Maya Chen
Cozy baked oatmeal packed with sweet, ripe bananas—easy to prepare, perfect for meal prep, and naturally sweet with warm spices!
Recipe Snapshot
- 🍽️ Serves: 6
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🍳 Cook Time: 35 minutes
- 💰 Cost Estimate: $1.60 per serving
Clever Tip:
Mash bananas well for even sweetness or slice them for extra fruit texture in each bite.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Just mix, bake, and enjoy—no stirring at the stove!
- Amazing meal prep—slices reheat beautifully all week
- Naturally sweetened with bananas and a bit of maple
- Nutritious, filling, and kid-friendly
- Warm, comforting flavors for any breakfast or snack
Ingredient Notes
- Bananas: The riper, the better—spotty bananas add lots of sweetness
- Rolled oats: Not quick oats for best texture
- Milk: Dairy or plant-based, both work
- Eggs: For binding and extra protein
- Maple syrup or honey: Compliments the banana and oatmeal flavor
- Spices: Cinnamon and nutmeg are classic—try pumpkin spice too!
- Optional: Chopped nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruit for texture
Ingredients
- ▢ 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- ▢ 2 cups rolled oats
- ▢ 1 1/2 cups milk (any kind)
- ▢ 2 large eggs
- ▢ 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
- ▢ 2 tsp baking powder
- ▢ 1 tsp cinnamon
- ▢ 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- ▢ 1/2 tsp salt
- ▢ Optional: 1/2 cup chopped nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate chips
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8-inch pan or similar.
- In a large bowl, mash bananas. Whisk in eggs, milk, and maple syrup.
- Stir in oats, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and any add-ins.
- Pour mixture into prepared pan. Smooth the top.
- Bake 35–40 minutes, until golden and set. Cool before slicing.
- Serve warm with yogurt, a drizzle of nut butter, or extra banana slices.
Helpful Tips
- Bananas should be very well mashed for best results
- For vegan, use flax eggs (2 tbsp flax in 5 tbsp water)
- Don’t overbake! It sets up more as it cools
Expert Tips for the Best Results
- Add nut butter swirl before baking for extra richness
- Sprinkle with coarse sugar for a muffin-top crust
- Reheat slices in microwave or toaster oven before eating
Meal Prep & Freezing Tips
- Prep Ahead: Bake, cool, and slice into grab-and-go portions
- Storage: Store in airtight container in fridge up to 5 days
- Freezing: Wrap individual squares, freeze up to 2 months, thaw overnight or reheat gently
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I make it nut-free? Skip nuts and use seeds if desired
- Can I swap quick oats? Yes, but texture will be softer—reduce baking time a few minutes
- Is this freezer-friendly? Absolutely; freeze in portions and thaw as needed
- Flavor swaps? Try pumpkin, apple, or add chocolate chips!
Conclusion
Baked Banana Oatmeal brings warm, simple comfort to any breakfast—customize, prep ahead, and enjoy every slice!
Baked Banana Oatmeal
A hearty, sweet, oven-baked breakfast that slices into perfect, grab-and-go portions.
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas mashed
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1-1/2 cups milk any kind
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp salt
Optional:
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts dried fruit, or chocolate chips
*Ingredient costs are estimated based on bulk purchasing and typical grocery prices.
Instructions
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease an 8 times 8-inch (or similar size) baking dish.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the rolled oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, mash the bananas well. Add the milk, beaten eggs, sweetener, and vanilla extract. Whisk until fully combined.
- Combine: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until everything is just combined. Be careful not to overmix. Fold in any optional mix-ins (like berries or chocolate chips) if desired.
- Bake: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish, ensuring the top is relatively even. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the oatmeal is set in the center.
- Cool and Serve: Let the oatmeal cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing into six squares and serving. Serve warm with an extra splash of milk or honey.
Notes
Clever Tip
Use very ripe, speckled bananas. They are sweeter, mash easier, and give the baked oatmeal a richer flavor, often reducing the need for extra sweetener.Meal Prep & Freezing Tips
- Prep Ahead: You can mix the dry and wet ingredients separately and store them overnight in the fridge. Combine them just before baking in the morning.
- Storage: Slice the cooled oatmeal into squares and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Wrap individual cooled squares tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat frozen slices in the microwave for 60 to 90 seconds.
