A few weeks ago on Instagram, I put out a call for fall recipe requests, and the resounding answer was Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal.
Actually, it was pumpkin EVERYTHING. Pumpkin granola, vegan pumpkin muffins, pumpkin energy balls. You are ready for it all!
When I shared this recent recipe for Pumpkin Banana Bread, it felt like a tease. We’d had a few cool mornings but nothing so committal that I was tempted to pull out the puffy vest.
WELL. Guess who’s ready now?! ?
Vest and coordinating assortment of flannel shirts are at the front of my closet, boots are by our backdoor, and I’m set to join you in all things “P.” Forget the pre-season sneak peeks. It’s time for pumpkin to step up to the starting line.
If you’re looking to scratch your pumpkin itch, this healthy Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal is where you should begin.
Warmly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, this Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal is the kind of recipe that you’ll fall asleep feeling excited about eating the next day.
About This Healthy Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Recipe
In addition to being a mood booster, this Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal is also a body booster. Thanks to the plethora of whole-grain oats, protein-rich eggs (which act as a binder), the serving of fruit from the pumpkin itself, plus healthy fats from the pecans, this pumpkin oatmeal is ultra filling. A serving topped with yogurt kept even me, a serious snacker, full and satisfied all morning long.
For sweetness, I opted to make this a maple Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal recipe, adding just a touch of maple syrup to the batter. As the recipe is written, this baked oatmeal recipe isn’t super sweet, which is just how I like it. If you’d like your Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal sweeter, you can add a bit more maple syrup to the recipe or simply drizzle some on at the end.
For a vegan pumpkin baked oatmeal: I haven’t played around with flax eggs in place of the regular eggs yet, but you can certainly experiment. I’d love to hear how it goes!
If you share my sentiment that pumpkin and oatmeal are an ingredient match made in the autumnal heavens, be sure to check out my Pumpkin Oatmeal, Pumpkin Overnight Oats and Oatmeal Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread.
And speaking of chocolate chips: for the mix-ins, I used the cozy combo of pecans and dried cranberries. You can feel free to omit them, swap walnuts or raisins instead, and/or add a generous handful of (you guessed it!) chocolate chips.
How to Serve this Baked Oatmeal
This baked oatmeal is delicious warm right out of the oven, but here are a few ideas of how to serve it:
- Serve as Bars. You can let it cool, then slice it into pumpkin baked oatmeal bars. (Like my favorite peanut butter banana Oatmeal Breakfast Bars).
- Serve with Toppings. Try this oatmeal warmed up with a smear of peanut butter or almond butter.
- Serve with Yogurt. Serve with a side of yogurt and a few sliced bananas. It’s filling, cozy, and can’t help but put you in a good mood.
Truth time: I ate most of this pumpkin oatmeal cold right out of the refrigerator. It’s been one of those weeks all month. You know what though? This Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal is surprisingly tasty that way, especially if you need a quick bite after a workout or an easy snack fix.
However you choose to enjoy it, just make sure you try this healthy Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal recipe soon. Your mornings will be better and brighter for it.
How to Store This Baked Oatmeal
- To Store. The leftovers can last 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator, which means that you can bake this pumpkin oatmeal once, then wake up feeling happy to pull back the covers (a feat for me in the cooler months) all week long…or as long as the oatmeal lasts!
Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup pecan halves walnuts are delicious too!
- 1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1/8 teaspoon allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 cups nonfat milk unsweetened almond milk, or milk of choice
- 2 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries or golden raisins or 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips—or go wild and add both!
- 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 degrees F. Lightly coat a 9x9-inch baking pan with nonstick spray. Spread the pecans onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in the oven until the pecans are fragrant and toasted, about 8 to 10 minutes. Do not walk away towards the end of the cook time to ensure the pecans do not burn. Immediately transfer to a cutting board. Let cool, then chop and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, maple syrup, eggs, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, allspice, salt, and baking powder until smooth. Whisk in the milk. Fold in the oats, then the chopped pecans, cranberries, and any other desired mix-ins.
- Pour the pumpkin mixture into the prepared dish and smooth the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the center is no longer damp and feels firm to the touch and the edges are light golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool 5 minutes. Enjoy hot, with your desired toppings.
Notes
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Rewarm gently in the microwave with a splash of milk to keep it from drying out, then add any extra toppings. You can also portion it into slices of desired size and freeze, tightly wrapped in plastic then foil, for up to 3 months. I also have a habit of eating squares of this pumpkin baked oatmeal cold out of the refrigerator (but warm is probably optimal!).
Nutrition
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I totally have to make this for weekday lunches! what an easy grab and go breakfast :-)
I hope you enjoy, Danielle!
