Start your day with these incredibly delicious and totally irresistible chocolate baked oats! It’s like having a healthy dessert for breakfast!
Baked oats have been taking the internet by storm, and for a good reason! It’s got all the healthful qualities of oatmeal but baked (or microwaved) into something quite special!
Inspired by classic baked oats, this chocolate version is a must for anyone who is a self-proclaimed chocoholic!
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It is filling. If you like a satisfying and filling breakfast or snack, you have to try this recipe. I have added protein powder to keep you energized through your busy mornings!
- Easy to scale up. You can just make a big batch of baked oats to last you the whole week. Isn’t that neat? I love to bake them in a 9-inch pan, slice them up, and enjoy a healthy breakfast every morning (similar to brownie baked oatmeal!).
- It has the perfect texture. It is soft and fudgy at the center. It is chewy because I haven’t blended the batter, and it has little pockets of melted chocolate chips throughout.
- Microwave option. Sure, the oven is the preferred method, but if you are in a time pinch, this works in the microwave too!
Ingredients (and substitutions)
- Banana. Banana has a dual purpose in this recipe. It acts as a binder and a natural sweetener. Not a fan of bananas? Try unsweetened applesauce or pumpkin puree.
- Rolled oats. I have used rolled/old-fashioned oats for this recipe because they offer the perfect texture to the final product.
- Protein powder. I have used a chocolate protein powder to reinforce the chocolate flavor, but you can omit this if you don’t have any on hand.
- Cocoa powder. Use Dutch-processed cocoa powder for an intense chocolate flavor. If your cocoa has clumps, be sure to sift it first.
- Baking powder. Don’t you love a nice and fluffy cake-like texture?! Half a teaspoon of baking powder will ensure you get it.
- Milk. Use any non-flavored milk of your choice, including whole milk, almond milk, or soy milk.
- Chocolate chips. Need we say more?
How to make chocolate baked oats
This indulgent yet healthy recipe is a quick and easy way to enjoy oats. Best of all, you only need to mix the batter and let the oven do the heavy lifting!
- Make the batter. Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl until combined, and fold through the chocolate chips.
- Bake the oats. Transfer the batter to a greased ramekin or a small baking dish and bake the oats in a preheated oven at 180°C/350°F until the toothpick comes clean.
Flavor and recipe variations
- Blend the batter. For a light, cake-like, and fluffy texture, blitz the batter before making baking.
- Get a molten chocolate center. Add a few chunks of your favorite chocolate bar at the center of the oats for a molten center.
- Make mocha baked oats. Do you know what brings out the best in chocolate? Coffee! Add a touch of espresso or instant coffee to the oats batter for a kick of coffee flavor.
- Add flavors that work with chocolate. A few drops of potent vanilla, almond, hazelnut, or orange extract will do wonders for this recipe!
- Drizzle with nut butter. I love a good topping for my baked oats. A drizzle of peanut butter or almond butter will not only make this even more delicious but add some extra protein and healthy fats!
Recipe tips and tricks
- Use the right kind of oats. Rolled oats work perfectly in this recipe. Avoid using steel-cut oats because they have a tough texture. Because we’re not blitzing the oats or the batter, the final product will have an unpleasant chewy toughness.
- Use an unsweetened protein powder. These days, you get a wide variety of protein powders. If you’re a vegan, use a plant-based protein powder. Else, feel free to use casein/ whey-based protein powder.
- Adjust the batter consistency. If the oats appear too dry, add a few spoons of milk to bring it all together. If it seems runny, I suggest you wait for a few minutes until the oats soak it all up.
- Use a ripe banana. You will notice that banana is the only natural sweetener I’ve used in the recipe. So, use a fully ripe banana for adequate sweetness, and if it has a few black spots, even better!
- Microwave the oats. If you are short on time, you can “bake” this in the microwave for 1 1 1/2-2 minutes.
Storage instructions
To store. You can keep these baked goodies covered at room temperature if you intend to finish them the same day.
To freeze. If you make them in bulk, wrap each portion/ramekin of baked oats in plastic wrap and freeze them for up to two months.
To reheat. Allow the baked oats to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. And then you could heat it in the microwave briefly.
