Name: Blackberry Basil Baked Oatmeal
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Ingredients: 4 cups blackberries (three 6-ounce containers ); 1/2 lemon (zested and juiced); 1 tsp corn starch; 1 tsp coconut sugar (can sub cane sugar or sugar replacements); 1/4 cup water; 2-4 tbsp fresh basil (chopped, amount based on taste); 2 bananas (overripe); 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce; 2 tbsp coconut sugar (can subcane sugar or sugar replacements); 1 tsp cinnamon; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1/2 tsp baking powder; 1/4 tsp kosher salt; 1 cup almond milk (unsweetened, or cashew milk or skim); 1/2 lemon (zested and juiced); 1.5 cups old fashioned oats; 2 tbsp chia seeds

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A delicious summertime flavor combination: blackberry basil. This flavor combination is often found in gelato, sorbet, or even mixed drinks. So, why not a baked oatmeal? This baked oatmeal has a sweet, moist oatmeal base, topped with cooked blackberries flavored with basil. The flavor of basil is subtle, and adds a brightness and summery taste to this delicious breakfast. Give this blackberry basil baked oatmeal a whirl for a nice change up!

What is baked oatmeal? What does this one taste like?

Baked oatmeal offers the comfort of a warm bowl of oatmeal, but with the ease and convenience of baking a cake to make multiple servings. I first started making baked oatmeal for this exact reason: I love warm oatmeal, but I didn’t want to make it every morning (let’s face it, stirring oatmeal on the stove is not the most fun or practical for a daily breakfast). Sure, you can get those packages of instant oatmeal with flavors, but if you’re anything like me, those don’t really keep me satisfied.

What makes blackberry basil baked oatmeal different?

This baked oatmeal is bulked up with other healthy ingredients to make this dish super satisfying, as well as delicious. It even has a built-in side dish and flavor enhancer: delicious blackberries flavored with fresh lemon and basil.

This baked oatmeal is fresh, vibrant, slightly tart from the blackberries and bright from the lemon and basil.

What you’ll need to make blackberry basil baked oatmeal

bananas
unsweetened applesauce
coconut sugar
- Coconut sugar is lower on the glycemic index, but you can also use cane sugar or sugar replacements.
kosher salt
vanilla extract
baking powder
fresh lemon (zest and juice)
fresh basil
old fashioned oats
unsweetened almond or cashew milk, or skim milk
cornstarch
fresh blackberries
chia seeds
- Chia seeds have tons of health benefits, including being packed with fiber and antioxidants.
- They also really bulk up the filling of this baked oatmeal and soak up some of the liquid in the mixture, making this baked oatmeal super fluffy on the inside.
Substitution suggestions:
- If you don’t like or are allergic to bananas, add more unsweetened applesauce (approximately 1 cup is equivalent to two bananas).
- If you are diabetic or do not want to use real sugar, you can use sugar replacements.

How to make this delicious blackberry basil baked oatmeal

Making the berry topping

Add the blackberries to a saucepan with the sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice and the corn starch, then put the saucepan on medium to medium-high heat. Add 1/4 cup of water. Cook the berries for 10 minutes or so, or until they are cooked down, broken down, and resemble a compote or jam consistency. The berries should be thick and jammy, not watery (and still have some larger pieces throughout). Stir in the fresh basil. Keep cooking them if they are too watery.

Once the berries are cooked down, set the pan aside to cool while you prepare the other ingredients.

Making the baked oats

Preheat the oven to 375F. Grab a baking dish or casserole dish (I use this one) and spray it with non-stick cooking spray. In a mixing bowl, mash the bananas and add the applesauce. Next, add in the baking powder, salt, cinnamon, extract, and sugar. Add the lemon zest and lemon juice. Once those ingredients are combined, add the milk and fold in the oats and chia seeds.

Pour this mixture into the greased baking dish. Then, top with the berry mixture. Bake for 35 minutes.

Storage and reheating

This baked oatmeal recipe (and all of my baked oatmeal recipes) should be stored in the fridge. They also freeze very well; simply wrap individual portions in plastic wrap and freeze. To defrost, microwave to heat through. This makes for a great meal prep. Whenever you have ripe bananas, make a baked oatmeal!