I’m a multi-tasking addict. It’s sad to say that I can’t perform many tasks without doing other things at the same time. For instance, when I was making this recipe yesterday, I was also cooking 2 other recipes, shooting photography, and doing computer work at the same time. That’s just how I function most days. I blame the technology age for my lack of attention span and why I have no less than 20 tabs open on my computer at all times. There is no hope for me!
I guess it comes as no surprise that I like my food to multi-task too. Breakfasts that can be dressed up for dessert or whipped out of the fridge for a healthy afternoon snack really impress me. You know what else I love? Desserts that are wholesome enough for breakfast. A 3-in-1 recipe. Am I really asking for too much here? I don’t think so.
After a few days away from my kitchen, it felt so good to have my appetite for baking (and eating!) back. I’m happy to say that this recipe today fits all 3 goals for breakfast, snacking, and dessert. Hey, if you want to eat it for dinner too, I’d say we’re kindred spirits.
Now, a little note about baked apples.
Do you struggle as much as I do with the decision of which type of apple to bake? It gets me every time. In my mind, there’s nothing worse than a mushy baked apple. I had a rather traumatic apple baking experience a couple years ago and it just about turned me off baked apples for life. Thankfully, I gave it another shot, this time using Honeycrisp apples. They held up so well in the oven, they were still firm after 40 minutes of baking. Soft on the outside and firm in the middle – that’s my perfect baked apple. If you prefer the baked apples soft all the way through with that “melt in your mouth” quality, just bake until you can easily slide a fork through the middle. Your call. The baking time will vary greatly depending on the variety of apple as well as the size. My apples were huge – just under 400 grams for the pair.
I mixed up a lovely cinnamon date pecan oatmeal and then stuffed it into the middle of two apples. All of the leftover oatmeal gets scooped into the dish and it’s baked for around 40 minutes or so (it probably could’ve used another 5 mins since the apples were so large). It’s so incredibly simple – and the outcome was even better than I hoped! I could see this dish making a lovely holiday breakfast.
Featuring all new, protein-packed salads, hearty toppers, flavour boosters, and dressings you'll want to drink, my new cookbook will transform the way you think about salads. Oh, and be sure to flip to the back for a surprise dessert chapter!
Baked Apples Stuffed With Cinnamon Date Pecan Oatmeal
Yield
2-4 servings
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Recipe inspired by Yummy Mummy Kitchen.
Ingredients
- 2 large firm baking apples (I used Honeycrisp), cored
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
- 4 Medjool dates (or raisins), pitted and chopped
- 1 tbsp chia seeds (or try ground flax)
- 1/4 cup pecans (or walnuts), chopped
- 1.5 cups almond milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1.5 tbsp pure maple syrup, plus more for garnish
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Wash and core apples. You want to make the hole about an inch in diameter, so there is enough room for stuffing. Place cored apples in a lightly oiled rimmed baking dish (I used a 4 cup dish).
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the rest of the ingredients.
- Fill apples with the oatmeal mixture (pack it down slightly) and then spoon the leftover oatmeal + all liquid into the dish, surrounding the apples.
- Bake, uncovered, for approximately 35-50 minutes (this time will vary depending on your apples, so keep an eye on it). To test for doneness, pierce apple with a knife. If it slides through fairly easy it’s done. The almond milk should also be absorbed and the oatmeal fairly firm. Serve with drizzle of pure maple syrup, apple butter or pumpkin butter, whipped coconut cream, non-dairy ice cream, or yogurt.
Enjoy it hot or cold, for breakfast, snacking, or dessert a la mode! [I’m a poet and I know it.]
It’s also Sketchie approved. The hot oven made me flustered on a warm fall day and I had to rip off my sweater, providing him a cozy cat bed. :)
Note his cat tunnel in the background. The best 10 bucks we ever spent.
By the way, please remind me to purchase an apple corer! I am the worst at coring apples with a paring knife. It’s a miracle I have all 10 fingers intact today.
I’m curious – what are your favourite baking apples? Have you tried certain varieties with great results? Or others with poor results?
So simple and so pretty!
Sometimes, the simplest recipes are the best!
I am the same way with baked apples – I need that crunch. The mush is too much like baby food. Love this idea of baking it with oatmeal! I’d top that with a big scoop of PB and call it breakfast!
Good call with the peanut butter…I didn’t think of that, but now I will have to try it on my leftovers. :)
Ooh, sounds good! I actually just did a post on baked apples (here http://www.willcookforfriends.com/2012/09/baked-apples-la-mode-easy-as-pie-easier.html ) but totally missed the opportunity to turn them into such a meal multi-tasker. Mine were just… dessert. Ha!
I also like to use Honeycrisp, or Fuji (whatever looks better in the store – Gala, if not those two) for baking. However, if I’m doing a pie I like to buy a few different varieties (some red, some green) and mix them for a less one-tone flavor.
Will have to try stuffing my apples with oatmeal, next time – I would be eating them for breakfast, dessert, and midnight snacks! :)
I am so making these! Oh yes I am! You had me at Honeycrisp which is my favorite baking apple followed closely by granny smith for my baking benders.
