1/4cupdried cranberries or golden raisinsor 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips—or go wild and add both!
Optionalfor serving: nonfat Greek yogurt, peanut butter, banana slices, an extra drizzle of maple syrup, or all of the above
Instructions
Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat a 9x9-inch baking pan with nonstick spray. Spread the pecans onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in the oven until the pecans are fragrant and toasted, about 8 to 10 minutes. Do not walk away towards the end of the cook time to ensure the pecans do not burn. Immediately transfer to a cutting board. Let cool, then chop and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, maple syrup, eggs, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, allspice, salt, and baking powder until smooth. Whisk in the milk. Fold in the oats, then the chopped pecans, cranberries, and any other desired mix-ins.
Pour the pumpkin mixture into the prepared dish and smooth the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the center is no longer damp and feels firm to the touch and the edges are light golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool 5 minutes. Enjoy hot, with your desired toppings.
Notes
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Rewarm gently in the microwave with a splash of milk to keep it from drying out, then add any extra toppings. You can also portion it into slices of desired size and freeze, tightly wrapped in plastic then foil, for up to 3 months. I also have a habit of eating squares of this pumpkin baked oatmeal cold out of the refrigerator (but warm is probably optimal!).