Dessert Breakfast! Such a delicious concept! But can you really square the circle, so to speak, with a hearty, nourishing breakfast that tastes like dessert? Turns out, the answer is yes! This baked oatmeal is infused with rich, melty chocolate, smoky maple syrup, and molasses-sweet brown sugar to make the wholesome oats and crunchy walnuts almost brownie-like in their flavor! Served with some fresh berries, Dessert Breakfast is truly the best of both worlds!

Ingredients
For the oatmeal:
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup sweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup tahini
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 4 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips, divided
- 1 1/2 cups walnuts, roughly chopped, divided
For the whipped topping:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- berries, optional, to taste, of your choice, for serving

Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Step 3 –In a large bowl, add the milk, the applesauce, the tahini, the eggs, the maple syrup, and the brown sugar and stir to combine.
Step 4 –Add the rolled oats, the cocoa powder, the baking powder, the salt, 3/4 cup of the chocolate chips, and 1 cup of the walnuts and stir to combine.
Step 5 –Transfer the oat mixture to the prepared baking dish.
Step 6 –Top the casserole with the remaining chocolate chips and the remaining walnuts.
Step 7 –Bake until the oatmeal is set and no longer glossy, about 45-50 minutes.
Step 8 –Let the casserole rest for 20 minutes.
Step 9 –In a medium bowl, add the heavy cream and the sugar and whisk until soft peaks form.
Step 10 –Serve the casserole topped with the whipped cream and the berries.