Cranberry Orange Protein Baked Oatmeal

Fresh cranberries are a fall gem to include in your favorite recipes. Rock your breakfast with my Cranberry Orange Protein Baked Oatmeal plus a roundup of easy cranberry recipe ideas!

Cranberry Orange Protein Baked Oatmeal

I am proud to partner with the Cranberry Institute to bring you this post. I was compensated for my time, as always, all opinions are my own.

Did you know? Fresh cranberries are harvested in the fall and available in store now until early January- get them while you can (and buy some extra to freeze for later). Fresh cranberries are a versatile fruit that adds unique flavor, color and variety to dishes- sweet or savory. They are a source of vitamin C and fiber, and naturally low in sugar.

I love playing around with cranberries to make delicious fall recipes for all times of the day as well as for your holiday table. There are easy, budget-friendly ways to include cranberries throughout the whole week! Let’s start with breakfast!

Baked Oatmeal is one of my favorite things to make on Sunday night to have breakfast ready to go for the week. One pan makes six servings that you can eat as-is on the way out the door or top with yogurt or cottage cheese for additional protein. I’ve been known to crumble a piece into a Greek yogurt container when I’m in a hurry. So yummy!

Cranberry Orange Protein Baked Oatmeal

Fresh cranberries are the star of this baked oatmeal. Meal prep on Sunday to have breakfast ready to go all week.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Breakfast

Servings 6 servings

Calories 220 kcal

Ingredients

  

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• 2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 packets stevia or preferred sweetener
• 1/4 cup ground flax seed
• 2 scoops (1/2 cup) vanilla plant-based protein powder
• ½ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• ½ cup orange juice or juice of one orange
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• ½ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
• 3 Tablespoons liquid egg whites
• 1 medium banana, mashed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
• Topping:
• 1/2 cup fresh cranberries sprinkled with 1/2 packet stevia

Instructions

 

• Cover a 9x9 brownie pan with parchment paper and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350F.
• Mix the first 6 dry ingredients together in a medium bowl.
• In a separate bowl, add the remaining ingredients except the cranberries and combine well.
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry and gently combine. Stir in ½ cup of cranberries.
• Pour the mixture into the pan and spread evenly. Top with cranberries and gently press them into the batter. Sprinkle them with about ½ packet of stevia if desired.
• Bake for 27-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Take care not to overcook it or the end product will be dry.
• Let cool completely before slicing. Cover and refrigerate the leftovers.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 220kcalFat: 4.5g

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Cranberry Orange Protein Baked Oatmeal Label

Serving suggestion: Top with low fat ricotta cheese mixed with a bit of orange juice, orange zest and stevia or preferred sweetener to taste.

Cranberry Orange Protein Baked Oatmeal with Orange Ricotta

Health Benefits of Cranberries:

Most of us identify with the beneficial effects of cranberries on urinary tract infections (UTIs). In fact, a meta-analysis of 28 clinical trials concluded that cranberry products may reduce the incidence of UTIs in men, women and children. AND, looking at the whole-body benefits of cranberries, scientists found that cranberry compounds (proanthocyanidins or PACs) help to reinforce the protective functions of the gut barrier¹. Researchers recently gave people dried cranberries to eat and discovered that the PACs may feed good bacteria!² Turns out the gut can ferment the carbohydrate in cranberries. This is good because the biproducts of the process nourish beneficial bacteria in the gut.³ Cheers to cranberries and happy tummies.

Fresh Cranberry Recipe Roundup:

My Cranberry Compote is made in only a few minutes in the microwave and is delicious on everything sweet and savory. Top your waffles, pancakes, or oatmeal. Layer some in your yogurt parfait. Pair with baked chicken or spread some on your turkey sandwich.

Cranberry Compote with Whole Grain Waffles

Muffins are a fabulous way to use up your fresh cranberries. And really, who doesn’t love muffins? These Cranberry Banana Whole Grain Muffins are a family favorite, even my mom gives them a thumbs up and makes a batch when she wants to bring something to a friend’s house 🙂

Cranberry Banana Whole Grain Muffins

This Cranberry Orange Ginger Relish is such a versatile holiday side dish and an amazing leftover as the flavors develop more the longer it sits in the fridge. After Thanksgiving, mix some into your yogurt, cottage cheese or oatmeal. Add to turkey wraps or top some frozen yogurt for dessert.

Cranberry Orange Ginger Relish

Whether you prefer cocktails or mocktails, fresh cranberries add fall goodness to my Frozen Cranberry Spice Cocktail.

Frozen Cranberry Spice Cocktail

Don’t forget to include dried cranberries as well in your fall favorites:

Cranberry Apple Sorghum Bake
https://nutritionstarringyou.com/cranberry-apple-sorghum-bake/

Apple Cranberry Grilled Cheese
https://nutritionstarringyou.com/apple-cranberry-grilled-cheese/

Cranberry Pistachio Granola Bar Squares
https://nutritionstarringyou.com/cranberry-pistachio-granola-bar-squares/

Pumpkin Bread Pudding Cups
https://nutritionstarringyou.com/pumpkin-bread-pudding-cups/

For a comprehensive chronicle of cranberry’s existing, new and emerging whole-body benefits make sure to check out the Cranberry Institute’s Cranberry Chronicles! The Cranberry Chronicles are consistently updated with breaking scientific abstracts and news stories, sharable resources and infographics for healthcare professionals, health-minded media, industry partners and science-savvy cranberry enthusiasts.

What’s your favorite cranberry creation?

References

1. Pierre BS, et al. Cranberry Proanthocyanidins Improve the Gut Mucous Layer Morphology and Function in Mice Receiving Elemental Enteral Nutrition. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. March 2012: 10.1177/0148607112463076 [doi].
2. Bekiares N, et al. Effect of Sweetened Dried Cranberry Consumption on Urinary Proteome and Fecal Microbiome in Healthy Human Subjects. OMICS: A Journal of Integrative Biology.Feb 2018.ahead of print. http://doi.org/10.1089/omi.2016.0167.
3. Ozcan E, et al. A Human Gut Commensal Ferments Cranberry Carbohydrates to Produce Formate. Applied & Environmental Microbiology. August 15, 2017: 10.1128/AEM.01097-17 [doi].