Vegan Baked Oatmeal [With Berries]

Healthy one-pan vegan baked oatmeal with mixed berries is a low-fuss, cozy, comforting, and nourishing make-ahead breakfast or brunch with a soft middle and crisp golden crust! + gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free!

Easy One-Pan Vegan Baked Oatmeal Recipe

Do you love the cozy comfort of stovetop oatmeal but love the hands-off, make-ahead nature of overnight oats? Have you considered vegan baked oatmeal?! It mixes simple, wholesome, inexpensive ingredients in one pan and bakes it into a crowd-pleasing casserole, perfect for feeding a crowd or to slice and reheat all week.

This baked berry oatmeal is made with just 6 wholesome, nourishing ingredients and bakes until chewy and dense yet creamy inside, infused with warm cinnamon, studded with strawberry and blueberry throughout, with a toasty, crisp top. It’s also loaded with heart-healthy fat, fiber, several vitamins and minerals, and antioxidants.

Best of all, it’s easy to prep in minutes, nourishing, almost endlessly customizable, and healthy – free from oil and added sugars with fresh or frozen fruit, so you can enjoy it all year. Once baked, slice it into portions to feed a crowd or reheat over the week as a hearty breakfast or snack for home or on the go.  

The Ingredients and Substitutions

• Oats: We designed this easy baked oatmeal recipe with old-fashioned oats/rolled oats in mind for a hearty, chewy texture. Use certified gluten-free oats if necessary.
• Bananas: Make sure to use very ripe/overripe bananas with plenty of black spots for the best, sweetest flavor. This will be the main binding ingredient to make baked oats without eggs. Unsweetened applesauce should also work.
• Dairy-free milk: Use any unsweetened plant-based milk. E.g., almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk, soy milk, etc.
• Vanilla extract: Use natural vanilla extract for the best flavor and warmth.
• Cinnamon: Just a pinch (optional) for added warmth. Other spices, like ginger, cardamom, or pumpkin pie spice also complement berries well.
• Berries: We use a combination of fresh strawberries and blueberries for this baked berry oatmeal recipe, but feel free to use others – like raspberries – or mixed berries (fresh or frozen – no need to thaw first).
• Nuts: (Optional) Like almonds, pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, etc., or granola to garnish, for crunch, heart-healthy fats, and protein.

A pinch of salt also helps enhance the flavors in easy vegan baked oatmeal.

What Can I Add to Vegan Baked Oats?

Like all our favorite vegan oat recipes, this baked vegan oatmeal is highly versatile and can be customized with each new batch.

• Sweetener: If you don’t find the sweetness of baked banana oatmeal enough, feel free to add regular/brown sugar, unrefined coconut sugar, or sugar-free erythritol/Stevia, etc.
• Almond extract: Just a few drops for a subtle nutty flavor.
• Vegan yogurt: For creamier healthy baked oatmeal, replace up to 50% of the plant milk with vegan yogurt.
• Citrus zest: Add bright, citrusy flavor with the zest of an orange, lemon, or lime.
• Coconut: Add raw or lightly toasted coconut shreds/flakes for flavor and texture.
• Vegan chocolate chips: Sprinkle in some dairy-free chocolate for delicious decadence.
• Chia seeds: To add heart-healthy fats, fiber, and protein, add 1-2 tbsp chia seeds.
• Veggies: Add ⅓ cup finely shredded carrot/zucchini for hidden nutrients.
• Protein: Boost the protein with a swirl of nut butter, ¼ cup hemp seeds, or 1-2 scoops of vegan protein powder. The latter needs more liquid to avoid dry oatmeal.
• Other fruits: Like chopped peaches, pineapple, or apples.

How to Make Baked Oatmeal?

• First, preheat the oven to 350F/177C and grease a 9×9 inch baking dish.
• Then, add the bananas to the dish and use a fork to mash them well.

For a caramelized banana flavor, bake the mashed banana with a drizzle of syrup for about 10 minutes before continuing with the recipe.

• Add the plant milk, cinnamon, and vanilla extract and stir. Then, stir in the oats.

• Fold in the berries, then transfer the dish to the oven to bake for 30 minutes, until the center is set and the edges are golden brown.

It’s important not to overbake the oatmeal, otherwise it can end up overly dry.

• Remove the baked oatmeal from the oven and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. During this time, the oats will thicken and set for the perfect sliceable texture.

• Serve the baked berry oatmeal topped with more berries, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and, optionally, some crushed nuts – Enjoy!

FAQs

Pro Recipe Tips

• To adjust the consistency: Simply adjust the ratio of liquid to oats based on whether you prefer a soft, casserole-like consistency or firmer baked oatmeal bars (that you can hold in your hands).
• Adjust the sweetness: Since no eggs are in the mixture, try it before baking and add some sweetener, if preferred.
• Grease the dish well: Otherwise, the oats can stick.
• For a browner top: Broil the strawberry and blueberry baked oatmeal in the last few minutes for a crispier crust.
• Experiment!: Enjoy it with any fruit, nut, and spices you like.
• For individual serve portions: Divide the mixture between buttered ramekins/a muffin tin and bake for about 15-25 minutes (based on size).

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy baked berry oatmeal warm from the oven, chilled, or reheated alone or with:

• A dollop of vegan yogurt
• Coconut whipped cream
• A scoop of vanilla nice cream
• A drizzle of nut butter, maple syrup, vegan chocolate spread, or fruity compote

Storage Instructions

Leave the berry baked oatmeal to cool entirely, then store it in a plastic-wrap covered dish or in an airtight container for 4-5 days.

You can also freeze this no-egg baked oatmeal, whole or sliced, for up to 2 months. Then allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight when wanted.

Reheat it in the microwave (in 30-second increments until warm) or cover it in foil in the oven (at 350F/177C until warmed through).

Make Ahead Vegan Baked Oatmeal

Prepare the oat mixture the night before and store it, covered, in the refrigerator. Take it out of the fridge 20 minutes before baking, then bake as usual.

By leaving the oats to soak, they’ll absorb the liquid, soften, and make creamier vegan baked oats (that you may or may not prefer).

More Vegan Oatmeal Recipes

• Carrot cake oatmeal
• Easy Coffee Oatmeal
• Biscoff Overnight Oats
• Peanut butter oatmeal breakfast cups
• Vegan walnut oat scones
• Strawberry oat bars

Photos by Alfonso Revilla