These sound amazing! I love the bottom part for the reminder about getting an apple corer, that was the question I was going to ask you. Where do you get one? LOL :)
Sometimes grocery stores have them in their utensil section (if they have one that is). Or try kitchen good stores. :)
My room mate just came back from the orchard with a ton of apples and we were looking for a healthier alternative to apple pie and apple crisp- this looks perfect. And totally counts as breakfast!
Can’t wait to try this–only problem is that I can’t eat oats, as they don’t agree with me! But it looks SO good that I’m going to give it a shot with quinoa flakes instead. Or should I use a whole grain like millet instead? Thoughts?
Hmm, I’m not too sure. I haven’t baked with quinoa flakes before. Do they bake similar to oats? Im sure it would be fine, but you wouldnt have the texture that the oats provide. As for millet, it would be an experiment I guess! Let me know how it goes.
I love baked apples but I’m lazy. So here’s my short version: cut up apples into small chunks, put into a large ziploc bag with cinnamon & 1/2 TBS. stevia in the raw, shake really well, & then eat. I know, not quite the same as baked apples, but it works when I want that apple-cinnamon-y dessert & don’t have the time or don’t want to put forth the effort!
(your cat is beautiful.)
I used to make a similar dessert back in the day. It’s been AGES since I made it. I just diced the apple, and mix with cinnamon and sugar in a bowl.
Perfect for fall! Looks like a great multi-tasking recipe. I’ll be trying it out this weekend.
I have a question unrelated to this post: I’m trying to find your Breakfast Taco recipe to print out for a friend. I can’t find it in Recipage, or in your Breakfast Recipes. It’s crumbled tofu with nutritional yeast and seasonings sautéed in a pan. This is one of my favorite recipes. It sure is a crowd pleaser–everyone I have served it to has loved it. Can you point me in the right direction?
Is this the one you are looking for? http://ohsheglows.com/2012/02/23/high-protein-vegan-breakfast-burrito/ Enjoy!
No! I’ve made that one as well, but I’m looking for the one that uses taco shells. I’ll look through your old posts.
hmm I’m not sure I know which recipe you mean. I’ll try to do some digging too!
Hi Angela,
Well this is certainly embarrassing. Please accept my apologies. I went through my “Oh She Glows” binder, which is 90% from your website with a few others mixed in. I found the one I mentioned and discovered it is from the Whole Foods website. Sorry for bothering you about it. If you want to check out the recipe it’s called Tofu Breakfast Tacos, it’s really pretty amazing in that the tofu really looks and tastes like scrambled eggs.
Loving your site, recipes, and insight,
Michele
No worries at all! I will have to check out that recipe…sounds amazing. Take care!
I would love to make this as an apple crisp. Any ideas on how I could do this? Sounds amazing.
Good idea :) Well, if you chopped up the apples and mixed it with the oatmeal you’d have baked apple oatmeal, which would also be lovely. But if you wanted more of a crisp here’s what I would probably try: omit almond milk and add in more maple syrup and/or non-dairy butter or coconut oil. Chop up the apples and mix with a touch of sugar, cinnamon, and cornstarch. Spoon chopped apples into dish and then sprinkle new topping over it & then proceed with baking. I’m sure you could make it work!
Oh I am a multi-tasker also, I only have 7 tabs open now haha! It just feels like more is getting done that way. I really enjoy your blog and get great recipes from it all the time. I also really like your cat I have been wanting a Bengal for a long time! My husband says we can get one soon!
I’m like you on the apples being baked….so not sure if I will try this recipe or not, but it looks yummy!!
Oh boy, does those apples look tasty! I literally feel like making them this moment – maybe also because I am starving! :) Anyways I HAVE to make them ASAP!
heh yes you do! Let me know how it goes.
Hehe — Sketchie is so cute!!!!! <3
Yum! These look delicious, Angela!
I love baked apples! And these look so delicious – I find that I like the more tart apples better. A softer variety doesn’t hold up under the heat! I actually have one of those funky crank-turned apple corer/peeler things in my pantry and I never use it!
Oh my goodness Angela these look amazing! I’ve never, ever baked apples because I just LOVE the cold, crispy side of those guys! But this recipe looks might simple (beside the fact that I, like you, are without an apple corer…so I will be going at them with a steak knife) so I think I’m going to give it a try!
Thanks again for sharing this sweet fella! Glad you’re feeling healthier :)
I’m terrible at coring apples, too, but I find that apple corers aren’t that much of a help to me, as I think they don’t get all the seeds. :(
Ah that’s a bummer. I don’t think I have ever owned one before, but I assumed they worked! I wonder if anyone has a good brand to suggest? :)
These look absolutely delicious!
This looks so good! I’m in desperate need of some breakfast inspiration :)
When it comes to baking with apples, I think anything goes – as long as you mix them up. Whenever I made a crisp, I love doing 2-3 different varieties.
I agree about mixing the apples up with crisps and pies…I did that last week with a crisp and it turned out so flavourful!
YES! YUM! NOW! PLEASE! I love this kind of Fall Treat. I have a similiar recipe but I love your twist on it Ang!
One thing is certain, no matter how you make it, Vanilla Bean ICE CREAM (or a non-dairy pick) FOR SURE!