Spiced Pear & Ginger Baked Oats

This is what I make when I want the house to smell like autumn but it's actually a grey Tuesday in March. It's a single-serving baked oat situation—soft, spoonable, barely sweet—with chunks of pear and a gentle warmth from ginger. It feels like a proper breakfast but requires about five minutes of actual work. The oven does the rest.

Ingredients (Serves 1):

• 50g rolled oats
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp ground ginger
• Pinch of salt
• 1 ripe pear, cored and chopped (no need to peel)
• 1 egg
• 80ml milk of choice
• 1 tsp maple syrup (optional)
• A few walnuts for topping

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Lightly grease a small ovenproof dish or ramekin.
2. In a bowl, mix the oats, baking powder, ginger, and salt.
3. Stir in the chopped pear.
4. In a separate small bowl or jug, whisk the egg, milk, and maple syrup.
5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir to combine.
6. Pour into the prepared dish. Top with walnuts.
7. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until golden and set.
8. Eat warm, preferably while still in your dressing gown.

Why it's gut-friendly: Pears are rich in soluble fibre and gentle on digestion. Ginger is anti-inflammatory and soothes the stomach. Oats provide prebiotic fibre to feed your good gut bacteria.