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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UFL chapter.

Yes, you can eat cake for breakfast.  Although this baked-in-a-ramekin dish may resemble dessert, it’s actually made of blended oats. 

A bowl of oatmeal: a classic first meal of the day to some, a flavorless bowl of lumps to others. Do not let your perception of microwaved, pre-packaged oatmeal influence your willingness to try baked oats.

Like most food trends nowadays, baked oats found a home on TikTok’s For You Page as foodies and bored quarantine users alike found a dessert-like option to start their day. Accounts on TikTok and Instagram, like @tracesoats, dedicate their content to oat recipe creations. 

Although baked oats appear in cake form, they prove to be a healthy option. Oats are high in fiber, zinc and phosphorous, and as the Quaker man claims on oatmeal containers everywhere, good for heart health. Oftentimes, the addition of protein powder introduces a vanilla or chocolate flavor along with several grams of protein. Baked oats fuel your body with substantial sources of macronutrients: carbs, fats and protein.  

Known for their impeccable presentation, toppings play a vital role in the baked oat experience. Fruit, Greek yogurt, nut butter or dark chocolate are typical toppings placed upon the puffed dome and plastered across Instagram explore pages. These toppings aid in a complete presentation but also provide micro and macronutrients that are beneficial to any diet. 

As seen in normal cakes, flavor combinations are endless, and the chef can whip up whatever they desire. 

Baked oat recipes on TikTok range from birthday cake to cookies and cream to carrot cake to apple pie. Search #bakedoats on Instagram or TikTok and mouthwatering ensues. 

This single-serving cake for breakfast is also simple to make. The recipe includes oats, baking powder and milk of choice, combined with any flavorings, like vanilla extract or cinnamon, or add-ins like nut butter or maple syrup. In several recipes, a banana is blended in with the oats or mashed up to help with binding. 

If the end goal is a cake-like texture, blending the oats into flour and then combining the other ingredients or blending all of the ingredients into a smooth batter is key and is what makes baked oats different than an oat bake. 

If you are planning your next grocery shop to make baked oats but are unsure where to start or can’t decide what flavor profile you should try, venture over to #oattok or search #bakedoats on any social media platform and gooey melts, step-by-step instructions and a warm bowl of aesthetic oats awaits you. 

Here is a personal recipe that I use for my not-as-aesthetic baked oats:

Cinnamon Apple Baked Oats

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup old fashioned or quick-cooking oats

  • ½ cup milk of choice 

  • ÂĽ teaspoon baking powder

  • ½ banana 

  • 1 tsp sugar-free maple syrup (use any type of sweetener here i.e. sugar, date syrup, stevia)

  • Pinch of cinnamon 

  • 1 apple, sliced

Directions:

  • Preheat the oven to 400°

  • Combine all ingredients in a blender

  • Blend until smooth

  • Pour the mixture into a greased ramekin

  • Add in the apple slices and sprinkle with extra cinnamon

  • Place ramekin in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes

  • Enjoy!

If you’re looking for something a little fancier, one of my favorite recipes that I have tried is @tracesoats Half Baked Ben & Jerry’s inspired oats. Adding cocoa powder to the mixture creates a rich chocolate batter and when combined with the vanilla batter the end result appears as a perfect swirl cake. Another top contender is Oreo baked oats. 

Breakfast lovers and those with a sweet tooth unite in the realm of baked oats – a food trend that satisfies both the eyes and the stomach. 

 

Emma is a third-year journalism student at the University of Florida, minoring in Spanish. She has a passion for storytelling and data journalism. In her free time, Emma is at the gym bodybuilding.
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