You can make these healthy baked oatmeal breakfast cups ahead of time and stash them in the freezer for a quick and filling breakfast!
*This post was first published March 9, 2007. Enjoy it again here, along with some new thoughts and tips*
Have you ever made baked oatmeal? I made it for the first time a few years ago, and since then, I make it on a regular basis. It’s great for a healthy and filling grab-and-go breakfast for those busy mornings. There are some mornings I wouldn’t have a chance to eat anything at all if it weren’t for my delicious fridge stash of these Healthy Baked Oatmeal Breakfast Cups.
WHAT ARE BAKED OATMEAL CUPS?
Baked oatmeal is made when you mix together uncooked old fashioned oats, milk, sweeteners and additional ingredients (dried cranberries, bananas, peanut butter, etc.) and then add the mixture to a pan and bake until the oatmeal is cooked through and you can slice it up and enjoy.
Baked Oatmeal Cups are made the exact same way, except you scoop the oatmeal mixture into a muffin tin instead of making it in a large pan. I love oatmeal cups because they’re the perfect serving size and great for little kids. The oatmeal cups also make storing and freezing them much easier.
BAKED OATMEAL CUP INGREDIENTS
- Old Fashioned Oats – I always make this recipe with old-fashioned oats. Having never tried to make it with with instant or steel-cut oats, I can’t say for sure if they would work well. (Let me know in the comments, if you try it!)
- Plant Based Milk – I like to use a plain, unsweetened milk to avoid any extra sugars. My favorite plant-based milks are almond and oat. You can use whatever kind you like.
- Sweeteners – I sweeten these oatmeal cups with a bit of pure maple syrup and coconut sugar. You are more than welcome to play with or cut down on the amounts. I also like to add some vanilla extract and cinnamon.
- Baking Powder & Salt – The baking powder helps the oatmeal cups rise a bit, as well as hold their shape. Make sure your baking powder isn’t expired before using it.
- Additional Ingredients – The above ingredients make up the base recipe. I’ve added additional ingredients for each specific flavor. Feel free to get creative and come up with your own flavors!
HOW TO MAKE BAKED OATMEAL CUPS
These oatmeal cups are super easy to make!
- Start by adding the almond milk, maple syrup, flax seed, vanilla and coconut sugar to a large bowl and whisking together. I like to let the mixture sit for a few minutes so the flax seed can thicken it up, acting as an egg would.
- You then add all the remaining ingredients and mix. Again, I like to let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes because it really lets everyone thicken and will help your oatmeal cups stay together well while cooking.
- Once the mixture has sat, you can use a 1/4 cup scoop to scoop the batter into the oatmeal tin. Bake oatmeal cups for 20-30 minutes, or until firm on the top and cooked through. Once removed from the oven, I like to let them sit in the oven tin to help them set completely.
STORING AND FREEZING TIPS
I like to store my cups either in the refrigerator or the freezer. You could store them on the countertop as long as it isn’t too hot in your house. I’ve found that they last longer in the refrigerator.
I like to store my oatmeal cups in either a Ziplock bag or airtight container (plastic or glass). If I’m freezing them, I prefer to use a bag and I make sure I get as much air out of it as I can to help prevent freezer burn.
They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and in the freezer for up to 6 months. To thaw, you can defrost on the countertop, microwave, or pop them in the oven.
BAKED OATMEAL CUP RECIPE TIPS
- A 12-cup regular muffin tin is a must for these oatmeal cups! You can get a non-stick one, but I like to spray mine with a little non-stick cooking spray just to be sure they don’t stick.
- I love using my 1/4-cup scoop to scoop the batter into the muffin tin. I do one heaping-scoop into each one.
- Some mix-in suggestions if you want a little boost:
- 1-2 Tablespoons Chia Seeds – high in omega-3, fiber, antioxidants and protein
- 1-2 Tablespoons Hemp Hearts – high in omegas and protein
- Protein Powder – extra boost of protein
- 1-2 Tablespoons Brewers Yeast – This can help boost lactation for nursing mothers
RECIPE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Can you use steel-cut oats in this recipe? I haven’t tried this recipe using them, so I can’t say for sure. I’m assuming you’d probably have to make a few changes to get the desired result.
