Creamy Apple Baked Oatmeal (With Healthy Caramel Sauce)

A guest post by Karissa Besaw from Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen on Chasing Foxes.

If you’re seeking a healthy and delicious breakfast idea, look no further than this apple-baked oatmeal with caramel sauce! This recipe is vegan and free of refined sugar.

I never even knew baked oatmeal was a thing until a few months ago. It seems to be a classic recipe that is making a comeback – and more delicious than ever with amazing flavors.

This recipe for apple-baked oatmeal is no exception. Not only are there apples and peanuts to jazz up the oatmeal itself, but this dish is also topped with coconut whipped cream and a homemade caramel sauce (which is vegan and naturally sweetened!)

How to Make Healthy Caramel Sauce

To make the caramel sauce, you will simply remove the pits from some Medjool dates and blend them with non-dairy milk (almond or soy work best), water, vanilla extract, and a tiny bit of salt. If you have any extra sauce, it stores easily in the fridge for a few days – it is AMAZING on top of ice cream, too!

Whipped Coconut Cream Topping

You can buy whipped coconut cream if you’re in a pinch (SoDelicious sells one found in the freezer section called “CocoWhip”) but homemade is the absolute best. It’s naturally sweetened with maple syrup and has a lovely flavor that goes with more than just tropical dishes.

Place a can of coconut milk in the fridge the night before so the coconut cream solidifies at the top. Scoop out the cream, leaving the liquid behind, and whip using a hand mixer or stand mixer until fluffy. Fold in maple syrup and vanilla extract and put back in the fridge until ready to use.

The Recipe for Apple Baked Oatmeal

The oatmeal itself is super easy – just mix together all of the ingredients (omit nuts if necessary) and pour into whatever pan or bowls you choose to use. I love using individual ramekins for baked oatmeal, but a 9×13 pan works just as well!

Ingredients

Healthy Caramel Sauce

• 8 medjool dates – pits removed
• 1/2 cup non-dairy milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• pinch of salt

Optional Topping: Whipped Coconut Cream

• 1 can coconut milk (cold) – a higher quality brand will yield more cream
• 1 Tbs maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Apple Baked Oatmeal

• flax seed eggs – mix 2 Tbs ground flax seed with 4 Tbs water
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup homemade caramel sauce
• 2 apples, cut into small cubes
• 1/2 cup roughly chopped peanuts
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 2 cups non-dairy milk
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Healthy Caramel Sauce

1. Blend together all ingredients until smooth. If sauce is too thick, blend in a little more milk or water. Set aside until ready to add into the baked oatmeal.

Optional: Whipped Coconut Cream

1. Skim the coconut cream out of the can and add into a bowl. Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, whip on medium-high speed until fluffy.
2. Gently fold in maple syrup and vanilla extract. Place in fridge until ready for use.

Apple Baked Oatmeal

1. Preheat the oven to 375 °F.
2. In a small bowl, mix together the ground flax seed and water to make “flax seed eggs”. Set aside for 5 minutes to allow the mixture to thicken.
3. In a large bowl, stir together the flax seed “eggs” and all remaining ingredients until well incorporated. Pour into pan or ramekins.
4. If using a larger pan, bake for 40 minutes. If using individual ramekins or bowls, bake for 30 minutes.
5. Remove from the oven. Let the baked oatmeal cool a bit and set for 15 minutes.
6. Drizzle with caramel sauce and add other optional toppings (such as whipped coconut cream, peanuts, apples, and cinnamon.) Enjoy!

Silas & Grace

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Chasing Foxes was started in 2016 as a way for Grace and her husband, Silas, to start traveling. However, they started to realize that they had a passion for improving themselves, and wanted to help others level up their lives as well. So whether it's with cooking, travel, or staying healthy, they want to help you better your life bit by bit, as they do the same.