Overnight Crockpot Oatmeal Breakfast Cake

A few years ago, a sweet friend gave me a recipe for Oatmeal Breakfast Cake, and we have used it ever since. (Thank you, dear friend!)

The only downside is that I am terrible at the logistics of making baked items for breakfast. Inevitably, the children are rowdy and hungry, the babies are cranky, our schedule is falling farther and farther behind - and I need something fast!

No pictures of the oatmeal, so pictures of the 3yo will have to suffice.

Lately, therefore, I've been trying certain recipes as overnight crockpot recipes, and I decided to try that with this recipe.

It was a complete success, and now I'd like to share it!

This recipe is incredibly versatile. If you like more (or less) sweetness, adjust the syrup to taste. You can use any fruit or vegetable puree (or yogurt). You can add things like raisins, peanut butter, chocolate chips, nuts, different spices, etc. With this recipe, if you want to try it - do!

It's also incredibly easy to make this recipe gluten-free (use gluten-free oats) and/or dairy-free (don't use the dairy options, or use dairy-free milks).

With overnight crockpot recipes, there are sometimes overcooked edges. Using a separate container as an insert, with a water bath, completely eliminates that issue.

Enjoy!

Overnight Crock-pot Oatmeal Breakfast Cake

3 cups regular oatmeal

1 Tbsp. cinnamon

3/4 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/4 cup maple syrup (or pancake syrup)

1 1/2 cups applesauce, mashed banana, pureed pumpkin, or whole-milk yogurt
(or any combination thereof)

1 1/2 cups milk, cream, or water

Sometime during the day: Mix all ingredients, place in greased loaf pan. Cover with foil. Stick that critter in the fridge. 

Just before bed: Put an inch inch of water in your large oval crock-pot. Put a trivet or bunched-up roll of foil in the bottom (to keep the loaf pan from touching the bottom). Place covered loaf pan on trivet or foil, Set crock-pot to LOW.

When you get up: Use hot pads to remove loaf pan, let cool while you get ready. 

Serve sliced with butter and/or jam. 

Enjoy! 

(Sliced leftovers freeze beautifully and are a blessing on busy mornings!)

Experiencing rain, a true rarity around here.