Does it get much better than brownie baked oatmeal?!
It’s no secret we love baked oatmeal in our house. I like making a batch at the beginning of the week and then we enjoy it for an easy snack, pre-workout, or dessert. We usually do a fruit-flavored one, but I wanted to change it up for something more dessert-like.
This baked brownie oatmeal feels rich and decadent, yet is made with good-for-you ingredients. It’s lightly sweetened and filled with healthy complex carbs, whole grains, fiber, some protein, and healthy fats. Plus it’s easy to whip up and everything is mixed together in one bowl.
I especially love them right out of the oven for that brownie taste! Once cooled, they get a little firmer and take on a dense and chewy texture. Smear them with some greek yogurt or nut butter and you have one heck of a snack!
Why we love this brownie baked oatmeal
- packed with chocolate flavor
- easy to make – simply just mix it all up and bake
- packed with complex carbohydrates, fiber, and healthy fats
- lightly sweetened
- great for meal prep – have it on hand during the week for an easy snack or dessert
Is baked oatmeal healthy?
Baked oatmeal can make a healthy and delicious breakfast or snack. Rolled oats are loaded with fiber, complex carbs, and whole grains, have plant-based protein, and are low in fat. By making baked oatmeal at home, you can easily customize it to fit your liking and nutrition goals.
Each one of these brownie baked oatmeal bars has 206 calories, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 6 grams of protein, 9 grams of fat, and 4.5 grams of fiber for a balanced snack.
Ingredients
- brown banana – for natural sweetness and you can’t taste it!
- milk – dairy or non-dairy work
- eggs
- tahini
- maple syrup – just 2 tablespoons for a touch of sweetness
- vanilla extract
- cocoa powder – I used dark cocoa powder for more richness.
- rolled oats – I recommend old-fashioned rolled oats
- salt – to help bring the flavors together
- chocolate chips – I used mini for lots of chocolate goodness in every bite.
- oil or cooking spray for greasing the pan
How to make brownie baked oatmeal
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease an 8×8 baking dish with oil or cooking spray and set aside.
- Mix together your wet ingredients. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mash your banana until smooth. Add your eggs, tahini, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and milk, and whisk until combined.
- Combine your dry ingredients. Add your cocoa powder and whisk to combine and it is fully incorporated and broken up. Then add rolled oats and salt and mix well to combine. Stir in most of the chocolate chips (I like to save some for sprinkling on top).
- Bake. Pour the oatmeal mixture into the greased baking pan. Sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips and bake for 25-30 minutes until firm or a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes and cut into 9 equal-sized bars.
- Enjoy!
Storage and reheating
- fridge – first, let the bars cool completely. Add to a sealable airtight container or you can simply wrap the pan you baked it in with tin foil or saran wrap. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to a week.
- to freeze – let cool completely and place individual bars on a large plate or baking sheet. Place in the freezer and let freeze for 2 hours or until hardened. This will help ensure they freeze individually and won’t stick together. Transfer to a large bag (we love these reusable silicone bags) and freeze for up to 3 months. You can also wrap each one in individual portions and throw them right in the freezer after they have cooled. Defrost by placing them in the refrigerator and then warming up the microwave if desired.
- reheat – pop it in the microwave for 30-45 seconds until warm/hot. You can also eat it cold right out of the fridge.
Substitutions and additions
- banana – applesauce or canned pumpkin will work the same.
- milk – any kind of dairy or non-dairy milk will work.
- eggs – I haven’t tried this, but flax eggs might work instead.
- tahini – any kind of nut butter will work (peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter…). Sunflower seed butter will also work to keep them nut-free.
- maple syrup – any kind of liquid sweetener will work (honey, agave…).
- dark cocoa powder – regular cocoa powder or cacao powder will work.
- rolled oats – quick oats will work instead of rolled oats. Steel-cut oats will not work as the texture is different. Use certified gluten-free oats if needed.
- chocolate chips – mini or regular-size chocolate chips will work. You can use milk, dark, or semi-sweet, and dairy or dairy-free.
Here are some additions you can do to change up the recipe:
- chopped nuts or seeds – pecans or walnuts would be delicious.
- shredded coconut – mixed in or sprinkled on top.
- protein powder – if you’re looking to up the protein a little more, you can stir in some protein powder (chocolate would be delicious). Depending on what kind you use, if the batter looks too thick, I would stir in a little more milk.
More healthy baked oatmeal recipes
If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!
Brownie Baked Oatmeal
ingredients
- 1 medium-large brown banana (100 grams)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I used dark cocoa)
- 2 cups rolled oats (200 grams)
- pinch of salt
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips (I used mini)
- oil or cooking spray, for greasing the pan
instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease an 8×8 baking dish with oil or cooking spray and set aside.
- Mix together your wet ingredients. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mash your banana until smooth. Add your eggs, tahini, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and milk, and whisk until combined.
- Combine your dry ingredients. Add your cocoa powder and whisk to combine and it is fully incorporated and broken up. Then add rolled oats and salt and mix well to combine. Stir in most of the chocolate chips (I like to save some for sprinkling on top).
- Bake. Pour the oatmeal mixture into the greased baking pan. Sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips and bake for 25-30 minutes until firm or a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes and cut into 9 equal-sized bars.
- Enjoy!
Emily Getz says
This is delicious! I enjoy it, but best of all, so does my 5 year old son. This will be part of our regular meal prep!
Kelly says
So glad it’s a hit with both of you guys! Thanks, Emily!
Dan says
They are great and healthy
Kelly says
Glad you enjoyed it!