Recipe: Plum Upside Down Baked Oats (Vegan, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Soy Free Option)

 

As you may know, I rarely make my own recipes. If one exists, I'd rather use someone else's, as opposed to making my own. But sometimes, one wants a thing that doesn't exist in recipe form, and that's where these baked oats originated.

Aside from being pretty, this is both easy and delicious, too. And depending on how you make it, it can also be free of all major allergens--just use the right dairy substitutes for what you need.

So here we go.

Plum Upside Down Baked Oats
Serves: 3-4

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons vegan butter

Nonstick cooking spray (optional)

1/4 cup lightly packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon, divided

1 plum, sliced thinly

Scant 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

6 tablespoons unsweetened plant milk of choice (I used soy)

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 cup + 2 tablespoons rolled or quick oats

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

A pinch of salt

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Melt butter in a small pie plate or round cake pan (I used a 5 inch pie plate) using a microwave. If desired, spray the sides of the dish with nonstick cooking spray (optional). Add brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and mix well. Arrange plum slices in a spiral on top of the buttery mixture. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, mix applesauce, plant milk, and maple syrup until blended. Add remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir until fully blended.
4. Carefully spoon the oats over the plum slices, taking care not to disturb your design. Ensure the mixture is spread evenly over the plums--you'll want a flat top for ease of flipping later.
5. Bake for about 20 minutes, testing for doneness. It's done when there is resistance when you press on the center, and your finger does not get wet. There will still be crumbs if you use the toothpick test, so just rely on the finger test.
6. Let stand for no longer than 5 minutes. It needs to cool slightly, but you need it to be warm for flipping.
7. Run a butter knife along the edges of the baked oats to ensure that it isn't sticking to the sides. Put a plate on top of the pie plate or cake pan and carefully flip over. Lift the pie plate or cake pan straight up.
8. If plums remain in the bottom of the pan, carefully place them back on the oats with chopsticks. Spoon remaining caramel sauce over the top.
9. Slice into wedges and serve. I like this with some non-dairy yogurt and a grain-based coffee with soy milk.