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Brownie Baked Oatmeal is a delicious healthy treat you can enjoy for breakfast or a satisfying snack! This Baked Brownie Oatmeal recipe is made by combining oats, cocoa powder, banana, maple syrup, vanilla, and dark chocolate chips for a guilt-free dish that is loaded with fiber and nutrients. Plus, it is vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free!

Pan full of chocolate oatmeal baked into slices with a knife next to it.

Who could resist brownies for breakfast? Wait until you try this new brownie-baked oatmeal that delivers all the indulgent flavors of a decadent chocolate brownie while being packed with the wholesome goodness of fiber-rich oatmeal. Perfectly paired with a warm cup of coffee, this delightful dish serves as a satisfying breakfast treat or a nutritious snack. A dream come true for chocolate lovers!

I love anything with oats like these oatmeal peanut butter balls, strawberry oatmeal, or peanut butter overnight oats. Now, this chocolate-baked oatmeal is just another incredible oatmeal recipe to add to the list.

To whip up this irresistible brownie-baked oatmeal, simply mix together oats, cocoa powder, baking powder, your choice of dairy-free milk, mashed banana, maple syrup, vanilla, and dark chocolate chips. The combination of these ingredients creates a thick, rich, and utterly decadent chocolate oatmeal everyone will go crazy for!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy to make – you can whip up the batter in minutes and let the oven do the rest of the work!
Healthy – this brownie-baked oatmeal is loaded with fiber and other nutrients. Plus it is plant-based and gluten-free!
Great meal prep recipe – baked oatmeal stores for up to 4 days and can easily be reheated in seconds for a quick snack or breakfast treat.
Delicious and satisfying – this recipe tastes like a warm chocolate-baked brownie that is so fudgy and decadent.

This baked oatmeal is perfect for enjoying straight from the fridge as a quick, guilt-free snack to satisfy your sweet cravings. It’s also delicious warmed up in the microwave, topped with a dollop of vanilla Greek yogurt for an added boost of protein and nutrients.

Jump to:

Why You’ll Love This Recipe
What Is Baked Oatmeal?
Ingredients Needed For Brownie Baked Oatmeal
Substitutions and Variations
Recommended Kitchen Tools
How To Make Brownie Baked Oatmeal
Expert Tips
Topping Ideas And Add-Ins
Storing and Reheating Chocolate Baked Oatmeal
Frequently Asked Questions
More healthy breakfast treats
Healthy Brownie Baked Oatmeal

Plate with a slice of chocolate baked oatmeal drizzled with peanut butter with more oatmeal and a bowl of salt behind it and a bowl of chocolate chips in front of it.

What Is Baked Oatmeal?

Baked oatmeal is a casserole-style, hearty dish made by mixing oats with a liquid (such as milk, or water) and various other mix-ins like nut butter, nuts, cocoa powder, protein powder, or fruit, then baking it in the oven until set and lightly golden around the edges.

Ingredients Needed For Brownie Baked Oatmeal

Here is a list of the ingredients you will need to make this incredble brownie baked oatmeal.

Ingredients for brownie baked oatmeal with labels.

Oats – rolled oats are best in this recipe. I love Kodiak Protein oats for the added protein but any rolled oats will work.
Banana – 1 medium, semi-ripe mashed banana gives the oatmeal some added sweetness and a nice texture. I actually could not taste the banana at all but it was needed.
Almond milk/Soy milk – any dairy-free milk will work in this recipe. I prefer almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk since those are the ones I am used to but any milk will work fine.
Maple syrup – adds a nice element of sweetness and compliments the rich flavor of the cocoa powder.
Vanilla extract – the hint of vanilla adds some warmth to the recipe and brings out the chocolatey flavors nicely.
Cocoa powder – for the rich chocolate flavor. You could also use chocolate protein powder for extra added protein.
Baking powder – to help the chocolate-baked oatmeal rise and become nice and fluffy.
Sea salt – is used to enhance the sweet flavors in this recipe.
Dark chocolate chips – and chocolate chips are fine. I used Lily’s dark chocolate chips.

Get the complete list of recipe ingredients and instructions, plus nutrition in the recipe card located at the bottom of this post.

