Hey there, chocolate lovers! If you've been on the hunt for the ultimate baked chocolate oatmeal recipe, you're in the right place. Today, we're whipping up some irresistibly delicious baked oats with no banana involved—perfect for those mornings when you want to start your day on a sweet yet wholesome note.
Ready to elevate your breakfast game? This cocoa-baked oats recipe is a total game-changer. Not only does it pack a rich chocolate flavor that'll satisfy your sweet tooth, but it's also brimming with healthy ingredients. We're talking rolled oats for fiber, flax meal for omega-3s, and cocoa powder for antioxidants.
Whether it's for a leisurely weekend brunch or a speedy weekday breakfast, this baked oatmeal, taking cues from our chocolate peanut butter bars, is just what you need. It's versatile enough for both breakfast and dessert, delivering that delightful brownie-like texture.
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💚 Why you will love it
- No Banana Added: Ideal for those who aren't fans of banana in their baked treats.
- Rich Chocolate Flavor: Indulge in the deep, satisfying taste of chocolate.
- Nutrient-Rich: Packed with wholesome, plant-based ingredients.
- Easy to Make: Simplifies your baking experience.
- Perfectly Versatile: Great for breakfast or as a snack.
🧾 Ingredients
The ingredients that make this recipe SO good are:
- Old-fashioned rolled oats (gluten-free): These oats are the backbone of the dish, providing fiber and a chewy texture. Plus, they're gluten-free, making this treat accessible for everyone.
- Dutch cocoa powder gives our oatmeal that deep, chocolatey flavor we crave. It's less acidic than natural cocoa, offering a smoother taste.
- Vegan dark chocolate chips: These little gems add pockets of gooey goodness. They're optional but highly recommended for an extra chocolatey experience.
- Baking powder is our rising agent, helping the oatmeal puff up and become fluffy. It's what transforms our mixture into a cake-like delight.
- Plant milk: It adds creaminess and moisture to the oatmeal. We recommend soy or oat milk, but almond works, too, if you're in a pinch.
- Lemon: When mixed with plant milk, it creates a vegan buttermilk effect. This adds a subtle tanginess that balances the sweetness.
- Flax meal: These act as our egg substitute, providing binding and some extra nutritional punch. They're rich in omega-3 fatty acids and fiber.
- Vanilla extract: A dash of this enhances all the other flavors. It's like the hype-man of the recipe, making everything else pop.
- Maple syrup: This is our natural sweetener, giving the oatmeal a rich, earthy sweetness. You can adjust the amount based on your preference and any additional sweet elements you might add.
- Optional: shredded coconut to decorate.
Substitutions
- Dutch Cocoa Powder: You can swap this out for natural cocoa powder, chocolate protein powder, or carob powder.
- Baking Powder: If you're out of baking powder, you can make your own by mixing ¼ teaspoon of baking soda with ½ teaspoon of cream of tartar for every teaspoon needed.
- Plant Milk: Any plant milk will do. Try hazelnut milk, oat milk, and or a DIY almond milk, but if you're out, you can use water with a teaspoon of coconut oil for creaminess.
- Lemon: lime or apple cider vinegar can be used as a substitute to create that vegan buttermilk effect.
- Flax Meal or Chia Seeds: If you're out of both, you can use unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana as a binding agent.
- Vanilla Extract substitute: Feel free to use almond extract.
- Maple Syrup: Agave nectar, date paste, or coconut sugar can be used as a sweetener alternative.
🍽 Equipment
- Baking Dish or ramekins (to make individual servings)
- Glass Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
🔪 Instructions
Step 1: Make a flax seed-vegan buttermilk mixture by combining plant milk, flax meal, and lemon juice. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it thickens.
Step 2: Add oatmeal, half chocolate chips, dry ingredients, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
Pro tip: Both flax meal and chia seeds will give you that desired thickening effect. We opted for a flax meal instead of chia seeds to maintain a smooth, velvety texture, avoiding the slight crunch that chia seeds can introduce.
