After the sheer overindulgence of the Christmas period it is good to get back to “regular” food when you can.
Your standard breakfast, however, may feel a bit boring following all the festive treats.
But luckily there are plenty of ways to keep the first meal of the day tasty, interesting and even healthy!
In recent years baked oats have become a popular breakfast option for many.
And now Instagram baker @cakeontherun, who previously shared her recipe for banana bread baked oats, has inspired her followers with yet another fantastic creation – lemon and blueberry baked oats.
By using a drop of lemon extract, you could believe you are biting into a comforting slice of lemon drizzle cake – but without all the calories.
Even better is the fact the recipe can easily be adapted for vegans and those following a gluten-free diet.
The recipe for one serving is as follows.
Ingredients
- 50g (half a cup) oats
- 2 tbsp low-fat plain or vanilla yoghurt
- Handful blueberries, fresh or frozen
- Splash lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp sweetener/ sugar or maple syrup
- 1 tsp lemon essence/extract
- 4 tbsp boiling water.
Method
Pre-heat the oven to 200C, or gas mark 6. Put boiling water and oats in a bowl and stir with a spoon to thicken slightly.
Leave for a couple of minutes.
Then add all of the other ingredients into the bowl and stir with a spoon.
Pour the mixture into a small, shallow oven-proof dish lined with baking paper/ parchment.
Bake in the oven for around 30 minutes or until cooked in the middle.
Serve on its own or with additional yoghurt. It can be eaten straight away or the following day cold or warmed up.
Storage
If you plan to eat the oats the next day all you need to do is, wrap it up in cling film, foil or store in an airtight container.
But for eating any later, cover and store in the fridge.
It can also be frozen if wrapped up. Just leave to defrost on the kitchen side or microwave until hot.
This recipe is also ideal for batch cooking, meaning you have plenty of quick breakfasts at hand.
For a three-day portion multiply the measurements by three.
You will need a large shallow dish that you will bake in the oven for 50 minutes.
