Berry Quinoa Breakfast Bake (Printable)

A nourishing morning bake with quinoa, mixed berries, and warming spices for a hearty start.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed

→ Dairy & Alternatives

02 - 2 cups milk or non-dairy milk
03 - 2 large eggs

→ Sweeteners & Flavorings

04 - 1/4 cup pure maple syrup or honey
05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Fruit

08 - 2 cups mixed berries (fresh or frozen; e.g., blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries)

→ Toppings (optional)

09 - 1/4 cup chopped nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, pecans)
10 - 2 tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x9-inch baking dish.
02 - Spread the rinsed quinoa evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
03 - Scatter half of the mixed berries over the quinoa layer.
04 - In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, maple syrup, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt until smooth.
05 - Pour the milk and egg mixture evenly over the quinoa and berries in the baking dish.
06 - Sprinkle the remaining berries on top, then add chopped nuts and shredded coconut if using.
07 - Bake for 40 minutes or until the center is set and the top is golden brown.
08 - Allow the bake to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving warm. Optionally serve with extra milk or yogurt.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It&dquo;s the kind of breakfast that makes Monday mornings feel manageable and Sundays feel special.
  • You can assemble it the night before and wake up to something homemade without the morning effort.
  • The texture is somewhere between a pudding and a cake, which somehow manages to feel indulgent while being genuinely wholesome.
02 -
  • The quinoa needs that thorough rinsing or you&dquo;ll taste bitterness in every bite, which no amount of maple syrup can fix.
  • Check it at 35 minutes because ovens vary and the difference between perfectly set and dried out is about five minutes.
  • It will continue to firm up as it cools, so remove it from the oven while the center still seems slightly soft.
03 -
  • Use a glass baking dish if you have one because you can see when the bottom edges are golden, which helps prevent overbaking.
  • Let the milk mixture sit for a minute after whisking to let any foam settle, which prevents air pockets in the finished bake.
  • If using frozen berries, don&dquo;t thaw them first because they&dquo;ll release too much liquid and make the texture soggy.
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