Cherry Vanilla Baked Oatmeal with Chia and Hemp

Here's a simple task for a Sunday evening. Make a batch of these delicious Cherry Vanilla Baked Oatmeal Cups and have your breakfasts prepared for the week ahead. Serve with fresh fruit and a scoop of yogurt for a totally satisfying morning meal.

Make-ahead breakfasts make our mornings so easy. We like to linger over coffee before eating and then have a nutritious breakfast before heading out to the gym or whatever we have planned for the day.

Having these baked oatmeal cups in the fridge or freezer guarantees we won't leave the house without some wholesome fuel in our bellies.

Why should you make Baked Oatmeal Cups?

• Baked oatmeal muffins are great for portion control.
• They're so convenient for a grab-and-go breakfast.
• It's easy to adapt a basic recipe with different flavours and add-ins, as I've done today.
• Best of all, they're as comforting as a bowl of oatmeal without having to stand and stir a pot on the stove.

Frozen cherries make life easier!

I'm always reworking my basic recipes to include new flavours based on what is in season, or what I find motivating while grocery shopping.

And this week, that was frozen cherries.

I know I'm late to the party, but I've just discovered frozen cherries. Life-changing!

I always pick and freeze my own local fruit and berries. Every summer, we pick raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and peaches and freeze them for the winter.

We've done the same with local cherries in the past, but pitting them is so time-consuming. Frozen organic cherries sold in bags are already pitted!

They're so easy to add to dessert recipes like this Light Cherry Coconut Yogurt Fool and this Creamy Lemon Cherry Ricotta Parfait. And now, I know they'll be finding their way into my recipes for muffins, quick breads, and even salads. You'll find more ideas in this post 8 Fabulous Recipes for Fresh or Frozen Cherries.

Recipe adaptations - Make it your own!

• If you love that cherry-cardamom flavour combo as much as I do, add ½ teaspoon of ground cardamom, as the recipe states. If not, stick with a teaspoon of cinnamon.
• Add 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract. It may seem like a lot, but cherries and vanilla bring out the best in each other.
• Cherries and almonds also complement one another. You could substitute ½ teaspoon pure almond extract for the vanilla extract.
• I made these using Monkfruit with erythritol zero-calorie sweetener, as Denis is following a sugar-free diet, but you can substitute coconut sugar or any granulated sugar.
• Keep this recipe dairy-free by substituting coconut yogurt for milk kefir or Greek yogurt.
• Be sure to use gluten-free rolled oats if you are avoiding gluten in your diet.
• You can also bake this recipe in an 8-inch square pan. Double the baking time.

How to Serve Cherry Vanilla Baked Oatmeal Cups

I like to reheat one of these baked oatmeal cups in the microwave, then have it with a dollop of yogurt and a few cherries and blueberries. Denis likes them cold.

If they're not sweet enough for you, add a drizzle of maple syrup or honey. Or warm one up, break it apart and pour a little milk and maple syrup on top.

How to Store Baked Oatmeal

If you make this recipe as muffins, remove the paper liners and cool completely on a wire rack. If you have baked this recipe in an 8-inch square pan, cool, then cut it into squares.

Line an airtight container with a piece of paper towel, seal the container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. The paper towel will absorb the inevitable moisture that seeps out and threatens to make your muffins soggy.

Make your mornings stress-free with an easy make-ahead breakfast recipe!

For more recipe ideas for using rolled oats, see 30 Healthy Oatmeal Recipes.