Seeded banana oat bake

Are you bored of the same old breakfasts? This week Farmhouse Breakfastfast Week is encouraging the UK to eat something in the morning. I want to get the nation away from sugary and/or fatty unhealthy cereals, pastries, muffins, and get people making a healthy breakfast that will do their bodies some good and keep them going through the morning.

We had a lot of bananas in the house this week, my mum had bought some, I'd bought some and the Farmhouse Breakfast team had sent me some, so I thought I'd making a couple of fun yummy breakfast recipes with them. Having had success with banana in another oat bake at the end of last year, I decided to whip this one up on Saturday for breakfast. Later in the week, I also I have a banana bread recipe for you coming up for you.

Bananas are awesome, I love them. They fill me up and I find that they are a natural energy booster. If I'm flagging mid morning or in the afternoon a banana perks me up. Bananas are also a great source of potassium. They are probably one of the fruits with the most sugar in them, which is why I try to have only one medium to large banana or two small a day, but they do contain fibre. I don't eat bananas every days, but most days I have one. I find them great natural sweetener for breakfasts, cakes and bakes instead of using refined sugar.

You will need...

[serves one]

30g (1/4 cup) oats
60 ml (1/4 cup) milk of your choice ( I used unsweetened almond)
1 small - medium banana
2 teaspoons mixed seeds
1/4 teaspoon baking powder (optional)
2 teaspoons pure maple syrup

This oat bake can be made in the oven or the microwave...

Mash the banana with a fork, then mix in the oats, milk, seeds and baking powder if you are using it - I think the baking powder would be more beneficial for cooking it in oven to get the fluffy rise. I cooked my bake in the microwave and didn't use the baking powder. If you have more time in this bake would be lovely cooked in the oven for around 20 minutes, if you don't like I didn't on the day I made it, it can be popped in the microwave for about three minutes. Take it out of the oven or microwave and top with whatever you feel like, fruits, nuts, more seeds. I just kept it simple and drizzled over a little pure maple syrup.

It was warm, soft and substantial. The seeds added a little crunch. Farmhouse BW sent me the mixed seeds and I thought this bake would be a great way of using them. Also it added some protein to my breakfast to keep me fuller for longer.

If you do have more time try cooking an oat bake in the oven, like I did with my cranberry and walnut bake, because they do come out softer and fluffier. But microwaves are great to zap them in if you're in a rush. If you don't have time to make breakfast in the morning, why not try my bircher muesli? It can be made the night before or a big batch at the weekend.