- Can I make these in a pan instead of a muffin tin? Yes, I would use a 9×14 baking dish and you will need to add some time to the bake time.
- Can I omit the sweeteners? You can, you just need to watch the consistency and make sure it still looks good. You could also add in some date paste in place of maple syrup and coconut sugar.
- What can I use instead of maple syrup? Any sticky sweetener willwork. I would recommend honey, agave syrup or brown-rice syrup.
- What can I use instead of coconut sugar? I suggest brown sugar as a replacement.
- Can I use a real egg instead of the flax seed? Sure! Just use one egg.
- Can I use real milk instead of plant based milk? Of course! Same amount.
- Why are mine still mushy after cooking them for a while? I’m not quite sure since I wasn’t there with you, but I’d be happy to answer any questions you have in the comment section below.
- Can I add my own flavors? Of course! I love when people make their own flavors using the base recipe.
Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below and I’ll get back to you ASAP.
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Healthy Baked Oatmeal Breakfast Cups
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These Baked Oatmeal Breakfast Cups are easy to make and perfect for a healthy meal prep breakfast or snack!
Ingredients
Blueberry Almond
- 4 cups old fashioned oats, gluten free certified if necessary
- 1½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2⅓ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seed
- ¼ cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
Apple Cinnamon
- 4 cups old fashioned oats, gluten free certified if necessary
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2⅓ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seed
- ¼ cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 cup small diced apple, I used granny smith
Lemon Poppyseed
- 4 cups old fashioned oats, gluten free certified if necessary
- 1½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2⅓ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seed
- ¼ cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons poppyseeds
Orange Cranberry
- 4 cups old fashioned oats, gluten free certified if necessary
- 1½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2⅓ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seed
- ¼ cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 2 teaspoons orange juice
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, optional
Sweet Potato Carrot
- 4 cups old fashioned oats, gluten free certified if necessary
- 1½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2⅓ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seed
- ¼ cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 cup sweet potato puree
- 1/2 cup grated carrots
- 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Banana Bread
- 4 cups old fashioned oats, gluten free certified if necessary
- 1½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2⅓ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
- ¼ cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 large bananas, mashed
- 1/2 cup peanut butter, smooth or crunchy
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F. To a large bowl, add the almond milk, ground flax, maple syrup, vanilla extract and coconut sugar. Mix until combined and then let sit for 5 minutes.
- Add the remaining ingredients, mix again until completely combined and then let mixture sit for about 10 minutes, until thickened up a little bit.
- Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray, or line it with cupcake liners, and scoop oatmeal mixture in using a large ice cream scoop or a 1/4 measuring cup.
- Bake oatmeal cups for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove from the oven and let sit in the muffin tin for about 20 minutes, until cooled and completely set.
Notes
Store oatmeal cups in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Breakfast, Gluten Free, Vegan
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
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Hi there
I’ve been using your recipe after my friend shared it with me about 6 months ago, it has become a staple for me, and I love adapting it to add whatever fruits etc I have that need to be put to good use.
I wonder, did you only add the flaxseed recently? I swear I never saw it the first 10 times I followed the recipe.
Please confirm so I know I’m not going mad.
Thanks for the ideas here,
Cheers from China
Kimbra
Hi Kimbra! Haha, yes, I did add it in recently because some people seemed to have trouble getting them to stay together (and it adds some nutrition) but it’s definitely not needed!
Thanks for sharing! How long do they keep in the freezer?
This looks so good! What a great breakfast meal prep for the whole family!
Super excited to try something new and healthy. I made the almond blueberry ones and followed your recipe to the T. But they don’t hold their shape when I take them out of the muffin tin. They didn’t hold together like your picture. Any suggestions for next time?
Hi Sara, sorry you are having issues. Did you let them sit in the oven tin and cool completely before you took them out?
Made the orange cranberry oatmeal cups and they were even better than expected! Cant wait to try the other flavours! Will be a staple in my work meal prep for sure ?
Awesome! So glad you liked them!