Substitutions and Variations

Oats – any rolled oats, quick oats, or old-fashioned oats will work in this recipe.
Milk – any milk will work in this recipe. I have tried it with almond milk, soy milk, and regular nonfat milk and they all yielded a similar result.
Cocoa powder – I like the cocoa powder in this recipe because it gives it the rich chocolatey brownie taste. You can substitute a good-tasting chocolate protein powder that will be slightly less chocolatey but will add some extra protein and will still be delicious.
Maple syrup – any natural sweetener can be used in place of maple syrup like agave or date syrup. Liquid stevia can be used to make this recipe fully sugar-free.
Dark chocolate chips – any chocolate chips will work in this chocolate-baked oatmeal. You can even use chopped chocolate bars or chocolate chunks. Use sugar-free chocolate chips if you need to keep this recipe sugar-free.

Recommended Kitchen Tools

Measuring cups + measuring spoons
Mixing bowls
Baking dish – you want to use an 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish.
Rubber spatula

How To Make Brownie Baked Oatmeal

You are going to love this chocolate baked oatmeal that can be made with just a few ingredients in under 30 minutes. Here is a summary of how to make it.

Bowl of oats mixed with cocoa powder with a bowl of mashed banana mixed with milk behind it.

Combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the wet ingredients.

Chocolate oatmeal batter with chocolate chips on top of it in a glass mixing bowl.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mix to combine, and fold in the chocolate chips.

Pan of brownie oats with chocolate chips uncooked in a white baking dish.

Pour the oats mixture evenly into a prepared baking dish and top with more chocolate chips.

Bake the oatmeal in a preheated 375°F oven for 25-30 minutes until it is set in the middle and around the edges. Let it cool, then slice and serve.

Brownie oatmeal in a baking dish with a stripped linen in front of it.

Expert Tips

Choose the right type of oats – for baked oatmeal, old-fashioned rolled oats are usually the right choice because they provide a nice texture and will hold their shape while baking. Quick oats will become too mushy, and steel-cut oats may need to soften more during baking time. The rolled oats will give the baked oatmeal a nice chewy, soft texture like brownies.
Combine the ingredients well – make sure to mix the ingredients until they are fully incorporated so you get the best flavor and texture.
Prepare the baking dish – baked oatmeal can easily stick to the pan you are baking it in so you want to make sure to spray the dish with cooking spray or brush it with melted butter or coconut oil to ensure the oatmeal does not stick.
Don’t overbake – since the oven varies, check the oatmeal at around 25-30 minutes then continue baking as needed. The type of pan you use as well as your oven will affect the baking time. 30 minutes was the perfect time for my oven but you may take less or more time.
Let it rest – since the baked oatmeal will continue cooking as it cools, let it rest for at least 15 minutes before you slice it so it can firm up and be easier to cut and lift out of the pan.

Topping Ideas And Add-Ins

One of the best parts about chocolate-baked oatmeal is the toppings. Here are some suggestions you may like:

Nut butter – a drizzle of peanut butter, almond butter, or sun butter.
Chocolate sauce – for even more chocolate flavor.
Whipped cream or vanilla Greek yogurt
Chopped nuts like peanuts, pecans, or walnuts. These can also be mixed in with the oat mixture before baking.
Fresh fruit – like chopped strawberries, raspberries or banana
Extra chocolate chips – you could also use peanut butter chips for a chocolate peanut butter finish to this baked oatmeal recipe.

Pan of chocolate oatmeal bake with a serving spoon pulling a slice out of the pan.

Storing and Reheating Chocolate Baked Oatmeal

Leftovers can be stored after it has fully cooled, in an airtight container and kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can eat it cold straight from the fridge or heat it in the microwave for 30-45 seconds. You can also freeze-baked oatmeal. To freeze it, let it cool, cut it into slices, and layer it in a freezer-safe container in between parchment paper for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, just defrost it overnight in the fridge and eat cold or warm it in the microwave.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Baked Oatmeal Healthy?

Baked oatmeal can be a healthy option depending on the ingredients used and how it fits into your overall diet. Oats themselves are nutritious whole grains, rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates. They also contain a good amount of protein for a grain, as well as essential vitamins and minerals. Plus this baked oats recipe is gluten free and dairy-free (if you use dairy-free chocolate chips and dairy-free milk).

Can Baked Oatmeal Be Good For Meal Prep?

Baked oatmeal is excellent for meal prep because it can be made in large batches and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week, or frozen for longer storage. You can reheat individual portions in the microwave in seconds, making it a convenient and quick breakfast option. To keep it interesting, you can vary the toppings or add-ins each day, such as fresh fruit, nuts, yogurt, or a drizzle of peanut butter.