Baked Oatmeal

Ingredients

• 2 cups/7 oz/200 g rolled oats
• 1/2 cup/2 oz/60 g walnut pieces, toasted and chopped
• 1/3 cup/2 oz/60 g natural cane sugar or maple syrup, plus more for serving
• 1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• Scant 1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
• 2 cups/475 ml milk
• 1 large egg
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 ripe bananas, cut into 1/2-inch/1 cm pieces
• 1 1/2 cups/6.5 oz/185 g huckleberries, blueberries, or mixed berries

Steps

1. Preheat to 375°F/190°C, positioning a rack in the oven's top third. Butter the inside of an 8-inch/20cm square baking dish generously.
2. In a bowl, combine oats, half the walnuts, sugar if using, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk maple syrup if using with milk, egg, half the butter and vanilla.
4. Lay the bananas in a single layer on the base of the prepared dish and scatter two-thirds of the berries over them. Cover with the oat mixture, then slowly drizzle the milk mixture over the oats. Gently thwack the dish on the counter a couple of times to help the milk move through the oats. Top with the remaining berries and walnuts.
5. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until nicely golden on top and the oat mixture is set. Take out and cool for a few minutes, then drizzle the remaining melted butter over the top and serve. Sprinkle on a little more sugar or drizzle with maple syrup if you want it sweeter.