Upside-Down Pineapple Cake Baked Oats

These Upside-Down Pineapple Cake Baked Oats are a fun morning twist on the beloved retro dessert. We re-create the flavors of the classic cake by using pineapple rings and cherries that bake below the hearty oat base. As it bakes, the fruit on the bottom softens, creating a sweet and slightly sticky topping. Oats add fiber to make this dish a satisfying start to any morning, while applesauce provides natural sweetness and moisture to prevent the oats from drying out. Ready to see how delicious these oats are for yourself? Read on for our expert tips and tricks for success below!

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!

• For the best nutmeg flavor, grate your own from the seed using a microplane grater or a nutmeg grater rather than using ground nutmeg.
• Make sure you give your baking pan a generous coating of cooking spray. It will help the baked oats release from the pan without sticking when you invert it.
• Use rolled oats for this recipe. Quick or instant oats are much thinner and will result in a denser texture.

Nutrition Notes

• Oats are packed with beta-glucan, a type of soluble fiber that can help with digestion and keeping things regular. The fiber in oats may also help you feel fuller for longer, as it slows down digestion. Oats are a prebiotic food, helping to support the good bacteria in your gut. Oats are naturally gluten-free but may be contaminated with wheat during processing. If you’re following a gluten-free routine, be sure to purchase oats that are certified gluten-free.
• Pineapple contains bromelain, a group of enzymes that may help reduce pain or swelling in the body. The tropical fruit is also packed with vitamin C to help support your immune system as well as produce collagen.
• Unsweetened applesauce adds moisture to these baked oats, along with natural sweetness to reduce the added sugars. Apples may also support brain health by lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.