Recommended tools to make this recipe
- Ramekin. Most ramekins come in packs of 4-6, so they are perfect for prepping these baked oats.
- Mixing bowl. It cannot get simpler than this one-bowl recipe. I have a set of different-sized bowls, and I cannot imagine my kitchen without them.
More baked oatmeal recipes to try
Frequently asked questions
Oats are rich in a dietary fiber called beta-glucan, which helps regulate blood sugar and nourishes good gut bacteria. Oats also help lower bad cholesterol levels and are categorized as heart-healthy. You also get a decent amount of protein and antioxidants from this whole grain.
You’ll have a gluten-free recipe if you replace the oats with certified gluten-free oats.
I have two excellent banana substitutes that you could try. First is unsweetened applesauce, and the next one is pumpkin puree.
Chocolate Baked Oats
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1 small banana mashed
- 1/4 cup chocolate protein powder optional
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F.
- In a small bowl, mix together all the ingredients until combined. Fold through the chocolate chips.
- Transfer the mixture to a greased ramekin or small baking dish.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.
I could and would never skip breakfast. Which is funny because I wasn’t really a fan as a kid. This I want on my body. HOW CAN I BE OUT OF OATS AT A TIME LIKE THIS?
I would like to have the nutritional value of the chocolate breakfast oatmeal. I’m a Weight Watcher so I need to count points. Thanks
Hi Peg! for sure- If you add the ingredients into a calorie calculator, it will provide it for you! 🙂 Enjoy!
Oh no! Hope you can rectify it ASAP! 😀
i dont know how Niki is functioning without breakfast..i’d be crabby if i dont eat/snack throughout the day..not a big oatmeal person those chocolate morsels though.
Right? She snacks a ton so that might be it!
Coincidence you’dn talk about breakfast preferences and habits in detail when it’s been on my mind a few times lately, too. I absolutely need breakfast/food before noon but noticed that only a few of my coworkers do. The most extreme is probably that one colleage who’s the first to arrive here at around 7 AM but eating her first meal at maybe noon or later. Insane looking at how
Also, oatrmeal is one of the reasons to get out of bed. Mmh.
Wow, I’m impressed! I wish I could be like that!
I’d be okay with eating a candy bar for breakfast if it came along with eggs. On the side, of course. Not even I am brave enough to try a chocolate egg scramble.
Oh my, I’ve seen that before and almost felt sick.
I really like eating breakfast. I eat after I run so it’s nice to have some time to sit and get ready for the day. I think my family eats breakfast. I don’t live with them so I’m not positive. We always did as kids so I doubt anything has changed. Nikki is just superhuman lol
She’s just gaga sometimes!
I think breakfast is probably my most favorite meal of the day and the first thing I think about when I wake up haha
That’s what I like to hear!
HOW does this look so delicious?! I just ate and now I’m drooling all over my keyboard for this. Gah. I’m on Niki’s team with this one – I didn’t eat “breakfast” until 12pm today.
Hahaha mu hunger is screaming at me in the morning!
Oh, this looks so good right now! I definitely eat something for breakfast along with decaf.
Oh decaf?! I’m impressed! I can’t function without coffee…sometimes two- I do love the taste though!
Excuse me whilst I wipe the drool off my keyboard. I am making this. Tonight. Will be going to the store just as soon as I can pick my jaw up off the floor…because this looks so amazing I cannot even right now.
YES! Please do- Let me know what you think!
this looks insaaaaaaaaaaane! Look at that melty chocolate! Pinning!
Thanks so much, Rachel!
Oat My Goodness! There are just waaaay too many oatmeal recipes we need to try! Where do we even start?!
Thanks! This is delicious! 🙂
How do people forget to eat?! How is food not the first and only thing people think about all day?! How are you two from the same gene pool?
Lawlz to the magazine comment
RIGHT? Seriously. Although I did get the better genes.
OMG I’m so eating this for breakfast lunch and dinner 😀 healthy chocolate rules!
😀 YES! Enjoy!
This looks phenomenal! I think I could eat this for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner and not get tired of it.
😀 YES! thanks so much!
We actually LOVE brunch! It’s been a long time since we’ve had a sit-down brunch together though :/ we need to get together for breakfast or brunch sometime too! 😀
OMG HURRY UP CURRY