Hi! Just made one base recipe and divided in 4 to make my own varieties. I wanted to try a few different ones so baked them in mini-muffin tins for 10 minutes. As I am Type 2 diabetic, I omitted the syrup and used Swerve Brown Sugar replacement. I made pumpkin maple with maple extract. Peanut butter banana with powdered peanut butter. Applesauce Saskatoon pecan and orange cranberry. They all hold together but the texture is a little spongey. Is that the proper texture? Thanks for the great recipe and ideas!
Hmm, I wouldn’t personally describe the texture as spongy but maybe?
I have tried most of these oatmeal and they are delicious! Thank you so much for the recipe.
I’m so glad to hear that!!
Had to bake them for 30 minutes to ensure the held together. Not as sweet or flavourful as I’d hoped for but still a nice breakfast snack. 3 out of 5 stars.
The peanut butter banana muffins are amazing! Everybody in the house loves em! Thanks!
That’s great to hear!
Found your page when I was looking for lactation cookies but healthier for my niece when she had her baby. Luckily, she said she was going good in this area so I didn’t need to make them with the brewer’s yeast. I already had all the ingredients so I made them for quick breakfasts or snacks for her. SUCCESS!! They were delicious and easy to bake. We will keep making these each week as part of our meal prep. Our favorite as of now is the blueberry almond! Thank you for creating and sharing your recipes!
So glad they were a success!!
Thanks for sharing! Do you use this base recipe for any other kinds of oatmeal cups?
Yes!!
This looks so good! What a great healthy breakfast meal prep for the whole family!
Thank you!!
These are amazing! Any tips for defrosting/serving these from the freezer?
Thank you! I like to put however many I need in the refrigerator the night before and they’re usually perfectly defrosted in the morning. Or, you could microwave for a minute or two 🙂
I made two of these (blueberry and the carrot/sweet potato ones) and they both came out awesome! I love how portable they are! I added 2 flaxseed eggs, a Plant protein powder scoop and a tbsp of chia seeds to each recipe just for added nutrition and they came out great. Inalso sprinkled them w coconut sugar on top to give it some crunchiness. So yummy. Will try the others very soon! Thanks!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them!!
I just made the cranberry orange ones and they are delicious!
I did half in a mini muffin tin for easy toddler snacks for my 16 month old. I reduced the cooking time to about 16 minutes for hers. I added 2 TBSP chia and 1 TBSP ground flax, and omitted the walnuts.
Thanks for a great healthy snack! I’m looking forward to checking out more of your veggie-friendly recipes!
I’m so glad you liked them!!
Hello Izzy,
I love your blog. So many successful results for me here! Thank you.
My question: have you or anyone else here tried making a half recipe? Seems like this would work.
I want to make the peanut banana ones but I only have one banana, not two.
And I sure don’t want to go out to the store unnecessarily during these stay at home times with the coronavirus going on.
If you or someone could answer this I would be most appreciative.
If I don’t hear from anyone I’m forging ahead with my plan.
Thank you in advance! Keep safe.
Thank you for the kind words! Yes, that would definately work! Just halve all the ingredients 🙂
Can you make these with steelcut oats?
Unfortunately I don’t think that would work the same way
I just made the Orange Cranberry ones and they are so yummy! Perfect little pick me up and a healthy way to curb my sweet tooth cravings!
So nice to hear it!!
Wow, these were so easy to make and very tasty! I made the blueberry oatmeal cups, the flavor & consistency was fantastic. The only change from your recipe was the elimination of the almonds (son has a nut allergy), and I subtitled the almond milk with oat milk. I also added 2 TBLS of vegan protein powder for a little extra boost. Thanks for the wonderful recipe!
There were very tasty! I used 1 % milk and substituted Truvia granulated for the sugar. Also, only used 1/4 of pecans instead of almonds. Oh, and used Skinny Syrup Salted Caramel for the syrup. There was an awful lot of milk. Perhaps I should let it sit for a few minutes to soak it up? This is a keeper and next week, I will make the carrot ones. I’m a lifetime WW on Purple Plan and my version is 2 points. I’m getting tired of my oatmeal in a bowl every morning!
So glad you enjoyed them! Yes, letting it sit for a few minutes will help the oats soak up some of the milk 🙂