We have had a great getting-ready-for-fall weekend over here. Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal was such a hit with the whole family that I couldn’t wait to share it with you. The girls were yelling “YUM!” and yummy hubby was calling these apple bowls of sweet spiced apple oatmeal “apple fritters” because he’s just silly like that, but really it does have those sweet delicious flavors. It was the kind of reaction you would expect for actual fried apple fritters, but not so much for a healthy breakfast like this with little fat and no refined sugar.
Though it has still been 90 degrees *puhleeese crisp autumn weather come soon* Saturday found us making our way up to Solvang to pick some apples. You may remember we went apple picking in the Santa Ynez Valley last year too. Though we loved visiting the miniature donkeys, goats, and chickens, we decided on a new U-Pick orchard this year, and ended up at the darling Apple Lane Farm.
After the girls filled their bags (and their bellies!) to the top with apples we had to stop down the road to visit the miniature horses at Quicksilver Ranch. This may be my favorite road in all the world. Within a couple of miles you can pick apples or pumpkins, grab a delicious picnic from El Rancho Market, visit a beautiful park, see itty bitty horses, and go wine tasting. What could be better than that?!With the surplus of apples after our adventure, using them in a healthy breakfast the next day was only natural.
Use a melon baller or spoon to scoop out the apple flesh. You will need the flesh from two of the apples for the oatmeal mixture. Making apple bowls does take a little more time, but my kids loved them so much that it was worth it. On busier days I recommend forgetting about apple bowls and dumping the oatmeal into a 9×13 inch baking dish – it’s just as delicious.
¼ cup pomegranate seeds (optional – they add a nice pop of color!)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium bowl, stir together oats, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In another medium bowl, whisk together milk, applesauce, maple syrup, vanilla, and coconut oil.
If using apples as bowls, cut top 1/2″ off each apple. Using a melon baller or spoon, carefully scoop out all the apple flesh and core, leaving 1/4″ rim. If baking oatmeal in a baking dish, lightly coat a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Add scoops of flesh from two of the apples to the bowl of wet ingredients, and discard or snack on the rest (or drizzle it with lemon juice and save for salads at lunchtime. Stir the oat mixture into the wet ingredients. Spoon into apple bowls right to the top, or transfer to baking dish. Sprinkle with pecans and turbinado sugar. If using apple bowls, place into a baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes. Garnish with pomegranate seeds if using.
This recipe will be featured with 8 other fall ideas from moms on DailyBuzz Moms on Thursday, September 27, 2012. Thanks DailyBuzz Moms!
Marina, this is beautiful, and really yummy! There's nothing better than a freshly picked apples, crisp and juicy. And a family time together is so precious… Lovely photos, I especially love the one with your little cute daughter jumping to reach the apple. And the little miss showing her apple is just so adorable! 🙂 Another day I was near an apple tree (unfortunately just one tree), and brought home about a dozen of apples, thinking of pie for the weekend. Well, guess what? It's all gone, we just ate it… No complains, though. Come see my polenta biscotti, please… 🙂
Oh goodness, the apple bowls are so cute! And the oatmeal sounds delicious! I love baked oatmeal but certainly don't make it often enough. This is going on my Fall to-make list!
It's so unfortunate that we cannot go apple picking here in Ontario this year. Farmers are telling us that no apple picking this year because we had such a mild winter and there was not enough frost (?) for the apples? An explanation I found quite strange since, I'm sure, apples in California don't need snow or frost. But then again, California's might be of different strains. Anyway, I'll be dreaming of fresh picked apples and baked oatmeal tonight 🙂
Marina you're killing me with the adorable ideas and the magazine perfect presentation. Your apple bowls are fantastic, and I'm not surprised that this will be featured on DailyBuzzMoms!
These look amazing! We would love to invite this apple recipe and other other of your favorite apple recipes in this week's Iron Chef Mom link up contest! The Iron Chef Mom Team 🙂
Love baked apples, oatmeal, pumpkins,little bitty horses, little bitty kids and Solvang! Will try this soon when the kids come home for Thanksgiving! Thanks!
