4.96 35 Published Sep 21, 2022, Updated Sep 18, 2024 If you’re new to baked oatmeal cups, they’re essentially a baked oatmeal recipe that’s made in a muffin tin. They look like muffins, but they’re denser and chewier than muffins because there’s no flour involved. Baked oatmeal cups are a game-changer when it comes to needing a quick on-the-go breakfast or snack option. They’re portable, super easy to make and perfect for meal prep. I love prepping a big batch on the weekends to have on hand for the week ahead.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Perfect for meal prep and can be stored in the fridge or freezer. Pre-portioned so there’s built-in portion control! They can be eaten at room temperature, cold or warmed up. They’re the perfect portable on-the-go breakfast or snack option. Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and can easily be made nut-free.
Ingredients Needed
old fashioned rolled oats – oats are naturally gluten-free but are often cross-contaminated, so make sure you grab certified gluten-free oats if needed! My fave brand is Bob’s Red Mill gluten free old fashioned rolled oats. unsweetened almond milk – my go-to is unsweetened vanilla almond milk. You can make your own almond milk or just use whatever milk you have on hand! ground flaxseed – instead of an egg we’re making a flax egg by whisking together the ground flaxseed and almond milk. This helps to bind all the ingredients together. bananas – this helps to bind the ingredients, adds moisture (with no need for oil) and adds a touch of sweetness. You’ll need about 2 ripe bananas mashed up. maple syrup – the perfect natural sweetener for this recipe. Just make sure you’re using pure maple syrup and not pancake syrup, which is loaded with corn syrup and artificial flavors. peanut butter – you can’t go wrong with the combo of banana + peanut butter + chocolate. When it comes to peanut butter (or any nut butter) look for one that has only one or two ingredients (nuts + salt). cinnamon – a warming spice that pairs so well with the banana and peanut butter. sea salt – brings all the flavors together. baking powder – helps the oatmeal cups rise. vanilla extract – a flavor enhancer. chocolate chips – these are optional, but who doesn’t love the combo of peanut butter and chocolate?! I used Enjoy Life semi-sweet mini chips, which are dairy-free and vegan, but I also really like Lily’s dark chocolate chips because they’re lower in sugar and still have a great flavor.
Substitutions & Notes
Almond milk: I prefer to use almond milk, but any non-dairy or dairy milk will work for this recipe. Use your favorite milk of choice! Flaxseed: If you don’t have ground flaxseed on hand you can easily add an egg if you don’t need this recipe to be vegan or you could use chia seeds instead. Bananas: This is the star of this recipe, so if you’re looking for a baked oatmeal cup recipe without bananas you’ll have to try one of my other baked oatmeal cup recipes. Maple syrup: Any liquid sweetener will work as a substitute for maple syrup like honey or agave. You could even use monk fruit maple if you’re looking for a low-sugar option. Peanut butter: If you have a peanut allergy or just aren’t a fan you can easily swap the peanut butter out for another nut or seed butter of choice. Almond butter, cashew butter, tahini or sunflower seed butter would all be delicious. Chocolate chips: You can skip these altogether or swap them for another mix-in of choice. Chopped nuts or blueberries would both be great alternatives.
How to Make
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a 12-cup muffin pan with paper or silicone muffin liners. Spray the liners with non-stick spray. In a large bowl whisk together the almond milk and flaxseed. Let sit for about 5 minutes then add the mashed banana, maple syrup, peanut butter, oats, cinnamon, baking powder, vanilla extract, salt and chocolate chips (if using). Stir until combined. Scoop the mixture evenly into the muffin tin with the liners and add any toppings before baking. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the center of the cups has set and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow the cups to cool completely before transferring to a storage container and placing them in the fridge.
Best Type of Oats to Use
I like to use rolled oats because they’re less processed and give a good texture to the oatmeal cups, but if you only have quick or instant oats on hand those should work fine as a substitute. I don’t recommend using steel cut oats for this recipe because the oat-to-liquid ratio is different and the baking time is longer. If you’re looking for ways to use steel cut oats you could try these creamy steel cut oats or this baked steel cut oatmeal.
How to Serve Baked Oatmeal Cups
While these baked oatmeal cups do taste good at pretty much any temperature, I think they’re best served warm. To reheat from the fridge, I like to cut the baked oatmeal cup in half and place in my toaster oven so it gets a little crisp. You can also wrap the baked oatmeal cup in a paper towel and reheat in the microwave for 30-60 seconds or until warm. If frozen, take the cup out of the freezer and place in the fridge overnight to thaw, then reheat as normal the next morning. Another option is to wrap the frozen cup in a paper towel to thaw in the microwave. Once the baked oatmeal cups are warm I like to spread a little nut butter on top and enjoy! I usually eat 1-2 for breakfast, depending on how hungry I am. Sometimes I’ll eat a baked oatmeal cup for breakfast alongside hard boiled eggs or another egg dish like this spinach quiche.
How to Store
Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. For freezing, I usually put them in a ziplock bag made specifically for the freezer or a Stasher bag. These oat cups will last up to a week in the refrigerator and up to 3 months in the freezer.
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