Baked Oatmeal is a sturdy, sweet, slice-and-serve version of classic oatmeal that makes an especially satisfying way to start the day! Add cozy spices and your favorite fruit to make it your own.
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Why You’ll Love This Baked Oatmeal Recipe
- Oatmeal, Transformed. When you think oatmeal, you may think: creamy and in a bowl (like classic Oatmeal). Baked oatmeal is sliceable and plate-able like a cake—basically, a completely new way to eat oatmeal. Thanks to an egg custard mixture that holds it all together, the texture is kind of like bread pudding, but with oats instead of bread.
- Highly Customizable. While I love my Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal, the flavor kind of limits you in terms of add-ins. This baked oatmeal recipe is much more suitable for switching things up. Fold in your favorite fruit, go to town on toppings, and make it your own!
- Hearty and Healthy. This is a breakfast that will fill you up without weighing you down. Like my Chocolate Oatmeal and Oatmeal Pancakes, it’s the kind of satisfying recipe that fuels you through your morning.
- Pantry Ingredients. Most of the items you need for baked oatmeal are kitchen staples that you probably have on hand already. Win!
- Made for Meal Prep. Not only is baked oatmeal perfect for a weekend breakfast or brunch get-together, it’s also ideal for meal prep. It holds up in the fridge for a week, and it’ll freeze for up to 3 months. We’re talking easy breakfasts for daaaaays. (Need more meal prep breakfast ideas? Try my Egg Muffins and Breakfast Bars.)
How to Make Baked Oatmeal
The Ingredients
- Sliced Almonds. Or pecans or walnuts—or skip the nuts altogether if you’re not a fan.
- Unsweetened Applesauce. Make my Instant Pot Applesauce or Crockpot Applesauce sans sweetener if you’re feeling ambitious, or just crack open a jar if you’re not.
- Pure Maple Syrup. Be sure to use real maple syrup, not pancake syrup.
- Eggs. For binding and some added protein.
- Pure Vanilla Extract. The all-purpose flavor enhancer.
- Cinnamon and Nutmeg. Brings that cozy factor.
- Kosher Salt. For balance.
- Baking Powder. Baking powder helps baked oatmeal bake up into something a little bit cakey (in a good way).
- Unsalted Butter. Melt and cool this.
- Nonfat Milk. AKA skim milk.
- Old-Fashioned Oats. Also known as rolled oats.
- Blueberries. Or diced apples, strawberries, or your fruit of choice. Use fresh or frozen.
- Turbinado Sugar. Optional, for an irresistible crispy-crunchy texture on top.
- Toppings. Optional, but recommended. Nonfat Greek yogurt, nut butter, banana slices, maple syrup—you get the idea.
The Directions
- Prepare. Position a rack in the center of the oven, preheat it to 375 degrees F, and grease a baking pan.
- Toast the Nuts. This is an extra step but worth it for the enhanced flavor!
- Make the Base. Everything comes together in one bowl!
- Add the Oats and Mix-Ins. Stir the dry ingredients into the milk mixture.
- Bake. Transfer the oat mixture to the prepared baking dish, add the turbinado sugar, and bake for 40 to 50 minutes.
- Serve. Let the baked oatmeal cool for 5 minutes, then serve with desired toppings and ENJOY!
Recipe Variations
- Peach Baked Oatmeal. Skip the nuts and swap the berries for peeled, diced peaches, then use almond extract instead of vanilla.
- Baked Oatmeal with Apples. Baked oatmeal with apples would be delish!
- Pear Baked Oatmeal. Use sweet, ripe pears for the fruit and swap the nutmeg with cardamom.
- Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal. Swap the applesauce with mashed banana and add a generous handful of chocolate chips instead of fruit.
- Mega-Healthy Baked Oatmeal. Add superfood ingredients like hemp seeds, chia, goji berries, and cacao nibs, then conquer the world.
- Raisin Baked Oatmeal. Add raisins instead of fresh fruit. Dried cranberries are an option too!
Storage Tips
- To Store. Refrigerate leftover baked oatmeal for 5 to 7 days, either wrapped in the baking pan or in an airtight container.
- To Reheat. Bake the oatmeal in a 350 degree F oven until it’s warmed through, or simply heat it up in the microwave.
- To Freeze. Freeze baked oatmeal for up to 3 months; you can either wrap and store the whole pan or wrap individual slices and place them in an airtight container or freezer bag for an easy heat-and-eat breakfast.
What to Serve with Baked Oatmeal
- Fresh Fruit. There’s already fruit in this baked oatmeal, but you can round things out by adding some more fresh fruit to your plate—or even Fruit Salad.
- Something Savory. I like to pair sweet breakfast foods with something savory. Try Instant Pot Boiled Eggs or Baked Bacon in the Oven.
- A Brunch-y Cocktail. Making baked oatmeal for a brunch get-together? Don’t forget the Peach Bellinis or Apple Cider Mimosas!
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Mixing Bowls. A high-quality set that’s dishwasher safe.
- Measuring Spoons. I love that these spoons are magnetic.