I am so impressed that this contains an entire can of pumpkin!! :) LOVE baked oatmeal; can’t wait to try this version with chocolate chips.
I hope you love it!!
Oooooh, I’ve been looking for warm, pre-made breakfast options. I’ll let you know how this goes! :D
I hope you love it Jessi!
Okay, so, I did make this today! I made some adjustments, most of them out of necessity. I live in a high altitude area, so I cut the baking powder in half. I didn’t have a 9×9, so I used a 9×13 and reduced baking time to 35 minutes. And I sprinkled more cranberries and pecans on the top so it’d look pretty.
It tasted really good!!! I’m very excited to be eating this for breakfasts this coming week! :D
Thanks for reporting back, Jessi! I’m so glad it was a hit!
Love, love, love this delicious nutrient packed, make-a-head breakfast! And the heavenly aroma beconds me back to cozy Autumn mornings in my Nanny’s kitchen!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this wonderful review!
YUM! My 2yr old and 4 yr old loved this as much as I did!
Hooray! I’m glad to hear this was a hit for everyone, Jess! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this review too. :)
Definetely trying this! Do you think we could use a mixture of rolled oats and steel cut oats?
Hi Lauren, I have not tried this myself, but the texture would be different if using a mix with steel-cut oats. They don’t cook as fast as regular rolled oats, so I’d worry they’d be a little crunchy. (That said, there are some baked steel cut oats recipes online, and it looks like they cook in about the same amount of time.) I can only vouch for the recipe as written, but if you decide to give it a try, I’d love to hear how it goes!
Hi Erin,
I loved this recipe. I accidentally used two cups of milk instead of a cup and half, so I just added more oatmeal. I used chocolate chips and eat it for dessert. Would you be able to use egg whites instead of the two eggs?
Annita, I think you could use 1 egg and 2 egg whites. The yolk does add texture and richness. I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Love, love, LOVE this recipe! Let me give a quick breakdown why:
1) Super simple to make
2) Actually uses almond milk in an effective way (who knew this was possible?)
3) NOT TOO SWEET :)
4) The pumpkin and spices give it enough of that “fall feeling” without tasting like a pumpkin spice latte (which I hate)
5) Healthy! Outside of it being a good option for breakfast, I’ve had it as dessert when I want something sweet but don’t want a sugar coma
Will be making more of this in the future for sure!
Anna, I’m so glad this recipe is a winner for you! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this wonderful review!
Fairly simple recipe but with loads of flavor. You can make it as sweet as you want with the syrup amounts, I stuck to 1/3 but did a drizzle on top for a little extra. Literally my new favorite thing for breakfasts. I only went 3 days between running out and making it again because it’s quick and filling in the morning. ??
I’m so glad it’s a new favorite, Gina! Thanks so much for taking the time to report back!
I had such high hopes for this recipe based on the comments, but it’s just OK to me. I put raisins and nuts in but it was simply bland. I kept testing it for doneness, but after 45 minutes it was just sort of gooey. Not really something I would make again. I love oatmeal raisin cookies so I was hoping this would be a healthier alternative to that, but sadly…I am disappointed. Oh well…
Hi Natalie, I’m sorry the recipe wasn’t to your taste. I know it’s disappointing to try a new recipe and not enjoy it, so I truly wish you would have loved it!
It’s outstanding! I just made it tonight and it tastes so rich – like dessert! I love all the pumpkin flavor. I made it in 9×12 and it came out great. Thanks for the recipe :)
Yay! I’m glad you enjoyed it, Caroline. Thank you for taking the time to leave this review!
Do you think it is okay to double the recipe and baked it in a 9×13? I am feeding a crowd.
Yes Sara, I think that would be fine! Your bars will be thicker, so they may need longer to bake. Check and tent the pan with foil if they start to get too brown on the top and edges before the center is set. Hope you love them!
I made this yesterday with dried cherries instead of cranberries. It was fantastic. I have tried a number of baked oatmeal recipes and this was by far the best! Thank you
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Sam! Thanks for taking the time to report back!
I have everything in my cabinet to make this except pure maple syrup. Any suggestions on substations?
Danielle, you can swap honey! The flavor will be different but still yummy.
This is an absolutely amazing recipe: thanks so much for sharing. Incredibly versatile: can have it for breakfast, dessert or snack! Topped it with some coconut whip cream to make it as decadent as possible and now I’m addicted.
Beverly, I’m glad it’s a hit! Thanks for taking the time to share this review!
This is so good! I followed the recipe exactly (I usually make changes to add more spices or vanilla), and I wouldn’t make any changes to this at all! I am planning to make it again for breakfasts next week :)
Thank you for sharing this kind review, Jen! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe!
