice contrast to the sweetness of the batter.
  • Don't Overmix: Overmixing the batter can make the bake tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
  • Room Temperature Ingredients: Using room temperature butter and eggs helps the ingredients emulsify properly.
  • Check for Doneness: The bake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached.

How to Serve

This Oatmeal Apple Breakfast Bake is delicious served:

  • Warm or at Room Temperature: It's delicious both warm and at room temperature.
  • With a Glaze: The optional glaze adds extra sweetness and moisture.
  • With Yogurt or Whipped Cream: Top with a dollop of yogurt or whipped cream.
  • Breakfast or Brunch: A perfect addition to your breakfast or brunch spread.
  • Snack: A satisfying and wholesome snack.
Oatmeal Apple Breakfast Bake served on a plate, ready to be enjoyed.

Make Ahead and Storage

You can assemble the bake (without the topping) ahead of time and store it, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Add the topping and bake as directed when ready to serve. Leftover bake can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the oven or microwave.

FAQs about Oatmeal Apple Breakfast Bake

  • Can I use a different type of apple?
    • Yes, you can use any type of baking apple you like, such as Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala.
  • Can I make this without the pecans?
    • Yes, you can omit the pecans or substitute them with another type of nut.
  • Can I freeze this bake?
    • Yes, you can

Enjoy this warm, cozy, and delicious Oatmeal Apple Breakfast Bake! It's a perfect way to start the day or enjoy a wholesome snack.

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Oatmeal Apple Breakfast Bake served on a plate, ready to be enjoyed.

Oatmeal Apple Breakfast Bake (Warm, Cozy, and Delicious!)

  • Author: Caoimhe Byrne
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 9-12 1x
  • Category: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert, Baked Goods
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

This Oatmeal Apple Breakfast Bake is a warm, comforting, and delicious dish perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even dessert. It combines the flavors of apple pie and oatmeal in a convenient baked format, with a sweet glaze drizzled on top.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 4 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into ¼-inch cubes (about 6-8 medium apples)
  • ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant or quick-cooking)
  • 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup (1 stick, 113g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • ¼ cup apple juice (or water)
  • ¾ cup pecans, finely chopped, divided

For the Glaze:

  • ¾ cup (90g) powdered sugar (confectioners' sugar)
  • 1 tablespoon milk (whole, 2%, or skim), plus more as needed

Instructions

  • Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
  • Prepare Apples: Peel, core, and dice the Granny Smith apples into small, ¼-inch cubes. In a medium bowl, toss the diced apples with the lemon juice to prevent browning. Set aside.
  • Process Oats: Place the old-fashioned rolled oats in a food processor or blender. Pulse until the oats are coarsely ground, resembling coarse cornmeal. Do not over-process into a fine flour.
  • Combine Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and ground cinnamon. Add the processed oat flour to the bowl. Stir to combine. Set aside.
  • Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer (stand mixer with paddle attachment or hand mixer) or a whisk, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 4 minutes). Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Add Vanilla, Salt, and Eggs: Add the vanilla extract and salt to the creamed butter and sugar. Beat to combine. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until fully incorporated.
  • Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Add half of the dry ingredients (flour mixture) to the wet ingredients. Stir until just combined. Pour in the apple juice (or water) and mix until combined. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
  • Fold in Apples and Pecans: Gently fold in the diced apples and ½ cup of the finely chopped pecans until evenly distributed.
  • Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly.
  • Top with Remaining Pecans: Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of finely chopped pecans evenly over the top of the batter.
  • Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (or with a few moist crumbs attached) and the top is golden brown.
  • Cool: Remove the baking dish from the oven and let the cake cool completely in the pan.
  • Make Glaze: While the cake is cooling, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon of milk until smooth. Add more milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until the glaze reaches your desired drizzling consistency.
  • Glaze and Serve: Once the cake is completely cool, drizzle the glaze evenly over the top. Slice and serve.

Notes

  • Apples: Granny Smith apples are recommended for their tartness and firm texture, which holds up well during baking. You can substitute other tart baking apples, such as Honeycrisp or Braeburn.
  • Oats: Use old-fashioned rolled oats, not instant or quick-cooking oats. Processing the oats into a coarse flour helps them blend into the batter and create a tender crumb.
  • Room Temperature Ingredients: Using room-temperature butter and eggs helps the ingredients emulsify properly, resulting in a more tender and evenly textured bake.
  • Do Not Overmix: Overmixing the batter can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tough cake. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
  • Baking Time: The baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven.
  • Serving Suggestions: This breakfast bake is delicious served warm or at room temperature. You can top it with additional glaze, a dollop of whipped cream, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
  • Storage: Leftovers can be stored.

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