If your mornings often begin with a skipped breakfast followed by regrettable lunchtime choices, a simple culinary revelation might be the solution. A delicious baked oats recipe, inspired by the flavours of an almond croissant, promises to be both filling and ready in just 20 minutes.
From Breakfast Skipper to Morning Enthusiast
Deputy Editor Millie Bull confesses she was once a habitual breakfast-skipper, only indulging on weekends. This pattern, however, led to intense midday hunger and poor food decisions. Determined to change, she sought out easy, healthy, and tasty breakfast recipes that could sustain her until lunch. The recipe that consistently appeared in her search was for almond croissant baked oats.
While traditional almond croissants are laden with sugar and saturated fat, this version harnesses the nutritional power of its core ingredients. Almonds are a nutrient-dense food, rich in healthy fats, protein, antioxidants, vitamin E, and minerals like magnesium. Oats, the other star component, are celebrated for their ability to lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar, and promote a feeling of fullness.
Experimenting with a Versatile Recipe
The foundational recipe Millie tried, from The Happy Pear, includes straightforward ingredients: oats, ground almonds, almond extract, almond milk, maple syrup, baking powder, and plant-based yoghurt. However, the beauty of this dish lies in its adaptability.
Millie has successfully experimented with several substitutions, proving it's a forgiving recipe. She has swapped plant-based yoghurt for Greek yoghurt or cottage cheese, replaced almond milk with coconut or cow's milk, and even exchanged the baking powder and yoghurt for a single egg, which created a more cake-like texture. The result remains consistently scrumptious, capturing the essence of an almond croissant filling while providing hours of satiety.
How to Make Your Own Almond Croissant Baked Oats
This recipe serves two and can be prepared ahead of time for ultimate morning convenience.
Ingredients:
- 60g oats
- 40g ground almonds (almond flour)
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 120ml almond milk (or other milk of choice)
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1.5 tsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp plant-based yoghurt (or substitute as above)
- Pinch of salt
- For the topping: 2 tbsp flaked almonds, 1 tsp icing sugar (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 180°C and lightly grease two ramekins or a medium baking dish.
- In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients: oats, ground almonds, and baking powder.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: almond milk, maple syrup, almond extract, and yoghurt.
- Combine the wet and dry mixtures, stirring until well incorporated.
- Pour the batter into the prepared dishes. Top with flaked almonds and a sprinkle of icing sugar (granulated sugar works as an alternative).
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown and set.
The baked oats can be enjoyed warm or cold, perhaps with an extra drizzle of maple syrup or a dollop of yoghurt. For a seamless morning, prepare the mixture the night before, refrigerate it, and simply bake it fresh when you wake up.
