Cherry Butter Baked Oatmeal: A Cozy Make-Ahead Fall Breakfast
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Author: Andy LaPointe - Co-Founder of Traverse Bay Farms
- Total time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 to 8 servings
- Texture and flavor: warm, hearty baked oats with sweet cherry flavor and a tender center
- Key ingredients: Traverse Bay Farms Cherry Butter, rolled oats, milk, cinnamon
- Skill level: Easy
- Best occasion: cozy fall mornings, weekend brunch, and weekday meal prep
- Make-ahead note: this cherry butter baked oatmeal reheats all week and freezes in slices
Quick Summary
Cherry Butter Baked Oatmeal is the warm, wholesome breakfast that makes fall mornings feel unhurried. Rolled oats bake with milk, egg, and a generous swirl of Traverse Bay Farms Cherry Butter into a hearty, sliceable oatmeal with sweet cherry flavor throughout. Make it on Sunday and reheat cozy squares all week long.
Prep and Yield
Total time: 50 minutes
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 35 minutes
Yield: 6 to 8 servings (8-inch square dish)
Skill level: Easy
Ingredients
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 cups milk (dairy or unsweetened plant milk)
- 1/2 cup Traverse Bay Farms Cherry Butter, plus 2 tablespoons for topping
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 3 tablespoons melted butter or neutral oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup dried cherries or chopped nuts (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish.
- In a large bowl, stir the oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk the milk, the 1/2 cup Cherry Butter, maple syrup, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the oats and stir to combine. Fold in the dried cherries or nuts if using.
- Scrape into the baking dish. Dot the top with the reserved Cherry Butter and swirl gently with a knife.
- Bake 35 minutes, until set in the center and lightly golden. Let rest 5 minutes, then scoop or slice into squares.
Chef's Tips
- Texture: use old-fashioned rolled oats, not quick or steel-cut, for the best hearty, sliceable bite.
- Flavor boost: swirl extra Cherry Butter on top before baking for pockets of concentrated cherry flavor.
- Doneness: the center should be set and springy, not wet; a few more minutes will not dry it out.
- Storage: the Cherry Butter keeps the oats moist for days of easy reheating.
- Traverse Bay Farms tie-in: use Apple Butter for an apple-cinnamon bake or Pumpkin Butter for a pumpkin-spice version.
Nutritional Highlights
- Rolled oats add whole-grain heartiness and a satisfying texture.
- Cherries are naturally a source of plant compounds that fit a normal, healthy lifestyle.
- Cherry butter adds moisture and flavor, letting you use less added sugar.
- Baked and portioned, it makes an easy grab-and-go breakfast.
Behind the Recipe
Baked oatmeal became a weekend ritual in our house once the mornings turned cool. I love that you can pull a warm, wholesome breakfast out of one dish and eat off it all week. This version leans on Cherry Butter, which we always seem to have open in the fridge, and it turns plain oats into something that tastes like a treat without much effort at all.
The recipe works because cherry butter is a smooth, concentrated puree of cherries and a little sweetness, so it flavors the whole dish and keeps the oats moist and tender as they bake. Old-fashioned rolled oats give the bake its signature hearty, sliceable texture, and swirling extra cherry butter on top creates jammy pockets in every square. It is comfort in a baking dish, and it makes busy Northern Michigan mornings feel calm.
How to Serve
- Scoop warm into bowls with a splash of cold milk or a spoonful of yogurt.
- Slice into squares and top with extra Cherry Butter and fresh fruit.
- Serve alongside coffee or cider for a cozy weekend brunch.
- Pack cooled squares for grab-and-go weekday breakfasts.
How to Store and Make Ahead
This is a meal-prep favorite. Bake it once and enjoy warm, wholesome breakfasts all week with almost no morning effort.
Make ahead: bake on the weekend and reheat individual squares through the week.
Fridge: store covered up to 5 days; reheat with a splash of milk.
Freezer: freeze in squares up to 3 months; thaw overnight or microwave from frozen.
Shop the Traverse Bay Farms Products in This Recipe
This bake starts with our smooth Cherry Butter. For a fall variation, use our Apple Butter for an apple-cinnamon bake, or our Pumpkin Butter for a pumpkin-spice version.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Choose Traverse Bay Farms
- We ship nationwide, straight from our team to your door.
- Our fruit butters are made with real fruit and slowly simmered for smooth flavor.
- We are a family-owned brand rooted in Northern Michigan orchard country.
- Our fruit foods have earned national awards for flavor and quality.
What Customers Are Saying
"I bake this every Sunday now. The cherry butter makes the whole house smell amazing and it lasts all week."
— Rachel P., Grand Rapids, MI
"My kids love the cherry swirls on top. It reheats perfectly for busy school mornings."
— Chris D., Toledo, OH
Recipe by Traverse Bay Farms.
