Is there any scent better than warm, fresh from the oven, cinnamon rolls wafting through the air?? It's so hard to resist. But, with those ooey, gooey, buttery, sweet flavors comes calories, fat, and sugar. All the best things do.

So, I save this indulgence for special occasions, but wouldn't it be nice if we could enjoy these everyday?!? Without the negative side effects...

Now we can! All of the flavors we love, but the base is heart-healthy oats, instead of white flour...which we know doesn't provide very much, nutritionally speaking. The hardest part was finding a way to get that true cinnamon roll flavor, instead of just cinnamon oatmeal. A little butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar syrup brushed over the warm tops will do the trick!

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Ingredients in Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal

• Butter
• Applesauce
• Brown Sugar
• Maple Syrup
• Vanilla
• Eggs
• Baking Powder
• Orange Juice
• Cinnamon
• Milk (can use dairy free)
• Flour
• Old-Fashioned or Rolled Oats
• Optional: Protein Powder

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Can I add protein powder to my baked oatmeal?

Absolutely! I usually do. If you're not going to serve the oatmeal with a protein (eggs, yogurt, etc.) than I would definitely add some protein to help balance the carbs. For a baked version, I would omit the flour if you add protein powder.

Are cinnamon rolls healthy?

Not usually, at least not the good ones. Most are high in calories, sugar, and fat. With this baked oatmeal version, you can feel good about the whole-grain oats. Plus, the fat, calories, and sugar are greatly reduced, but you still have almost every bit of that homemade cinnamon roll flavor! I'll take two!

Is it bad to add cinnamon to oatmeal?

Heck no. Cinnamon has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties- though you may need more than a sprinkle or two to reap those benefits! Cinnamon is super low in calories, but provides great warmth and flavor to a wide variety of dishes.

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