Sounds decadent, but this chocolate baked oatmeal with peanut butter is loaded with healthy ingredients. Of course, it’s still absolutely delicious and so easy to whip up.
I shared a variation of this chocolate baked oatmeal on Instagram and it was such a hit, I knew I had to make a version to share on the blog! My birthday, Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day land in this month so I figured now was the perfect time! I would love to wake up to this on my birthday (hint, hint, Isaac!) and also think it would be so fun to serve at a Galentine’s Day brunch.
How to Make Baked Oatmeal with Chocolate
One of the reasons baked oatmeal is so popular is because baked oatmeal recipes are so easy to whip up and perfect for meal prep! You literally need one bowl and one baking dish. Anytime I can cut back on dishes, I’m going to! We do wayyyy too many dishes around here to be adding more mixing bowls, especially now that we have a baby. From pump parts to bottles… it seems like our sink is always fill with dishes.
To make this baked oatmeal, you start by mixing together the rolled oats, almond milk, cocoa powder, maple syrup, baking powder, sea salt, flaxseed, mashed banana, coconut oil, peanut butter, vanilla in a large bowl. Once that’s combined, add in your chopped chocolate.
Pour the oatmeal mixture into a baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray and spread remaining chocolate pieces on top. Then, you’ll just bake until the oatmeal has set. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes and then drizzle peanut butter on top and serve!
Baked Oatmeal Dietary Swaps
I get a lot of questions about ingredient swaps for certain recipes so I thought I would share some easy swaps here if you’re trying to adapt the recipe to follow a certain diet.
Oats – be sure you use certified gluten-free oats if you need the recipe to be gluten-free.
Almond milk – you can actually use any type of milk in place of the almond milk. Regular dairy milk or another plant-based option will work.
Peanut butter – as you know, I love the combination of peanut butter + chocolate, but if you have a nut allergy or prefer a different seed or nut butter, feel free to swap!
Chocolate – if you’re looking to keep this recipe vegan or dairy-free, be sure to use vegan chocolate. I like using the Lily’s chocolate, which is sweetened with stevia and lower in sugar.
Flaxseed – if you don’t have flaxseed on hand, you can use an egg instead or omit the flaxseed altogether.
Can You Make Baked Oatmeal Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can totally make baked oatmeal ahead of time. Here’s what I recommend:
Option 1: Bake and Reheat Before Serving
Prepare baked oatmeal as the recipe suggests. Once baked, let the oatmeal cool, cover the baking dish and place in the fridge. You can do this 1-2 days in advance.
When ready to serve, take oatmeal dish from fridge, cover with foil and reheat in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes. For individual portions, set toaster oven to 350°F and bake for 5-10 minutes or reheat in the microwave for 1 minute.
Option 2: Prep as Much as You Can Without Baking
Mix together your dry ingredients in a bowl, cover and let sit out on the counter until morning.
Mix together all the wet ingredients in another bowl, cover and store in the fridge until morning.
In the morning, simply mix the wet and dry ingredients together, pour oatmeal mixture into your prepared baking dish and bake as recipe suggests.
Chocolate Baked Oatmeal Serving Suggestions:
Like I said, this would be the perfect baked oatmeal for a brunch! But what do you serve with chocolate baked oatmeal?!
Yogurt parfaits – could have them pre-made in little mason jars or it could be fun to have a build-your-own yogurt parfait bar!
Breakfast meat – can’t go wrong with breakfast meat at a brunch. Bacon or sausage would love lovely or try tempeh bacon for your vegan friends!
Fruit salad or fruit kabobs – every brunch needs fruit!
Fun drinks – I feel like drinks can really elevate the brunch! Serve fresh squeezed juices, mimosas and/or fun coffee drinks.
Spray an 8×8 square baking dish with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, mix together the oats, almond milk, cocoa powder, maple syrup, baking powder, sea salt, flaxseed, mashed banana, coconut oil, peanut butter and vanilla. Stir together, then add 1/8 cup of the chopped chocolate.
Carefully pour oatmeal mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Scatter remaining chocolate on top.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the oatmeal has set. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Portion and serve with a drizzle of peanut butter on top.
For storage: store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 4-6 days.
To reheat: To reheat the whole baked oatmeal, cover with foil and reheat in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes. For individual portions, set toaster oven to 350°F and bake for 5-10 minutes or reheat in the microwave for 1 minute.
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Notes
If you need this recipe to be gluten-free be sure to purchase certified gluten-free oats.
For a vegan version, be sure to purchase dairy-free/vegan chocolate.
If you don’t have flaxseed on hand, you can add an egg instead or omit.
LOVE. Tastes just like chocolate mush overnight oats which is why I wanted to make it! So yummy, delish, and made with whol, good nutritious ingredients. Love not just this recipe, but every baked oatmeal I have made is just so good. This will def be on repeat! 🙂 Plus..it’s chocolate…what’s stopping you?!
This was the first baked oatmeal recipe that I tried, and it was amazing! I immediately started evangelizing about it to friends and family, lol. I did want to ask if you think this would freeze well, and how you would recommend freezing it? I’m considering making it for a friend who’s having a baby soon. My instinct is that it should be fine, but I figured I would check if you’d tried it. Thank you!
Yes! Baked oatmeal freezes really well. I normally like to freeze individual portions so it’s easier when it comes to reheating, but the full baked oatmeal will freeze perfectly fine as well. 🙂
So glad you enjoyed this chocolate baked oatmeal, Sarah! Love that you topped it with vanilla yogurt, so yummy! Thanks so much for the review. I really appreciate it!
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What can I use if you don’t have flaxseed?
You can replace the flaxseed with chia seeds or an egg or leave it out completely.
LOVE. Tastes just like chocolate mush overnight oats which is why I wanted to make it! So yummy, delish, and made with whol, good nutritious ingredients. Love not just this recipe, but every baked oatmeal I have made is just so good. This will def be on repeat! 🙂 Plus..it’s chocolate…what’s stopping you?!
Ah yay!! So happy to hear this chocolate baked oatmeal was a success, Bridgette. Thanks for the review. It means so much to me!
This was the first baked oatmeal recipe that I tried, and it was amazing! I immediately started evangelizing about it to friends and family, lol. I did want to ask if you think this would freeze well, and how you would recommend freezing it? I’m considering making it for a friend who’s having a baby soon. My instinct is that it should be fine, but I figured I would check if you’d tried it. Thank you!
Yes! Baked oatmeal freezes really well. I normally like to freeze individual portions so it’s easier when it comes to reheating, but the full baked oatmeal will freeze perfectly fine as well. 🙂
Just made this. It was so delicious and I’ll have it for a few days. Topped with vanilla yogurt takes it over the top.
So glad you enjoyed this chocolate baked oatmeal, Sarah! Love that you topped it with vanilla yogurt, so yummy! Thanks so much for the review. I really appreciate it!
I’m dying to make these for my family but my daughter is allergic to peanuts. Is there a good substitute for that? Thanks!
You can sub in any nut or seed butter!