Baked Apple Raisin Oats Recipe

This baked apple raisin oats recipe is simply delicious. Made with healthy, common pantry ingredients, and nothing else. High in fiber, naturally sweetened, lactose free, gluten free and vegan. It’s a great alternative to overpriced, over-processed breakfast foods and snacks, that’s quick and easy to make, and you can make ahead of time for a quick breakfast, snack, or desert.

About this recipe

I didn’t plan on posting another baked oat recipe. One night, I was going to make a baked oatmeal raisin cookie casserole for my grandsons, but I saw some applesauce in the fridge, and I knew they liked apples, so I thought I’d replace some milk with applesauce. I mixed it up using a seasoning combo from an apple pie that I really liked, baked it and gave it a taste test. It was so good that I ate most of it that night, and had to make more the next day for them. So I decided that I should share it.

Ingredients and Nutrition

This recipe is high in fiber, with no added sugar, just oats, fruit, nuts and almond milk. It’s a balanced meal that provides a range of health benefits.

• Heart health from soluble fiber and healthy fats which reduce inflammation, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol.
• Digestive and gut health from fiber which feeds beneficial gut bacteria, and speeds up the movement of food through the digestive tract.
• Muscle health from plant based protein.
• Brain health from plant based omega-3.

• Rolled Oats: an excellent source of soluble fiber, particularly beta-glucan, vitamins and minerals (manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and zinc). Additionally, oats feed beneficial gut bacteria, promoting a healthy gut microbiome.
• Walnuts: rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids (specifically alpha-linolenic acid or ALA), minerals (copper, manganese, and magnesium), and antioxidants that protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.
• Applesauce: a good source of soluble fiber, potassium, and natural sugars.
• Almond Milk: low in calories, saturated fat, and free from cholesterol and lactose.
• Raisins: fiber, minerals (iron and potassium), and antioxidants like phenols and polyphenols. 
• Spices (Cinnamon, Allspice): compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Nutritional Information per serving

• Protein 5.5g
• Fat 2.5g
  • Monounsaturated 1g
  • Polyunsaturated 1g
  • Saturated .5g
  • Trans 0
• Carbohydrates 40.5g
  • Dietary Fiber 5g
  • Sugar 11g
• Calories 205

Instructions

This is a quick and easy recipe to make with 11 ingredients, a bowl and a baking dish.

1. Gather the ingredients: rolled oats, applesauce, almond milk or other milk, raisins, walnuts, baking powder, vanilla, lemon juice, cinnamon, allspice, and salt.

2. Preheat oven to 325℉. Optionally, toast 2 tablespoon walnuts while the oven is preheating. If you want spend a little extra time, toasting the walnuts for 10 minutes really improves the flavor.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup rolled oats, ¾ cup applesauce, ½ cup unsweetened almond milk, ¼ cup raisins, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon vanilla, ½ teaspoon lemon juice, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon allspice, ¼ teaspoon salt, and optionally, 2 tablespoon walnuts toasted and chopped, reserve some to sprinkle on top if you wish.

3. Pour into a lightly greased 5″x5″ baking dish.
4. Sprinkle with cinnamon and chopped walnuts.

5. Bake at 325℉ for 35 minutes
6. Remove from oven and allow to set for 10 minutes.

7. Serve optionally topped with yogurt.
8. Cover leftovers and refrigerate. You can eat the leftovers cold, or heated in a microwave.