Apple trees have to go through a stratification period (cold temps) to set fruit. In the spring it comes out of dormancy and blossoms for a new crop of apples.. So yes they need frost to complete it's cycle.
I'm so glad you're here! I'm a busy mama to two sweet girls and a bunch of funny animals. I'm passionate about sharing the beauty of real food through plant based recipes. I hope you find many easy, nourishing, delicious recipes your family will love.
Marina, this is beautiful, and really yummy! There's nothing better than a freshly picked apples, crisp and juicy. And a family time together is so precious… Lovely photos, I especially love the one with your little cute daughter jumping to reach the apple. And the little miss showing her apple is just so adorable! 🙂
Another day I was near an apple tree (unfortunately just one tree), and brought home about a dozen of apples, thinking of pie for the weekend. Well, guess what? It's all gone, we just ate it… No complains, though. Come see my polenta biscotti, please… 🙂
Oh goodness, the apple bowls are so cute! And the oatmeal sounds delicious! I love baked oatmeal but certainly don't make it often enough. This is going on my Fall to-make list!
What a fantastic idea for breakfast or brunch. I love the apples of Fall. Sounds like a lovely outing.
Marina, you are so talented! I adore the oatmeal in the apples! What a lovely day!
me encantan tanto la receta como las fotos!
http://lacocinadelarana.blogspot.com.es/
Besis
these look amazing! absolutely perfectly fall 🙂
Fun pictures of your weekend! I love the presentation of the oatmeal in the apples – perfection, as usual! 🙂
MMMM! Wonderful photos ♥
wow! I love the presentation- almost as much as i love the flavors you got going on in this oatmeal. lovely
It's so unfortunate that we cannot go apple picking here in Ontario this year. Farmers are telling us that no apple picking this year because we had such a mild winter and there was not enough frost (?) for the apples? An explanation I found quite strange since, I'm sure, apples in California don't need snow or frost. But then again, California's might be of different strains. Anyway, I'll be dreaming of fresh picked apples and baked oatmeal tonight 🙂
Marina,
What a fun fall breakfast…this is such a great idea. Thanks for this.
Karen
Oh no! Maybe you can just come visit us here for apple picking 🙂
That does seem a strange explanation! As you said, we certainly don't have any frost around here. Must be a different variety.
Wow my kids love apples and this so so perfect.
I love your photos and recipes .every.single.time. !
Your little girls are beautiful!
Marina you're killing me with the adorable ideas and the magazine perfect presentation. Your apple bowls are fantastic, and I'm not surprised that this will be featured on DailyBuzzMoms!
What a wonderful post. Visually spectacular! The apples look delicious.
LOVE the new blog look!!!!!!!
What a fun little trip to the orchard!
Aww I used to love going to pick apples around Solvang!
Also- I adore your new blog facelift. Did you do it? It's beautiful!!
Thank you! Yes, I suddenly got the urge to freshen up the blog!
I love the changes you made to your blog. Looks beautiful
Great story and pics, I bet these apples had the whole house smelling amazing!
Love the baked oatmeal in apples idea as much as the new design! Gorgeous!
Apple picking, a picnic and wine tasting sounds like the perfect day to me I have to make a trip out there one day!
as always, my dear, a stunning, beautiful post. thank you!
These look amazing! We would love to invite this apple recipe and other other of your favorite apple recipes in this week's Iron Chef Mom link up contest!
The Iron Chef Mom Team 🙂
http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com/iron-chef-mom-1-apples/
I love how that looks! The oatmeal in the apple is beautiful!
definitely on the to do list! i think i can't get applesauce here – can it be substituted somehow?
Love baked apples, oatmeal, pumpkins,little bitty horses, little bitty kids and Solvang! Will try this soon when the kids come home for Thanksgiving! Thanks!
Apple trees have to go through a stratification period (cold temps) to set fruit. In the spring it comes out of dormancy and blossoms for a new crop of apples.. So yes they need frost to complete it's cycle.
use the tops of the apples and the extra insides to make your own applesauce