Baked Oatmeal Recipe - Cooking Classy (2024)

FAQs

Are baked oats as healthy as oatmeal? ›

"Baked oats are similar to standard oats," says Rachel Fine, RRD and owner of To The Pointe Nutrition. Fine points out that because oats are a naturally gluten-free whole grain, they have plenty of health benefits that won't bake-off. Oats are a "fabulous source of carbohydrates and soluble fiber," says Fine.

Oats absorb moisture as they sit—so if you let your batter sit before you bake, you'll run the risk of making a dense, thick, gummy baked oatmeal (when you really want a light, fluffy one), she explains.

If you don't allow your oats to cook long enough, they may have a mushy texture. Even if the top looks cooked, be sure that it has cooked all the way through. I recommend about a 30 minute bake time for an individual serving. You also want to be sure you didn't add too much liquid.

Baking powder: This helps the baked oats rise while baking. Salt: To round out the flavor.

The Mayo Clinic, among other health authorities, recommends starting your day with a wholesome serving of oatmeal. Oatmeal is well-known for being a good source of fiber, for lowering blood glucose and cholesterol levels, and for reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

The intensity of heat while cooking is the contributing factor, lower the heat better the nutrient availability. When you soak the oats overnight, it's almost like you're cooking them, but the process is much longer and slower, and it's done without heat. Hence, it is more nutrient rich than cooked version.

TO STORE: Refrigerate leftover baked oatmeal for 5 to 7 days, either wrapped in the baking pan or in an airtight container. TO REHEAT: Bake the oatmeal in a 350°F oven until it's warmed through, or simply heat it up in the microwave.

Cook for longer

The best way to achieve thicker oats is with time. This slow cooking process, usually taking around 10-15 minutes, allows the oats to absorb the liquid and become creamier.

If your oatmeal cookies turn out too hard or dry, here are a few possible reasons: Overbaking: Overbaking is a common culprit for dry cookies. Make sure you follow the recommended baking time and temperature in your recipe. Typically, oatmeal cookies should bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-12 minutes.

If the dry ingredients are not well mixed, there can be pockets or lumps of ingredients (especially leavening) that can lead to bitter or off flavors.

How to know baked oats are done? ›

You'll know it's done when the edges of the baked oats pull away from the ramekin – just like cake.

Steel-cut oat groats can turn brown-green color when cooked in alkaline conditions (pHs 9 to 12). Extraction of this color with methanol, and high-pressure liquid chromatography indicated a direct association of this color with the phenolic acid or avenanthramide content of the oat.

Boiling too long will cause the cookies to be dry and crumbly. However, if you don't boil long enough the cookies will not set and will be runny. Some folks say bring the mixture to a rolling boil and then count to 60, while others swear by counting to 90.

What happens if I use quick oats in oatmeal cookies? It will make the texture less chewy. They'll still be delicious, but if you want to uphold the texture, use those old-fashioned oats.

Why You Should Toast Your Oats. On their own, raw oats don't have much flavor, but they do add texture (and plenty of whole grain goodness). But when you heat them up in a skillet, they will turn golden brown and develop toasty, nutty notes that can add complexity to the simplest recipes.

Steel-cut oats, also called Irish oatmeal, are the whole oat kernel that has been cut into two or three pieces using steel disks. This type of oats contains the highest amount of fiber, as it is least processed. Steel-cut oats take a little longer to cook, and result in a creamy and chewy porridge.

Think Beyond Water. For a boost of calcium and creamy flavor, make oatmeal with low-fat milk or plant-based milk instead of water. Or try making it with apple cider instead for a boost of flavor. The ratio of liquid to oats stays the same, so you can easily make this switch.

Plain, unflavored instant oatmeal and regular oatmeal are nutritionally very similar. While instant oatmeal offers the same health benefits as regular oatmeal, many instant oatmeal packets come with added flavors and sugars. Some brands and flavors may contain anywhere from 10 to 17 grams of added sugar.