Baked Oatmeal With Berries and Almonds

My own version of this (that predates the current millennium) is 1 cup milk (skim); 1 egg; 1/2 c oatmeal, 1/2 tsp vanilla, and rarely 1 tsp sugar, which gives you a much more custardy version and NOT at all granola-bar like. To that basic formula I add a very thinly sliced apple, or peach; and top it w/ a small (1/2 tsp) of cinnamon sugar.

I love this recipe and have made it regularly over the last eight months since my twins were born because it's so easy! It is such a crowd-pleaser that it is my go-to breakfast recipe for guests. I make a few modifications to simplify.

1. Use two bags of frozen berries--a lot! Throw them in cast iron and let defrost in oven while it preheats. Skip the butter.
2. Mix everything else together and pour over. I add cinnamon, flaked coconut, nutritional yeast.
3. Use lots of heavy cream on top!

You might not want to mix everything: baking powder will lose its "fizz" and you'll get a denser texture. I like the oats better soaked overnight anyway, so I've been leaving oats+milk+vanilla+spices in the fridge and nuts+bp+salt+sugar on the counter. In the morning, I melt butter as the oven warms (grease the pan, then pour the rest into the oats), combine wet+dry+eggs, and pour it over fruit. Easy enough that I can do it pre-caffeine, before the oven reaches temp.