Baked Oatmeal with Cranberries and Orange

Hot baked oatmeal with tart cranberries and fresh orange zest is the kind of breakfast that tastes like the holidays.

This is one fall breakfast idea you won’t be able to resist making all year long.

We’ve all had our share of traditionally cooked oatmeal and overnight oats; and while those are terrific breakfast options, baked oatmeal takes the classic breakfast ingredient up a notch.

Plus, making baked oatmeal is super simple. It’s one of those recipes that comes together in one bowl, gets transferred into the oven, and turns into magic!

Watch this video to see how to bake oatmeal at home:

Baked oatmeal has a way of warming you up without making you feel weighed down, which is why I feel good about serving it for breakfast on a regular basis. 

For the best texture and taste for this recipe, I used old-fashioned oats. The large flakes provide the perfect texture for thick baked oatmeal.

Each ½ cup serving of baked oatmeal is a good source of fiber, and some essential vitamins and minerals including thiamin, phosphorus, and magnesium

Read More: Health Benefits of Oatmeal

Oats are super versatile for all sorts of recipes such as Protein Oats and Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal Bites. You can even use them to make breakfast for dinner with these Bacon & Cheddar Savory Oats. 

You can see why I keep them stocked in the pantry at all times, and it’s a good thing because today, I’m using them in one of my favorite recipes, Cranberry & Orange Baked Oatmeal.

Baked Oatmeal

I’m sure you’ve had your fair share of oatmeal for breakfast, but baked oatmeal is in a league of its own. It tastes like a treat that’s good for you, and these recipes are always a winner for both the kids and me. 

It has a bread pudding-like texture, and the cranberries give it a burst of tart goodness. I like to top my baked oats with a little unsweetened almond milk; making the combination of hot oats and cold milk divine. 

This recipe is so good, I even included it in my Thanksgiving menu as a wholesome and delicious breakfast to hold you over until the feast is ready.

It has the holiday flavors of fresh cranberry, orange, and cinnamon so you can fill up on something good while the turkey bakes in the oven and you start on the rest of the menu.

Baked Oatmeal Ingredients

Scroll down the ingredient list, and I’m positive you have most of these items on hand. Maybe not the cranberries, but those can be swapped for blueberries, strawberries- even diced apples! 

As simple as the recipe is, it’s just as easy to make. Essentially, everything is combined in one bowl, transferred to a baking dish, and baked until the oats are set and the top turns a gorgeous golden brown. 

Thanks to the cinnamon, cranberries, orange juice, and zest, this recipe doesn’t need a whole lot of added sugar. I found that a touch of honey gives this baked oatmeal the right amount of sweetness.

For the milk, I used unsweetened almond milk, and if you want to make the recipe fully
dairy-free, swap the melted butter for a vegan alternative.

If you’ve been dreaming about buying more cranberries now that they are in season, this recipe is the excuse you need to stock up!

How to Make Baked Oatmeal

Here’s how to make this Cranberry Baked Oatmeal recipe for a hearty, delicious breakfast.

1. Get the oven hot
   Preheat the oven to 375F and grease a 9 x 9-inch square baking dish or a 9×13-inch oval.
2. Make the batter
   In a large bowl, whisk the honey with the almond milk, egg, melted butter, vanilla extract, orange zest, and orange juice. Add the oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt
3. Toss in the cranberries
   Use a spatula to fold the cranberries into the batter.
4. Bake
   Pour the oat and cranberry mixture into the prepared baking dish and top with additional cranberries. Bake 35 minutes until the top is golden and the oat mixture is set.
5. Serve
   Remove the baked oatmeal from the oven and allow to rest 5 minutes before serving.

Oatmeal Baking Tips

It’s hard to mess up baked oatmeal, but it is possible mostly due to overcooking. Here’s how to make sure that doesn’t happen: 

Use enough liquid
Don’t skimp on the milk! The oats need every bit of it to create that delicious texture. While water works too, I’ve found that it lacks the flavor and density this recipe needs.

Use the right oats
For best results, I use old-fashioned oats. The flakes are large enough to soak up the liquid without drying out, which makes them a perfect option for cooking, baking, and even no-bake treats like Baked Oatmeal Bites.

Make it ahead of time
You can make this ahead of time by combining the wet ingredients in a large jar or airtight dish and refrigerating overnight. In the morning, stir everything together and bake! Those few minutes save time, and while you get everyone ready for the day, breakfast is baking.

More Baked Oatmeal Flavors

Another great thing about this baked oatmeal recipe- it’s highly adaptable. You can add and swap the flavors and ingredients to create an entirely new recipe. 

Swap the cranberries and orange for cinnamon, dried cherries, and almonds. Don’t worry about getting bored, here are easy add-in ideas for more epic baked oatmeal recipes:

• Pumpkin pie spice + pumpkin puree
• Cinnamon + raisins + slivered almonds
• Raspberries + vanilla extract + lemon zest
• Blueberries + vanilla extract + sliced bananas
• Chocolate chips + trail mix

If you’re an oat fanatic, welcome to the club! I’ve got a TON of incredible oat recipes to keep you covered for breakfast a long time.