Maple-Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Oatmeal with Caramelized Pears
This Maple, Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Oatmeal with Caramelized Pears is so delicious I was tempted to post it as a dessert! Pear halves are brushed with butter, sprinkled with brown sugar and then caramelized in the oven. Then, the pears are nestled into a bed of warm, creamy oatmeal with nutmeg, cinnamon and brown sugar for an extra delicious, cozy breakfast to enjoy on super cold days like today.
I live in Northeast Mississippi where the the average temperatures during the month of December are usually somewhere between lows in the mid-30s and highs in the mid-50s, rarely dipping below 20 degrees. Well when I woke up this morning it was 2 degrees, which NEVER happens. It'll be 5 days from now before our lows are back above 20 degrees, so needless to say, we North Mississippians are very, very cold right now.
About five seconds after I walked outside to let my dogs out this morning, I wanted heat...instant heat, which is why I think today is the perfect day to share this recipe. Breakfast doesn't get much more instant than oatmeal, and while the maple-roasted pears add a little bit of time to this recipe, it's still one of the easiest recipes around, and it is absolutely delicious!
The details
For the pears, you'll need 2 tablespoons of brown sugar + 1 tablespoon melted butter in addition to 2 pears.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut the pears in half, lengthwise, and place the pear halves on the sheet with the flesh side up.
Brush pears with melted butter; sprinkle brown sugar on top of butter. Roast for 25-27 minutes, until pears are soft and tops are lightly browned.
For the oatmeal, you'll need 2 cups old fashioned oats + 2 cups whole milk + 1 cup water. Combine the oatmeal and liquids in a medium-sized saucepan; bring to a low boil over medium-high heat. To flavor the oatmeal, combine 4 tablespoons brown sugar + 1 teaspoon cinnamon + 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg + 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup (if desired); stir into saucepan while oatmeal is cooking. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, 5-8 minutes. Turn off heat, and add a splash of milk if you prefer thinner oatmeal.
Spoon oatmeal into two separate bowls; top with pear halves, and enjoy!
I get it...it's not that difficult to make a bowl of delicious oatmeal. But, it's also not that difficult to make a bowl of flavorless oatmeal. By following this recipe, you'll never face that struggle ever again!
