Need a healthy breakfast that feels like a treat? This customizable baked oats recipe is your answer. All you need are a few simple ingredients and 30 minutes to whip up a warm, cake-like breakfast that will keep you full all morning. Mix and match your favorite add-ins like berries, chocolate, or pumpkin!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Baked oats are a warm and comforting breakfast dish made by blending oats with milk, a natural sweetener, and other ingredients, then baking until set. It's like having a healthy cake for breakfast! You'll love this recipe because it's:
- Easy to make: Simply blend the ingredients, pour into ramekins, and bake. It's a virtually foolproof recipe that's perfect for beginner cooks.
- Completely customizable: The flavor combinations are endless! You can mix and match your favorite fruits, nuts, spices, and other add-ins to create your perfect baked oats.
- Healthy and delicious: This recipe is packed with nutrients and is naturally sweetened with banana and a touch of maple syrup or honey. It's a breakfast you can feel good about eating.
What are baked oats?
Baked oats are a trendy and delicious twist on traditional oatmeal. Instead of cooking oats on the stovetop or in the microwave, the ingredients are blended together to create a smooth batter, which is then baked in the oven. The result is a cake-like texture that is light, fluffy, and incredibly satisfying. It's a great way to enjoy the nutritional benefits of oats in a new and exciting way.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make these delicious baked oats:
- Rolled oats: I recommend using rolled oats (also called old-fashioned oats) for the best texture. You can find them in the cereal aisle of most grocery stores. For a gluten-free option, be sure to use certified gluten-free oats.
- Milk of your choice: Any type of milk will work in this recipe, so feel free to use your favorite. I like to use unsweetened almond milk, but oat milk, soy milk, or dairy milk are all great options.
- Ripe banana: A ripe banana adds natural sweetness and moisture to the baked oats. The riper the banana, the sweeter it will be. Look for bananas with plenty of brown spots for the best flavor.
- Maple syrup or honey: A touch of maple syrup or honey adds a little extra sweetness. You can adjust the amount to your liking or omit it altogether if you prefer a less sweet breakfast.
- Nut or seed butter of your choice: Nut or seed butter adds healthy fats and protein to the baked oats, helping to keep you full and satisfied. I love using almond butter or peanut butter, but feel free to use your favorite.
- Vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla extract enhances the flavor of the baked oats.
- Baking powder: Baking powder helps the baked oats to rise and become light and fluffy.
- Add-ins of your choice: This is where you can get creative! See the notes below for some of my favorite flavor combinations.
- Cooking spray: A light spray of cooking spray will prevent the baked oats from sticking to the ramekins.
Ask the Dietitian: Are Baked Oats Healthy?
Yes! This baked oats recipe is a fantastic choice for a healthy breakfast, thanks to its two star ingredients: oats and bananas.
- Oats are packed with a special type of soluble fiber called beta-glucan, which research shows is great for your heart and can help lower cholesterol.
- The fiber in oats also helps keep you full and satisfied, aids in digestion, and can even help control blood sugar levels.
- Bananas are a great source of potassium, a mineral that's important for heart health and blood pressure, and they also provides resistant starch, which acts like fiber and is great for your gut.
Customize it your way
Like all of my recipes, this Baked Oats recipe is completely customizable. Choose what add-ins and toppings you want to use to create your perfect breakfast.
- Strawberry: For a classic and delicious flavor, mix in ¼ cup of diced strawberries into one of the ramekins. Top with some strawberry chia seed jam and extra fresh strawberries.
- Blueberry Coconut: For a tropical twist, mix in ¼ cup of fresh or frozen blueberries. Top with a sprinkle of unsweetened shredded coconut and more fresh blueberries.
- Pumpkin Pecan: Perfect for the fall season, mix in 2 tablespoons of pumpkin purée, 2 tablespoons of chopped pecans, and ¼ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. Top with a dollop of Greek yogurt, a few extra pecans, and a drizzle of maple syrup.
- Chocolate: For a decadent treat, mix in 1 tablespoon of chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder. Top with a drizzle of your favorite nut butter and a few more chocolate chips.
These are just a few suggestions but feel free to also mix in other add-ins of your choice like other fruits, nuts, or spices of choice!
