Got a long driving day ahead? The kind that requires departing before dawn, and not enough time to stop for breakfast?

Here’s a tasty and hearty option that you can bake the day before, for eating on the road. It’s even driver’s seat friendly!

Baked Oatmeal Squares

3 cups quick-cooking or regular oats

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup plain, nonfat traditional or Greek yogurt

1 teaspoon vanilla

Optional: add 1 cup of mix-ins such as chopped dried fruit, nuts, and/or flavored baking morsels

Preheat oven to 350°.

In a large bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.

In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk, butter, vanilla, and yogurt.

Stir into oat mixture until blended. Add mix-ins if using, and stir to blend.

Spoon into a greased 9-in. square baking pan.

Bake 40-45 minutes or until set, and allow to cool completely. Although there is no flour in the recipe, the bars bake to a moist, thick, cake-like consistency.

Cut into 9 squares, then zip into sandwich bags or wrap in plastic for individual servings.

Emily’s notes:

My most recent mix-in combo was chopped walnuts, dried cranberries, and chocolate chips. Delicious!

I get perfect results by baking these in my RV’s Half-time Convection Oven at 350 degrees for 22 minutes.

For a filling and fuss-free “Front Seat Breakfast” for driver and passenger/s, serve the bars with hard boiled eggs and bananas.

No need to save them for travel days. If you’re sitting in a non-moving location, you can try serving these squares as originally intended: in a bowl, with milk poured over top. Eat like oatmeal!

(Author’s note:  a version of this post appears at Heartland RVs. It is printed here with permission.)