Brownie Baked Oatmeal is a rich, chocolaty, and hearty breakfast everyone will love! It's a one-bowl recipe made with pantry staples and a few simple steps. This brownie oatmeal bake is surprisingly nutritious, easily made gluten-free and dairy-free, and 100% delicious.
Table of Contents
Chocolate baked oats are satisfyingly chocolatey and rich while being full of whole grains, protein, and fiber. Also known as healthy oatmeal brownies, baked oatmeal brownies, or breakfast brownies, they are sure to be a hit at breakfast or snack time!
Why You'll Love Brownie Baked Oatmeal
- Breakfast Brownies! Need I say more? These oat brownies are dense, satisfying, chocolaty, and fudgy, making a satisfying, but healthy, breakfast treat!
- One Bowl: No complicated techniques are called for here. Just add the ingredients to the bowl and mix!
- Nutritious: Unsuspecting diners may never guess how healthy this oatmeal brownie recipe is. With whole grain oats, milk (plant or dairy), no processed sugar, protein powder, and cocoa powder, this recipe is brimming with wholesome ingredients.
- Family-Friendly: You can feel as good about feeding your kids this brownie oatmeal as they do about enjoying it! Bonus: kids can help prepare the recipe by mashing the bananas, stirring the batter, or sprinkling chocolate chips!
Ingredients
- Old Fashioned Oats: Also known as rolled oats. Use gluten-free oats to make this brownie oatmeal bake gluten-free.
- Overripe Bananas: The more brown spots, the better.
- Cocoa Powder: Natural cocoa powder, such as Hershey's, is best.
- Milk: Either plant or dairy milk.
- Maple Syrup: Pure maple syrup will provide the best flavor.
- Butter: Unsalted butter or vegan butter both work.
- Protein Powder (Optional): Adds extra protein and staying power. I recommend unsweetened, vanilla, or chocolate.
- Large Eggs: Bind the oats together and adds protein and nutrition to the brownie baked oatmeal recipe.
- Chocolate Chips: A sprinkling of semi-sweet chocolate chips on top of the oatmeal brownie batter elevates the chocolate flavor to new heights.
- Vanilla Extract: Choose pure vanilla extract if you can.
- Salt: Accentuates the sweet chocolate flavors of the oatmeal brownie bake!
How to Make Brownie Baked Oatmeal
For the complete recipe and measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepared a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all of the wet ingredients until combined.
Step 3: Add the oats, gluten-free flour, salt, cocoa powder, and protein powder (if using). Whisk until the clumps of cocoa powder are dissolved.
Step 4: Pour the oatmeal batter into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top. Bake for 35 - 37 minutes, or until the baked oatmeal doesn’t jiggle in the center and bubbles rapidly around the edges.
Recipe Pro-Tips
- Grease the Baking Pan. The oatmeal mixture gets a bit sticky as it bakes up and solidifies, so you will want to spray the pan liberally with non-stick cooking spray.
- Adjust the Maple Syrup for Sweetened Protein Powder. If using sweetened chocolate or vanilla protein powder, you will likely want to reduce the maple syrup by 1-2 tablespoons. Otherwise, the oatmeal brownies can be overly sweet.
- Use Old Fashioned Oats, not quick-cook oats or steel-cut oats. Neither quick-cook or steel-cut oats have the appropriate texture or cooking time for this recipe.
Recipe Variations
- Dark Chocolate: Enjoy an extra rich chocolate experience by using dark cocoa powder and dark chocolate chips!
- Cinnamon: If you like the flavor of Mexican hot chocolate, try mixing 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon into the baked oat batter.
- Nuts: Add crunch and extra healthy fats to your brownie baked oats by stirring ½ cup chopped walnuts or almonds into the batter. Alternatively, you can sprinkle the nuts on with the chocolate before baking!
Serving Suggestions
Serve squares or scoops of this baked chocolate oatmeal piping hot with fresh hot coffee, lattes, or even coffee boba. Drizzle it with runny nut almond butter or peanut butter or even dollop whipped cream or whipped coconut cream on top.
Thanks to their high protein and fiber content, these brownie oats are a filling breakfast on their own. For extra-hungry mornings, however, they are perfectly complemented by sliced bananas, fresh berries, yogurt, and even a blueberry spinach smoothie!
Dietary Adaptations
- Dairy-Free: To make this recipe without dairy, use plant-based milk, vegan butter, and vegan chocolate chips. You can also substitute coconut oil for the vegan butter if desired.
- Gluten-Free: To make gluten-free chocolate baked oatmeal, be sure to use certified gluten-free old fashioned oats.
Storage Directions
- Refrigeration: Leftover brownie baked oats keep covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Freezing: Baked oatmeal can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator for 4-8 hours, or until thawed through.
- Reheating: Warm individual servings of baked brownie oatmeal in the microwave on medium heat for 45 seconds - 1 minute, or until heated through.
FAQs
Your baked oats are runny because they were either made with too much liquid or have not baked through entirely. Double-check the ingredient measurements to ensure that you are using the directed about of milk and make sure the oats are firm in the center before removing from the oven.
Baked oats are a delicious way to get whole-grain nutrition, protein, and more. They are also a great breakfast recipe to make ahead of time and enjoy throughout the week on easy mornings. Just heat up individual servings of the baked oatmeal and you are good to go! Furthermore, with so many ways to prepare and make baked oats, they're a great recipe to keep in your breakfast repertoire for when you want to switch things up.
Your baked oats are likely not cooked in the middle because they did not bake long enough. Always follow the recipe directions for baking times and jiggle the pan of oats before removing it from the oven. If the oats jiggle in the center, return the pan to the oven to bake further.
Tools Needed to Make This Recipe
More Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
- Vegan Coffee Cake
- Oat Milk Pancakes
- Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
- Oatmeal Blender Pancakes
- Breakfast Casserole with Tater Tots
- Crunchy Tumeric Granola
- Easy Baked Home Fries
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Recipe
Brownie Baked Oatmeal
Email FacebookIngredients
- 1 ¾ cup milk dairy or plant-based
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup mashed overripe bananas
- ¼ cup butter vegan or unsalted, melted
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 3 cups old fashioned oats also known as rolled oats
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- 1, 25g scoop protein powder unsweetened, vanilla, or chocolate
- ½ cup chocolate chips semi-sweet, dark chocolate, or mini chips (or a combo)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepared a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla extract, mashed bananas, melted butter, and maple syrup until combined.
- Add the oats, salt, cocoa powder, and protein powder (if using). Whisk until the clumps of cocoa powder are dissolved.
- Pour the oatmeal batter into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top. Bake for 35 - 37 minutes, or until the baked oatmeal doesn’t jiggle in the center and bubbles rapidly around the edges.
Notes
- Refrigeration: Leftovers keep covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Freezing: Baked oatmeal can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator for 4-8 hours, or until thawed through.
- Reheating: Warm individual servings of oatmeal in the microwave on medium heat for 45 seconds - 1 minute, or until heated through.
- Protein Powder: If using sweetened vanilla or chocolate protein powder, you will likely want to reduce the maple syrup by 1-2 tablespoons.
- Dairy-Free: To make this recipe without dairy, use plant-based milk, vegan butter, and vegan chocolate chips. You can also substitute coconut oil for the vegan butter if desired.
- Gluten-Free: To make this recipe gluten-free, be sure to use certified gluten-free old fashioned oats.
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