Cranberry Cheesecake Baked Oats

Our Cranberry Cheesecake Baked Oats walk the line between breakfast and dessert in the best way. Heart-healthy oats are soaked in a lightly sweetened vanilla custard made with protein-rich egg and milk. Antioxidant-packed cranberries are studded throughout this baked dish to give a tangy zip with each bite, and the cheesecake swirl adds the perfect amount of creamy texture. Keep reading for our expert tips on how to get the best swirl from your cream cheese, ingredient substitutions, spice additions and more. 

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

• To ensure even cooking, allow the oats to hydrate thoroughly before baking.
• We recommend using an 8-inch square baking dish, but a 7-by-11-inch dish will also work well.
• If your cream cheese is too firm to blend smoothly, microwave it for 10 to 15 seconds to soften it.
• Feel free to substitute the cranberries with any frozen berries—raspberries would be a great choice. Additionally, you can enhance the oats by adding warm spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg or cardamom, if desired.

Nutrition Notes

• Old-fashioned rolled oats are nutritionally similar to other types of oats—they are a whole grain that contains fiber, which means they are excellent for your heart health. Oats contain a type of fiber called beta-glucan, which helps lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. While oats are naturally gluten-free, they can sometimes be contaminated with gluten during processing. If you’re following a gluten-free routine, be sure to purchase oats specifically labeled as gluten-free.
• Cranberries are high in antioxidants, which can help lower inflammation in the body. They are also a source of proanthocyanidins, which keep bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract lining. 
• We chose whole milk for this recipe because it contains both fat and protein, which can help keep you fuller for longer. Milk is also an excellent source of calcium—necessary for strong bones and muscle contraction.