Single-Serving Skinny "Chocolate Brownie" Baked Oatmeal (egg-free, dairy-free, low-fat, low-sugar)

This baked oatmeal starts with 2 main ingredients, a packet of "lower sugar" oatmeal and some apple sauce. It is stuffed with yummy chocolate chips and a little cocoa powder, for a fudgy brownie taste, without all the guilt of a giant brownie. I can't decide which I like more, this chocolate indulgence or my previous version, the "Blueberry Muffin" Baked Oatmeal!

The thing I love most about this recipe, is how versatile it is, so throw in your favorite mix-ins and get creative. I have made this recipe with so many different mix-ins to create amazing flavor combinations, like banana nut "bread", walnut raisin "cinnamon roll", peanut butter "granola bar", peaches and cream, dutch apple "pie", and my fave, "Birthday Cakes"!

Also, the recipe couldn't be more simple! You start with a packet of oatmeal. I like to use the "Lower Sugar Maple & Brown Sugar" but any flavor will work. You can even use some quick oats with a little sweetener and a pinch of salt if you prefer (see ingredient list notes below).

In goes a little cocoa powder for that chocolatey taste, some baking soda to make it light and fluffy, a tablespoon of buttery spread for flavor and a little water and some applesauce to bring it all together-Original apple sauce will give you a sweeter treat, while Unsweetened apple sauce will give you a less sweet outcome.

Then, stir in a few chocolate chips and pop it in the toaster oven! I like to stud the top with a few extra morsels to make it look nice :) You can use any kind you like. I had semi-sweet on hand and thought they worked perfect!

You can also pop it out of the ramekin (it comes right out without greasing the dish) for a pretty presentation. The center is moist and bursting with fudgy goodness with a crisp brownie-corner texture on the outside. If you like it a little less moist and oatmeal-ish, you can always cut the apple sauce in half for a more granola bar-like texture.

Single-Serving Skinny "Chocolate Brownie" Baked Oatmeal

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

1 (35g-45g) uncooked packet of instant oatmeal (about 1/3 cup), I use "Lower Sugar Maple & Brown Sugar"*
1/4 cup applesauce (may substitute 1/4 cup extra ripe banana, mashed)
1 tablespoon milk or water
1 tablespoon butter, margarine or buttery spread
1 tablespoon coco powder (I used "special dark")
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2-3 tablespoons chocolate chips
small handful of chopped nuts (optional)

*Instead of the oatmeal packet, you can use 1/3 cup instant quick-cooking oats, 1-2 tablespoons sugar OR 1-2 teaspoons sugar substitute and a pinch of salt

Directions

Preheat toaster oven to 375 degrees F. Mix together all of the ingredients in an ungreased 7-8oz/1cup oven-safe ramekin or small dish. Bake 20-25 minutes until top is golden and slightly crisp

(May alternatively cook for 1 1/2-2 1/2 minutes in the microwave, but this will really compromise the texture and give you a very different, more chewy taste).