Step 3: Pour the mixture into a baking dish and take it to the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes.
Step 4: Remove the oven and add the rest of the chocolate chips and optional shredded coconut; then turn it back to the oven for another 5 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
💡 Expert Tips
The key to getting this recipe right every time is to preheat your oven and thoroughly mix all your ingredients. Ensuring the oven is at the right temperature helps the oatmeal rise and set properly, while mixing eliminates any pockets of dry ingredients, guaranteeing a uniform, moist, and delicious outcome.
For a Taller Result: Use a smaller baking pan. This will give your baked oats a taller, more substantial appearance.
Baking Time Consideration: The taller your oatmeal, the longer they will need to bake to achieve the perfect consistency.
📖 Variations
Nut Butter Swirl: Before baking, swirl in a couple of tablespoons of your favorite nut butter, like cashew or peanut butter, into the oat mixture. This adds a nutty complexity and extra creaminess to your baked oatmeal.
Almond Butter and Banana: If you do like bananas, mix in some almond butter and thinly sliced bananas into the oat mixture before baking. The almond butter adds richness, while the bananas provide natural sweetness and a different texture.
Nut Butter and Berry Blast: Combine a dollop of nut butter with a handful of mixed berries like blueberries and raspberries. The berries add a tart contrast to the nut butter's creamy richness, making each bite a flavor explosion.
🥢 How to serve
We usually enjoy a serving of warm baked oatmeal alongside a comforting cup of black coffee. However, when we're feeling a bit extra or hosting a Sunday brunch, we like to elevate the experience with these toppings:
Fresh Berries: top it with a handful of fresh berries. The natural sweetness and tartness of berries like strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries complement the rich chocolate flavor perfectly.
Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream: Transform your baked oatmeal into a decadent dessert by serving it warm with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream. The creamy, cold ice cream melts into the warm, chocolatey oats, creating a heavenly combo you won't be able to resist.
🥡 Storage
Fridge Storage: Once your chocolate-baked oatmeal has cooled down, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. This keeps the oatmeal moist and flavors intact.
Reheating from the Fridge: You can either place a serving in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes or reheat it in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes. Both methods will bring back that fresh-out-of-the-oven taste.
Freezing: If you want to store it longer, you can freeze individual portions in airtight containers or freezer-safe bags. Label them with the date to know how long they've been stored.
Reheating from Frozen: When you're ready to enjoy your frozen baked oatmeal, let it thaw in the fridge overnight, reheat it as usual, or microwave it straight from the freezer. If microwaving, start with 2 minutes and add more time as needed. If using the oven, preheat to 350°F and bake for about 20-25 minutes or until heated through.
❓ FAQ
Both baked oats and overnight oats have their own sets of nutritional benefits, and one isn't necessarily healthier than the other; it mostly depends on the ingredients you use.
Baked oats often include baking powder and may be served warm, which gives them a different texture and flavor profile. They can also include additional ingredients like cocoa powder or nut butters, which can add to their nutritional value.
Overnight oats are usually served cold and can be less processed, retaining the whole grain benefits of the oats. Both options are versatile and can be made as healthy as you'd like by controlling the added sugars, fats, and other ingredients. So, in essence, both can be part of a balanced diet.
📚 More oatmeal recipes
You won't want to miss our Brown Sugar Cinnamon Oatmeal and Oat Milk Smoothie—trust us, they're taste bud game-changers!
🧮 Serving size
We've tested this recipe with two different pan sizes to help guide you:
- 8x12 Pan:
- Total Baking Time: 25-30 minutes
- Portions: 16
- Calories Per Serving: 124 kcal
- 6x12 Pan (For Taller Oats):
- Total Baking Time: 1 hour
- Portions: 12
- Calories Per Serving: 165 kcal
Choose your pan size based on how tall you want your baked oats to be, and adjust your baking time as needed.
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⭐ If you try this recipe, let us know! 💬 Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag us @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!
