A Healthy Replacement for Brownies? Cherry Chocolate Baked Oatmeal

I swear, when I first tried baked oatmeal, I never meant to be so smitten and stuck on it. But here I am, months later, still insanely enthralled! It's such a versatile recipe that I can play with it and turn it into a myriad of different flavors.

Unlike my earlier breakfast version, this version is for dessert. And my husband agrees with me: this cherry chocolate baked oatmeal is as good as a brownie, chocolate rice pudding, or chocolate cake. It's that good!

Sweet-n-Healthy Cherry Chocolate Baked Oatmeal
I posted an early version of this recipe. This version is for a smaller batch (I did not have enough oats in my cupboard for a full batch).


4 c. organic steel cut oats
1 c. organic bran flakes
1 T. yogurt
3 organic, free-range eggs
1/2 c. organic soy milk
1/2 c. organic milk
1/4 c. fair trade cocoa powder
3 T. organic maple syrup
3 T. organic agave nector
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 c. organic dried cherries, finely chopped (Michigan cherries!)
1/4 c. chocolate chips (not Nestle brand)

1) Put the oats, bran flakes, and yogurt in a large container or bowl. Completely cover with water and mix to combine the yogurt throughout. Cover the container with its top, a clean dishcloth, or plastic wrap. Let sit overnight.
2) Strain in a colander. Lightly with the back of a large spoon to be sure most of the excess water drains.
3) Beat the eggs and milk together. Stir the eggs and milk into the drained oats and bran flakes, along with the cinnamon, vanilla extract, maple syrup, agave, and cocoa powder. Then, stir in the dried cherries and chocolate chips.
4) Grease an 8 x 11 glass baking dish with coconut oil or vegetable oil. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
5) Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 35 minutes, at which point the baked oatmeal should be solid yet moist.
6) Allow to cool for a few minutes. Then, slice into about 20-24 squares and serve immediately. They're delicious for more than a week.

Meaner, Greener, Leaner!
* I mention the value of organic oats and soaking oats in my initial baked oatmeal post.
* Let's compare this to brownies. The traditional brownie recipe contains 2 sticks of butter, 4-6 eggs, 1-2 cups of white sugar, baker's chocolate, and a half cup of processed flour. This is to make a batch of brownies in only an 8 x 8 inch baking dish (approximately 16 servings). This cherry chocolate baked oatmeal recipe, by contrast, contains healthy oats, no butter (i.e. prime source of LDL/bad cholesterol), and half as many eggs. In addition, this recipe gets its sugar from pretty terrific sources and still only contains about half the sugar (this is when I calculate by including the full quantities of dried cherries and chocolate chips as if they are just sugar). And this recipe makes a lot more servings.
* Seriously, you gotta' try it!

Here are more pictures from the process.

I love the reflection off the mixing bowl. Double trouble. The mirage of sweetness and the real thing.