Baked Oatmeal

We make this the night before and then bake it in the morning. This is the dish I brought to Christmas brunch. Enjoy! *Original recipe by Heidi Swanson*

2 c. rolled (not instant) oats
1/2 c. walnuts, chopped
1/3 cup sugar or maple syrup (plus more for serving)
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1 1/2 tsp. Ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp fine-grain sea salt
2 c. milk (room temperature works best)
1 large egg (we usually use 2)
1 1/2 Tbs butter melted, plus some to grease the pan
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 ripe bananas, sliced
1 1/2 c. fresh or frozen blueberries
(*We have also added copped apples to this as well as raisins*)

1. Preheat oven to 375F with rack in top third of oven. Butter 8x8 in pan.

2. In a bowl, mix together oats, walnuts, sugar (NOT maple syrup if using), baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In another bowl, whisk maple syrup (if using), milk, egg, butter and vanilla.

3. Arrange bananas in a single layer in the bottom of prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 2/3 of berries over top. Cover fruit with oat mixture. Slowly drizzle milk mixture over oats. Gently give baking dish a few thwacks on the countertop to make sure the milk moves through oats. Scatter remaining berries on top.

Bake 35- 45 min, until golden brown and oats have set. (Ours always takes at least 45 min. - 60 min.) Serve with extra syrup.