Baked Oatmeal

I came across this recipe on the Weight Watchers web forum many years ago and have modified it a little. E.g., it called for 1/2 cup Splenda but it's plenty sweet with all the bananas and who needs chemicals? This one uses more oats and less milk, so it isn't soggy, and more spices. I usually add walnuts and blueberries which weren't in the original recipe.

Despite its homely name I love it. It's easy to make, full of healthy ingredients, light, moist, chewy, flavorful, and especially nice to make in winter when you want to heat up your kitchen with the oven.

(Any left-over canned pumpkin keeps in the refrigerator for a while and can be used for several batches over time.)

This is a pretty low-point Weight Watchers snack. If you use walnuts and divide into 16 squares, it is 2 points per square. (Only 1 point if you omit the walnuts.)

Course Dessert, Snack

Servings 16

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients:

3 cups dry uncooked oatmeal (regular, not quick or instant)
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 or 3 tsp cinnamon
1/4 to 1/2 tsp ground cloves (optional)
1/4 to 1/2 tsp ground cardamom (optional)

Wet Ingredients:

2 eggs or 1/2 cup eggbeaters
1/2 cup milk or cottage or a mixture of the two (skim or 1% work fine, soymilk or almond milk are fine, too)
2 large bananas or 3 small bananas
1/2 cup canned pumpkin or unsweetened applesauce (or more banana)
1 tsp vanilla

Other Ingredients:

1/2 c. chopped walnuts (optional but highly recommended)
1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries (optional, but highly recommended. If frozen, do NOT thaw first. Take them out of the freezer at the last minute so they are frozen when you stir them in. Otherwise, the dough will turn purple.)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix dry ingredients in large bowl.
Mix wet ingredients in a blender.
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix. Then stir in walnuts and blueberries (if using those).
Spread in lightly oiled 8×8 or 11×7" pan.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. They should be moist and chewy but not soggy. Maybe a little crispy along the edges.
Cut into 16 squares. Store in refrigerator.
Eat cold, or, it's good heated up in the microwave (with a tiny bit of butter on top if you aren't worried about calories).

Variations I've tried. Very good.

Use craisins (sweetened dried cranberries) instead of blueberries.
Use chopped prunes instead of blueberries.

Variations that I haven't yet tried that might be good (untested, try at your own risk!!!)

Use raisins instead of blueberries.
Use chopped apple instead of blueberries.
Perhaps use more pumpkin/applesauce and less milk.
Perhaps add a little butter or oil in place of some of the milk.