NomEatNom - Cinnamon Bun Baked Oatmeal

Even a health nut like me as to admit to being tempted by the smell of cinnamon buns. Seriously, who doesn’t get a little faint from the wafting aroma of a nearby Cinnabon?!

That being said, I know that while those sticky buns may smell (and even taste!) absolutely amazing…the high fructose corn syrup, yellow #5, margarine, artificial flavors, et. al….yeah, they don’t exactly sound quite so appetizing.

So, on this lazy Sunday morning, I decided to experiment with creating something with the delicious taste and smell of cinnamon, but the goodness of oatmeal. And, naturally, after the gooey syrup I made last week, I knew coconut butter would make for a perfect icing! Nom, nom, nom!!!

Cinnamon Bun Baked Oatmeal

By tonya@nomeatnom.com, April 15, 2012

Ingredients:

Oats (rolled) - 1/2 cup
Cinnamon (ground) - 1/2 tsp.
Salt (pure) - Pinch
Vanilla extract (pure) - 1/2 tsp.
Applesauce (unsweetened) - 1/4 cup
Eggs - 1, whisked
Coconut butter - 1 to 2 T

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Mix the oats, cinnamon, and sea salt together in a medium bowl. Add the extract, applesauce, and whisked egg and stir together until evenly combined.

Transfer the oatmeal mixture to a small loaf pan or ramekin. (I wish I had a set of small ramekins, as baking in a round shape would make it feel even more like a cinnamon bun. For now, I made do with a mini-loaf pan.) If you plan on removing the oatmeal from the pan before serving, be sure to oil it first (I used coconut oil) to avoid sticking.

Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes. Then, broil under high heat for 2 to 3 minutes to form a nice crust.

If desired, transfer the oatmeal from the baking dish to a serving plate.

Spread the baked oatmeal with coconut butter. (You can even make your own!) Watch it melt into its nommy glaze. Sprinkle with a bit of extra cinnamon, if desired.

Savour.

Additional options for fellow experimental chefs:

Replace the applesauce with mashed pumpkin and the cinnamon with pumpkin pie spice.
Replace the egg with 1/4 cup milk, cream, or yogurt.
Have an extra sweet tooth? Add a spoonful of pure maple syrup or raw honey.
Add in walnuts, raisins, pecans...or anything else you envision!