How to make Baked Oats
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- Preheat your oven to 350°F while you work on the recipe.
- Blend the batter: Add the rolled oats, milk, ripe banana, maple syrup or honey, nut or seed butter, vanilla extract, and baking powder to a blender or food processor. Blend until the mixture is smooth and has a consistency similar to pancake batter. This step is crucial for achieving the light and fluffy texture of baked oats. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the blender to ensure all the ingredients are well combined.
- Prepare the ramekins: Lightly spray four small ramekins with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared ramekins using a rubber spatula.
- Add your mix-ins: Sprinkle your desired add-ins directly into each ramekin. Use a spoon or a small spatula to thoroughly mix the add-ins into the batter until they are evenly distributed. This is a great time to get creative and try different flavor combinations in each ramekin.
- Bake: Place the ramekins on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes. The baked oats are done when they are set in the center and lightly golden on top. You can test for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the oats; if it comes out clean, they are ready.
- Top and enjoy: Let the baked oats cool for a few minutes before adding your favorite toppings. They are best enjoyed warm.
Troubleshooting Tips
- My baked oats are dense: This could be due to an issue with your baking powder. Make sure your baking powder is fresh and not expired. Also, be careful not to overmix the batter after adding the baking powder, as this can deflate the air bubbles.
- My baked oats are not cooked in the center: If the center of your baked oats is still liquidy after 25 minutes, they may need a little more time in the oven. The baking time can vary depending on your oven and the size of your ramekins. Continue baking for another 5 minutes at a time until the center is set.
Pairing
This Customizable Baked Oats recipe is delicious on its own, but it also pairs well with a cup of coffee, tea, or a glass of milk. For a more filling breakfast, you can serve it with a side of fresh fruit or a dollop of Greek yogurt.
Here are a few of my other favorite dishes to serve with these baked oats:
Scaling
This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd or for meal prepping. To scale the recipe, simply multiply all the ingredients by the desired amount. For example, to double the recipe, use 2 cups of rolled oats, 1 cup of milk, 2 ripe bananas, and so on. The baking time should remain the same, but you may need to use a larger baking dish instead of individual ramekins.
Storage & Meal Prep Tips
These baked oats are perfect for meal prep! You can make a batch at the beginning of the week and enjoy a quick and easy breakfast every morning. To store, let the baked oats cool completely, then cover and refrigerate for up to 4 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply microwave for 30-60 seconds or until warmed through. You can also enjoy them cold, straight from the fridge.
Customizable Baked Oats
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup milk of your choice, (almond, oat, soy, dairy, etc.)
- 1 medium ripe banana
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
- 2 tablespoons nut or seed butter of your choice
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ~¼ cup add-ins of your choice per ramekin, (fruit, chocolate chips, nuts, spices, etc.) - see notes below for measurements
- Cooking spray
Optional toppings of your choice:
- Nut or seed butter drizzle
- Greek Yogurt
- Fresh or warm fruit
- Jam or chia jam
- Extra maple syrup or honey
- Nutella
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Add rolled oats, milk, banana, maple syrup or honey, nut or seed butter, vanilla, and baking powder to a blender or food processor.
- Blend until smooth, with a consistency similar to pancake batter.
- Lightly spray four small ramekins (~1 inch tall by 3 inches wide) with cooking spray and divide the batter with a rubber spatula evenly among them.
- Sprinkle desired add-ins (see measurements in note) directly into each ramekin and thoroughly mix until combined. Feel free to mix and match different add-ins for each ramekin.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until set in the center and lightly golden on top.
- Top as desired and enjoy warm.
Notes
- Mix-ins: ¼ cup diced strawberries
- Topping: strawberry chia seed jam + extra strawberries
- Mix-ins: ¼ cup blueberries
- Topping: unsweetened shredded coconut + more fresh blueberries
- Mix-ins: 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree + 2 tablespoons chopped pecans + ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- Topping: yogurt + extra pecans + maple syrup drizzle
- Mix-ins: 1 tablespoon chocolate chips + 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
- Topping: nut butter drizzle + chocolate chips
Nutrition
Other Breakfast Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
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