This healthy baked oatmeal recipe is perfect for a cozy breakfast. With whole grain oats, milk, eggs, and berries, this oatmeal bake comes together in under 30 minutes, using ingredients you probably have on hand. My kids enjoyed 4 batches of this in a matter of a few weeks while I tested the recipe. 😉 Just like my chocolate chip overnight oats, oatmeal breakfast bars, healthy oatmeal cookies, or banana oat pancakes, this dish has a delicious balance of protein, fiber, and sweet flavor. It will keep you full all morning long and all week long, because it stores well for easy breakfast meal prep!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for a healthy oatmeal bake, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Rolled Oats – If you have a gluten intolerance, look for certified gluten-free oats. You can also use quick oats. Avoid steel cut oats, as they will cook up too dense for this recipe. And since you’ll probably have oats left over, you can use them to make a healthy granola recipe, so you’ll have breakfast options throughout the week. Baking Powder – Prevents the final bake from becoming too dense and heavy. Cinnamon – Use high quality cinnamon for the best flavor. Sea Salt – Balances the sweet flavors. Eggs – Use room temperature eggs. If vegan, you can substitute the eggs with flax eggs. Mashed banana would also work as a substitute, but won’t hold together as well as eggs do. ChocZero Cookie Butter Spread – You could use peanut butter (or any nut butter) in place of the cookie butter, but the oatmeal won’t be sweet and the flavor is much better using the cookie butter. Butter – You want melted butter so that it blends into the batter evenly. Use an unsalted variety. You could also use melted coconut oil for a dairy-free option. Vanilla Extract – Use high quality pure vanilla extract for the best flavor. Milk – Use room temperature milk. Any kind of milk (dairy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, hemp milk, etc) will work. Dried Cranberries – To keep this oatmeal bake even healthier, use sugar-free dried cranberries. However, these are totally optional. Pecans – Optional, but I like the flavor chopped pecans add to this oatmeal. You could use walnuts, hazelnuts, or macadamia nuts as well. For a nut-free option, omit altogether or substitute sunflower seeds or pepitas.
How To Make Baked Oatmeal
This section shows how to bake oatmeal that is healthy, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
How Long To Bake Oatmeal?
Oatmeal bake time depends on the consistency you prefer: bake for 18-20 minutes for soft oatmeal with a bread pudding texture, or 22-24 minutes for firm oatmeal.
Flavor Variations
Banana Baked Oatmeal – You can easily change up the flavor of this easy baked oatmeal to a banana flavor. Just add a mashed banana and omit dried cranberries. Chocolate Chip – Replace the dried cranberries with chocolate chips. (These are my favorite sugar-free ones that taste great for healthy baked oatmeal!) Baked Apple Oatmeal – Omit cranberries, and add diced apples, maple syrup and pure almond extract instead of vanilla. Add brown sugar (or Besti Brown) for more flavor. Brownie – Make brownie batter and add a cup of rolled oats. Blueberry Oatmeal Bake – Swap dried cranberries for fresh (or dried) blueberries. Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal – Reduce eggs to 1, reduce milk to 3/4 cup, and add 1/2 cup canned pumpkin. Use pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon.
Storage Instructions
Store: Place leftovers in an airtight container and pop it in the refrigerator. It will last for up to 4 days in the fridge. Reheat: To keep its cake-like texture, place leftover oatmeal on a microwave-safe plate and cover it with a piece of damp paper towel. Microwave for 15 seconds, then continue in 10-second intervals until warm.
Can You Freeze Baked Oatmeal?
Yes, you can freeze baked oatmeal recipes. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating. What’s better than waking up to the smell of freshly baked oatmeal? Not much! Here are some tips for the best baked oatmeal ever:
Don’t make batter ahead. If you do, the oats will absorb the liquid and you’ll get mushier results. Don’t skip the butter. It keeps every bite soft and moist. Adjust the baking time. Make sure to adjust baking time depending on if you like firm or soft baked oatmeal.
More Healthy Breakfast Recipes
Love sweet breakfasts, but want to skip the sugar crash? Try these healthy options for ways to stay fueled all morning long. Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email.
