Cranberry Baked Oatmeal

This could almost be called a breakfast cookie and that would be like getting away with having sweets for breakfast. When else can you have cookies for breakfast besides CoOOkie Crisp?(do they even make that anymore?)

Anyway, this baked oatmeal is hearty, sweet, soft and chewy on the inside, and a little crispy on top! The dried cranberries are like sweet little gems that give the dish a little sass.

In order to make this, you'll need about 50 minutes total (including prep).

Ingredients are pretty simple and explain why this is ALMOST a cookie:

Dry ingredients:
3 cups of oatmeal
1 cup brown sugar (could likely be reduced)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cardamom (I love cardamom! I could sit and smell a jar of it all day)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt

Wet ingredients:
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Other ingredients:
1/2 cup dried cranberries
*any dried fruits would work well in this, I also think walnuts or almonds would be a great addition

STEP 1: Preheat to 350.

STEP 2: Measure dry ingredients and mix well. Try to avoid big lumps of brown sugar if you can.


Step 3: Measure wet ingredients in a different bowl. Stir with a whisk until well blended.

Step 4: Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and briefly mix. Gently stir in cranberries. If you are like Royall, you could start singing "oh my lifeee, changin everyday, in every POSSIBLE way"...

Step 5: Pour into greased 9 by 13 pan and spread so the mixture is even.


Step 6: Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. SMELLS AWESOME! Like a big oatmeal cookie.

Step 7: Remove from oven when oatmeal has browned on top.


Step 8: EAT! I think this would be best warm, but I suppose you could eat it cold. It easily serves 8+ people. This would be great to make on Sunday night to have throughout the rest of the work week for breakfast. Although I didn't try it, I bet it would be great in a bowl with cold milk poured on top.