chocolate chip baked oatmeal

First things first – it’s Monday.

I don’t know about you, but I need chocolate on Monday. It’s no longer the weekend, I had to set my alarm earlier, I didn’t get to sit and linger over coffee or tea, or watch a few episodes of I Love Lucy before switching to the news.

Mondays….just aren’t the weekend anymore. And that’s just a little bit painful.

So, chocolate is always a good idea on Monday! Especially when it’s thrown into this double-duty baked oatmeal.

I love having dishes that can serve as a breakfast or snack. It makes planning for the week easier, and having something like this in the fridge makes busy mornings a little less hectic and also gives you an easy (and pretty healthy) snack or dessert for after dinner.

The only bad thing about making things that can be breakfast, snack, or dessert? They seem to disappear way faster than anything else.

I was on a kick with this baked oatmeal a few months ago, and was honestly making at least one batch a week, sometimes more. We would heat up pieces to have with fruit in the morning, or I would pack a piece as an afternoon snack to get me through the 3 o’clock slump.

We’ve done baked oatmeal with nuts, extracts, dried fruit – you name it, we’ve probably had it.

But – like with everything else – chocolate is my favorite.

Just like your morning bowl of oatmeal, this can handle any flavor or mix-in you want. If you like dried cherries and almonds, go for it. Want some walnuts and apples? I might try that one, too. Toss in your favorite nuts or fruit or chocolate and any spices you like. But I’d definitely suggest starting with a simple chocolate chip version. It might just become your favorite, too.

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Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal

Yield: 6-8 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 35-40 minutes

Total Time: 40-45 minutes

Are you looking for a few extra minutes in the morning? You're not alone. Making a batch of this baked oatmeal on Sunday afternoon makes my weekday mornings much less rushed. And, besides the chocolate chips, there is no added sugar! Just oats, eggs, some milk, spices, and baking powder for a little lightness.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk (can use dairy, soy, or almond)
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray or butter an 8x8 baking dish.
3. In a large bowl (or right in the baking dish), stir the milk together with the cinnamon, salt, vanilla, and applesauce. Add in the baking powder, beaten eggs, the oats, and the chocolate chips. Stir until all the oats and chocolate chips are incorporated into the milk mixture.
4. Pour into the baking dish smooth into an even layer.
5. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the center is set and the top is golden.