📋 Recipe
Baked Chocolate Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats gluten-free (200 g)
- ⅓ cup Dutch cocoa powder 35 g
- 1 ½ tespoons baking powder
- 2 cup plant milk preferably oat milk, or soy. But almond is OK.
- 1 lemon juiced, about 4 tablespoons
- ⅓ cup flax meal or chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup maple syrup only use ½ cup if adding the optional chocolate chips
- ¼ cup vegan dark chocolate chips 45 g
Optional Topping:
- 2 tablespoons shredded coconut lightly toasted or half the chocolate chips
Directions
- Prepare Vegan Buttermilk and Flax Egg. In a small bowl, mix the plant milk, flax meal, and lemon juice. Set aside for 10 minutes until it thickens to create a flax-egg-vegan buttermilk mixture.
- Preheat Oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 8x8-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Mix the rest of the Ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, add maple syrup and cocoa powder, and mix well until you have chocolate milk. Add Chocolate Chips. Fold in the vegan dark chocolate chips, reserving a small amount for topping.
- Transfer to baking dish. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Bake. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center is clean.
- Add Optional Topping. If using, sprinkle the toasted shredded coconut and remaining chocolate chips over the top in the last 5 minutes of baking.
- Cool and Serve. Allow to cool slightly before cutting into portions. Serve warm, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- For a Taller Result: Use a smaller baking pan. This will give your baked oats a taller, more substantial appearance.
- Baking Time Consideration: The taller your oatmeal, the longer they will need to bake to achieve the perfect consistency.
- 8x12 Pan:
- Total Baking Time: 25-30 minutes
- Portions: 16
- Calories Per Serving: 124 kcal
- 6x12 Pan (For Taller Oats):
- Total Baking Time: 1 hour
- Portions: 12
- Calories Per Serving: 165 kcal
Nutrition Facts
Nutritional Disclaimer
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our full Nutritional Disclosure here.
Affiliate Disclaimer
Please note that some of the links here are affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I recommend all of the products listed because they are companies I have found helpful and trustworthy.
As the lead content writer and recipe developer at Our Plant-Based World, he combines his passion for health and sustainability with a Plant-Based Nutrition Certification to create accessible, delicious vegan recipes. His expertise in plant-based cooking supports the blog's mission of fostering a healthier, environmentally conscious lifestyle through simple and seasonal dishes. His commitment to making vegan cooking enjoyable and inclusive for everyone shines in each recipe and article.
Jen
The baked chocolate oatmeal was hearty and flavorful, with a pleasant balance of chocolate and natural sweetness from the oats. It baked up nicely, offering a satisfying texture that was neither too dense nor too light. Definitely a repeat-worthy recipe for a cozy morning.
Gus De Obaldia
We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the baked chocolate oatmeal! It's great to know the balance of flavors and textures hit the spot. Thanks for sharing your experience, and we hope this dish finds its way into your regular breakfast rotation! xoxo
Sisley
I loved adding the coconut to the top. I can't wait to make these again.
Taly
Your chocolate oatmeal recipe was a delightful surprise. I was a bit skeptical about a banana-free version, but your approach really worked, and it was incredibly easy to prepare.
It's become a new morning favorite in my household.
Thank you for sharing!
Toni
This quickly became a favorite at my house! Perfect to munch on any time of the day!
Gus
Hey Tony, I'm thrilled to hear that the baked chocolate oatmeal has become a household favorite! It's awesome that you find it perfect for munching at any time. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience. Enjoy your oatmeal adventures! 😊
Ali
This chocolate oatmeal made a delicious breakfast! It was really simple to make and these bars go so well with a fall latte!
Gus
Hey Ali,
Yay, we're thrilled you enjoyed the baked chocolate oatmeal! Simple and delicious is what we aim for, and it sounds like we hit the mark. Pairing it with a fall latte? You're speaking our language! 🍂☕
Keep an eye out for more easy and tasty breakfast options. We've got some scrumptious ideas brewing!
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. Your feedback is like the whipped cream on our latte!
Best,
Gus & Joaco