I added chocolate chips and my family loved it. We did drizzle on a little extra maple syrup, but we would have eaten it without. My kids inhaled it.
Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review, Hannah! I’m so happy that you all enjoyed this recipe!
How long can it stay out of the refrigerator?
Hi Lois! From what I can find online, harmful bacteria will start to grow after 2 hours at room temperature, but I’d recommend placing it in the refrigerator as soon as you’re able. I hope this helps!
This had great texture and I like the pumpkin a lot. But it was very bland.
For me, It needed A LOT more sugar/sweet of some kind. I put extra syrup and some brown sugar on top and it was lovely.
Of course, that might not be what everyone wants for breakfast. :)
Still a great recipe!
Hi Ryan! If you like your oatmeal on the sweet side, you can certainly add in sugar to taste. I’m happy you enjoyed the recipe once you added some more sweetness!
Excellent! Like you, I like it best right out of the fridge! Thank you for the recipe!! I did use almonds and left out the nutmeg. Great recipe!
Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review, Robyn! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed the recipe!
I’ve made this recipe several times and love it!!! I have a mini scone pan from King Arthur Flour and use it to bake the bars. They turn out very nicely. Love eating these as a dessert!!!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe, Christine! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
This is debatably my favourite recipe on this website. I make this AT LEAST every other week, it’s just that good. Really easy to make, and tastes great both as leftovers in the fridge and also from the freezer. I love loading it with walnuts, chocolate chips and dried cranberries!
I’m so happy that you’ve enjoyed it, Julia! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Will buttermilk work in this recipe?
Yes, that would be fine Brandy, I hope you enjoy it!
Absolutely love this recipe! I made a double batch, so that my roomate and I could have it throughout the entire week. So easy to make and only used 1 bowl to mix all ingredients for an easy cleanup! Didn’t have any walnuts so I skipped that step, but added raisins and dark chocolate chunks for extra sweetness. Had a piece with some whipped cream as a dessert and will be eating this with Greek yogurt for breakfast all week!! The perfect fall treat to eat at any point in the day :)
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Sadie! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Delicious—not overly sweet. I may try this in individual portions by scooping the mixture into lined muffin tins. Thanks for another great recipe!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Kristen! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
It seemed bland but I will make it again because I figured out what’s missing. It needs cinnamon! For me, the pumpkin pie spice isn’t enough. A good teaspoon of cinnamon and maybe a bit more salt will do it for me. Otherwise the hearty texture and healthiness of this recipe are ideal.
Thanks for trying the recipe, JoAnne! I hope you enjoy it even more next time!
Did you forget to add flour to the recipe? Followed the ingredients to the tee, never got done, a mushy mess. I thought the batter seemed too runny before putting it into the pan. Thanks for wasting my time.??
I’m sorry to hear that you had trouble with this recipe, Lori. It’s so hard to say what might’ve gone wrong without being in the kitchen with you. I (and many other readers) have really enjoyed this recipe, so I truly wish you would’ve too!
Bland and one note. I’ll admit that I forgot the raisins but as a few others have said, it needs more cinnamon and salt. If I make it again, I’d probably also add fresh ginger and leave out the allspice. I know people say it tastes like a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, but to me allspice tastes like too much nutmeg in baked goods.
I’m sorry to hear that this dish wasn’t to your tastes, Jen. I know it’s frustrating to try a new recipe and not enjoy it, so I truly wish it would’ve been a hit for you!
I loved it but agree that next time I would tweak the spices. I sprinkled just a little brown sugar on top after baking too. It baked perfectly but mine was done by 37 minutes. I would check it earlier than 40 minutes.
Thanks for trying the recipe and sharing your notes, Mary! I hope you enjoy it even more next time!
I agree about the spice not quite doing it for me! Next time I’ll try this suggestion on the cinnamon. I’m eating my way through the first batch and have been sprinkling some nutmeg and/or cinnamon on top.
Next time I may also sub molasses for a portion of the maple syrup for a deeper and spicier flavor as well.
Hi Ash! Thank you for your feedback and this review!
Added sliced banana on top!
Hi Brigid! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
So delicious- and no refined sugar! Thank you for this recipe.
Hi Lisa! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Would this work with quinoa flakes as I can’t have oats
Hi Karen! I’ve only tested the recipe as written, so it would be hard to advise. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!
Yummy! I reduced the maple syrup to 1/4 cup. Instead of using dried, I tossed some halved fresh cranberries on top. I don’t like things very sweet, obviously. I only had about 12 ounces of pumpkin, having used a bit of the can for something else. No worries, it worked out well. I’ll toss some toasted nuts on top of each serving before eating.
Hi Lynne! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review and your feedback!