- Measuring Cups. I always buy glass measuring cups because they’re microwave-safe. Perfect for melting the butter in this recipe!
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Keep an Eye on the Nuts. Nuts go from golden and toasty to burnt super fast, so don’t walk away from the oven while you’re roasting them. They’ll also continue cooking from the residual heat on the pan, so you’ll need to remove them as soon as you pull them out of the oven.
- Use the Right Kind of Oats. Quick oats won’t give you the texture you want in baked oatmeal, and steel cut oats would need to be cooked first in order to be tender. If we’re Goldilocks here, old-fashioned oats are juuuuust right.
- Grease the Pan Well. If you plan on wrapping and storing your baked oatmeal for later, you want to be able to get it out of the pan neatly and cleanly.
- Bake It Until It’s Set (or Not). For freezer storage, you want set, sliceable baked oatmeal for individual portions. If, on the other hand, you’re eating your baked oatmeal right away, you can bake it for 5 minutes less and it will have a creamier texture.
Baked Oatmeal
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 55 minutes
Servings: 1 (9×9) pan
This healthy baked oatmeal recipe is freezer-friendly, ideal for meal prep, and delicious too! Easy, healthy, and endless ways to customize!
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Ingredients
- ½ cup sliced almonds or pecans or walnuts
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled
- 1 cup nonfat milk
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 2 cups blueberries or diced apples, strawberries, or your fruit of choice, fresh or frozen
- 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar or similar coarse sugar (optional)
- Optional for serving: nonfat Greek yogurt peanut butter, banana slices, an extra drizzle of maple syrup, or all of the above
Instructions
- Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly coat a 9×9-inch baking pan with nonstick spray. Spread the almonds onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in the oven until the almonds are fragrant and toasted, about 8 minutes. Do not walk away towards the end of the cook time to ensure they do not burn. Immediately transfer to a cutting board. Let cool, then set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the applesauce, maple syrup, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and baking powder until smooth. Whisk in the melted butter and milk (if the butter resolidifies, warm the bowl in the microwave in 15-second increments until it melts).
- Fold in the oats, then the almonds and blueberries (if your berries are frozen, do not thaw first).
- Pour the oatmeal mixture into the prepared dish and smooth the top. Sprinkle evenly with the turbinado sugar. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the center is moist but no longer damp and feels mostly firm to the touch and the edges are light golden brown (if your fruit is frozen, extend the baking time by 5 to 10 minutes). This will yield a moist oatmeal that's not quite set enough to easily cut with a knife; if you'd like a softer, more pudding-like texture, bake it for 5 minutes less.. Remove from the oven and let cool 5 minutes. Serve hot with your desired toppings.
Video
Notes
- TO STORE: Refrigerate leftover baked oatmeal for 5 to 7 days, either wrapped in the baking pan or in an airtight container.
- TO REHEAT: Bake the oatmeal in a 350°F oven until it’s warmed through, or simply heat it up in the microwave.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze baked oatmeal for up to 3 months; you can either wrap and store the whole pan or wrap individual slices and place them in an airtight container or freezer bag for an easy heat-and-eat breakfast.
Nutrition
Serving: 1(of 9)Calories: 224kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 6gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 44mgPotassium: 277mgFiber: 4gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 212IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 101mgIron: 1mg
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Oats add texture to desserts, substance to breakfasts, and they’re healthy to boot! Here are some of my favorite recipes that use oats:
My husband made this this morning, and I am truly shocked. He does not cook. And this was better than any oatmeal I have ever made our kids. I know he used old mushy frozen banana because it’s what we had instead of applesauce and refrigerated coconut milk since we were out of cow’s. And it still turned out decadent. Like the gentle spiced warmth and barely chewy edges… I just don’t understand. I need another bowl. Another pan. My two small toddlers ate almost the entire pan.
Love that! Thank you Sharon!
Could you add protein powder to this recipe?
Hi Jill, I haven’t tested this recipe with protein powder but I believe you could. It might change the intended consistency of it but if you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes!
Can you bake these individually?
Hi Tawana, I haven’t tried it myself but you could probably easily make it into individual portions. Enjoy!
My sister made this recipe and it was delicious! Is there something I could substitute for egg? Unfortunately, my daughter is allergic.
Hi Jillian I have’t tried it myself but you could play around with using flax eggs. Let me know how it goes if you give it a try!
This baked oatmeal was so good! I made this on Sunday night to meal prep for the week. I ended up having to have a piece for dinner because it smelled so good I couldn’t wait to have it in the morning! I will definitely be incorporating this into my breakfast rotation!
Glad you enjoyed it, Brianna!
can you change the applesauce for bananasauce?
Hi Sandra, I haven’t tested it myself, but it seems like it could work. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes!
Can you make this with steel cut oats and if so, how much and what kind of liquid would you add? Thank you.
Hi Mary Jane Heid! Steel cut oats would need to be cooked first in order to be tender. Old-fashioned oats work best for this recipe. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes!
I haven’t made this yet and I’m wondering if I could use 2% lowfat milk?
Hi Nancy! Yes, that should work. Enjoy!