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Are you craving a delicious, warming, yet healthy breakfast? Start your day with this baked oatmeal with apples and cranberries! 🍎🍏 Apple-pie inspired and simply mouthwatering, this apple and oats bake is the perfect treat that can lift you up during these first wintery days ❄
Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and proteins, this baked oatmeal with apples and cranberries is super easy and quick to make. It takes less than 10 minutes to prep all the ingredients (the most time-consuming step is to peel and cut the apples).
Last but not least, all the ingredients in this apple cranberry baked oatmeal are wholesome and packed with energizing nutrients that will help support a healthier gut and a stronger immune system. Let’s have a more in-depth look at some of them.
Baked Oatmeal with Apples and Cranberries: an energizing and antioxidant breakfast
These baked oats with apples and cranberries can help you feel more energized and strengthen your immune system during these first cold days. But what are the magic ingredients in it?
- Apples: boost your immune system and improve your gut health.
Apples are rich in vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid. This is a powerful natural antioxidant, essential in preventing the formation of free radicals. In addition, the Vitamin C contained in apples is necessary for boosting immune function, which can help defend the body from external infections and viruses. In addition, apples contain pectin, a special type of fiber that acts as a probiotic. Probiotics feed intestinal microflora, the good bacteria in our intestines. In turn, a healthy intestinal microflora plays an essential role in promoting better physical and mental health conditions. If you want to know more about the amazing health properties of apples, please consider reading this article. - Cranberries: a powerhouse of antioxidants.
Cranberries contain high amounts of antioxidants, especially anthocyanins and flavanols. In turn, antioxidants have proven effective in reducing the risk of certain chronic diseases. This is because they can help lower inflammation in our bodies. Moreover, cranberries can help prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs). The merit here goes to the proanthocyanidins contained in them. These compounds regulate the binding of E.coli in the bladder, which is normally the first step of getting a UTI. - Oats: lower cholesterol levels and promote regular bowel movements.
Oats are rich in soluble fiber (mainly in the form of beta-glucans), which helps prevent cholesterol from being absorbed into the body, as well as decreasing LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels. In addition, soluble fiber is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and lower blood pressure. Last but not least, fiber is also great to promote regular bowel movements and avoid constipation. This while it assists in weight loss and management, as it helps feel fuller and more satiated for longer. Learn more about the health benefits of incorporating oats into your diet here. - Cinnamon: a powerful anti-inflammatory.
Among the main health properties of cinnamon are its remarkable anti-inflammatory properties. In particular, cinnamon is rich in flavonoid compounds, such as hesperidin, gossypin, hibifolin, hypolaetin, gnaphalin, and quercetin. All of them have been shown to have positive effects on reducing general inflammation in the body. Moreover, the compound cinnamaldehyde has been reported to inhibit nitric oxide production. This is responsible for causing and heightening inflammatory states. In addition, cinnamon has some powerful effects on promoting good digestive functions. In particular, similarly to apples, it contains prebiotics. These can help promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut, whilst preventing the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in the digestive tract. To further explore this topic, here is an article for you!
If you like this recipe, I am sure you will love also these Healthy Strawberry Rhubarb Baked Oats, Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cookies, Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal, and Raisin Date Oatmeal. And if you want to support me, please share my recipes and tag me on your socials. 💗.
Baked Oats with Apples and Cranberries
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups Rolled Oats
- 1 ½ cups Water
- ½ cup Coconut Oil melted
- 4 tbsp Ground flaxseed with 3/4 cup water, or 4 eggs
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- ½ tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- ½ cup Dried Cranberries
- 1-2 cups Apples or pears, or any desired fruits -chopped
- Maple Syrup for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- Combine the ground flax and water in a small bowl. Set aside. This will make your flax "eggs". Alternatively, you may use four eggs.
- Stir the oats and water together in a medium bowl to moisten.
- In a large bowl, beat the flax "eggs" (or eggs) with the coconut oil.
- Add the baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla, and mix well.
- Add the soaked oats to the large bowl with the egg mixture, and combine well.
- Add the dried cranberries and chopped apples, and stir to combine.
- Pour the mixture into a 9×13 baking dish and bake for 40 minutes.
- Serve the baked oats with a drizzle of maple syrup.