Vegan Vanilla Berry Baked Oatmeal

In this recipe, rolled oats meet sweet berries and vanilla to create a breakfast that’s both
easy and special. If you can use vanilla paste, fresh vanilla bean, or vanilla powder, I strongly recommend it. It’ll create more flavor (and cooking aroma). The berries could be traded for chopped peaches or plums, or for chopped apple or pear in the fall. If you love hand-picking your oatmeal toppings as much as I do, you’ll find it equally fun to hand-pick the mix-ins for this dish. Add some dried fruit, different kinds of nuts or seeds, or different baking spices to transform the dish into something new. 

Makes 4 generous or 6 small servings

1 tablespoon ground flax meal
3 tablespoons warm water
2 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean, scraped (or substitute 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
1/3 cup maple syrup, plus more for serving
2 1/4 cups almond or soy milk, plus more for serving
1 tablespoon canola oil or melted coconut oil
1 1/2 cups fresh mixed berries, plus a few extra for topping
1/4 cup sliced almonds or chopped pecans
2 tablespoons organic brown sugar
Jam and/or nut butter, for serving (optional)

• Jam and/or nut butter, for serving (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F and lightly oil an 8- or 9-inch square baking dish. Mix the flax meal and the water together in a small bowl. Allow them to thicken for a few minutes.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the rolled oats, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla powder or vanilla bean (if you're substituting vanilla extract instead, add it to the wet ingredients).
3. Whisk together the prepared flax mixture, the maple syrup, almond milk, and oil. Add the wet ingredients to the oat mixture and stir to combine. Fold in the berries.
4. Turn the mixture out into your baking dish. Top with a few additional berries. Transfer the oatmeal to the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Sprinkle the almonds or pecans and brown sugar over the top and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until most of the liquid is absorbed and the oats are spongy, but solid. Allow them to cool.
5. You can serve the baked oatmeal either warm or cold. Cut the oatmeal into squares and drizzle with additional non-dairy milk and some fresh jam or maple syrup, if desired. A schmear of almond or cashew butter is also delicious!

http://food52.com/blog/13573-turn-on-your-oven-for-35-minutes-have-breakfast-for-the-whole-week?utm_term=6079978&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20160215_shop_breakfast