Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

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This pumpkin baked oatmeal is made with oats, pumpkin, maple syrup and warm spices. It’s vegan, gluten-free, easy to make and the perfect cozy fall breakfast.

It’s pumpkin season!!! Who’s excited?! I am such a pumpkin fan I actually enjoy pumpkin recipes year round. Yes, grocery stores sell pumpkin puree all year long… not just in the fall. Perfect for those of us who don’t limit our pumpkin consumption to a few months a year.

Anyhow, I’m sure you’ve noticed, but there’s a baked oatmeal theme around here lately and each month I release a new seasonal baked oatmeal recipe. Last month was apple cinnamon baked oatmeal (which is delish, btw) and now it’s time to break out the pumpkin and make this pumpkin baked oatmeal!

Pumpkin baked oatmeal in a square baking dish cut into 6 pieces.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Perfect for fall: It’s loaded with fall flavors thanks to the pumpkin and warm spices making it the ultimate cozy fall breakfast.
  • Healthy: It’s loaded with fiber, vitamins and protein and is low in sugar making it a healthy and filling option for breakfast. It’s also dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free and can easily be made nut-free.
  • Easy to make: All you need is one bowl, one baking dish and about 10 minutes to prep!
  • Perfect for meal prep: Baked oatmeal stores well in the fridge or freezer. Make a batch during your weekend meal prep and have breakfast ready to go for the week.
Ingredients measured out to make Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal: sea salt, ground flaxseed, baking powder, almond milk, pecans, maple syrup, vanilla, rolled oats, pumpkin, coconut oil, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice.

Ingredients Needed

  • rolled oats the base of the oatmeal, providing fiber and a hearty texture. Oats are often cross-contaminated, so grab certified gluten-free oats if needed. My favorite brand is Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free oats.
  • unsweetened almond milk – I like using unsweetened almond milk, but any non-dairy milk will work. You can make your own following my homemade almond milk recipe.
  • canned pumpkin – the star of the show! You can use canned pumpkin or homemade pumpkin puree. If using store-bought, just make sure the ingredient list is only “pumpkin” – you don’t want to accidentally buy pumpkin pie filling, which has added sugars.
  • pure maple syrup – this is used to sweeten the oatmeal bake and for drizzling on top, if you’d like. Just be sure to use pure maple syrup, not the artificial kind labeled “pancake syrup” and made from corn syrup… NOT the same!
  • ground flaxseed adds additional fiber and acts as a binding agent so no need for an egg.
  • coconut oil to add moisture to the baked oatmeal. I’ve purchased several different brands of coconut oil before, but Nutiva organic extra virgin coconut oil is my favorite.
  • baking powder helps the oatmeal rise and become fluffy during baking.
  • pumpkin pie spice a must for this pumpkin baked oatmeal! You can easily make your own pumpkin pie spice at home with a combo of cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves and nutmeg or use a store-bought blend.
  • cinnamon for more warm spice!
  • salt just a pinch to bring all the flavors together.
  • vanilla extract an excellent flavor enhancer for this baked oatmeal.
  • pecans or walnuts the perfect way to add some healthy fats and a little crunch.
Collage of four photos showing the steps to make Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal: mixing the dry and wet ingredients, adding pecans and then pouring into a baking dish and topping with more pecans.

How to Make

If you’ve made a baked oatmeal before, you know how easy it is. There are 4 main steps: prep, mix, pour and bake!

1. Prep: Prep the baking dish. Spray with cooking spray or spread a light layer of coconut oil over the dish.

2. Mix: In a large mixing bowl, whisk the oats, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and salt. Add in the almond milk, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, flaxseeds, melted coconut oil and vanilla. Stir well to combine and then gently fold in the nuts.

3. Pour: Pour the oatmeal mixture into your prepared baking dish and scatter a few extra nuts on top.

4. Bake: Last step! Bake at 375ºF for a total time of 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden and the center is set. Serve warm with a little extra maple syrup, almond milk or nut butter on top.

A serving of pumpkin baked oatmeal on a small white plate with a fork.

Substitutions & Notes

Rolled oats – Rolled oats work best for baked oatmeal and I don’t recommend swapping them for quick oats or steel-cut oats as the liquid ratio and cook time will differ. If you’re looking for a baked oatmeal recipe that’s made with steel-cut oats I suggest checking out this baked steel cut oatmeal recipe instead. You can easily customize this recipe and swap the banana with pumpkin instead.

Milk – I like using unsweetened almond milk because it’s low in calories, but you can use any milk you like, such as cow’s milk, soy milk, oat milk, coconut milk or coconut milk.

Maple syrup – Any liquid sweetener like honey, agave or monk fruit maple syrup will work instead of maple syrup.

Coconut oil – Any neutral oil like avocado oil or olive oil will work as a substitute. I’ve also made baked oatmeal without coconut oil and it turned out just fine!

Ground flaxseed – If you don’t have flaxseed on hand, chia seeds can serve as an alternative binding agent or you can use 1 egg if you don’t need this recipe to be vegan.

Pumpkin – Pumpkin is the star ingredient in this baked oatmeal, but you could also use sweet potato puree or butternut squash puree instead of the pumpkin puree if you’d like. I also have this sweet potato baked oatmeal recipe that you could try instead.

Nuts – Feel free to swap the pecans or walnuts with another nut of choice like almonds. Or if you need this recipe to be nut-free skip them all together or use a different mix-in like chocolate chips, dried cranberries, pepitas or raisins.

A serving of pumpkin baked oatmeal on a small white plate with fork taking a small piece from it. The slice has a whipped cream and maple syrup topping.

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice

Pumpkin pie spice is a main ingredient in this baked pumpkin oatmeal and super easy to make at home with just a handful of spices you probably already have in your pantry.

I have a full blog post with how to make homemade pumpkin pie spice, but you basically just need to stir together 2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 1 teaspoon ground cloves and 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg in a small bowl.

Some pumpkin pie spice blends have allspice and ground cardamom as well. If you want to add these to this recipe, simply add 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice and 1/8 teaspoon cardamom to the mixture.

A spatula holding a serving of pumpkin baked oatmeal over a baking dish with the rest of the pumpkin baked oatmeal.

Can You Make Baked Oatmeal Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can make baked oatmeal ahead of time. There are a couple options that work really well:

Option 1: Bake and Then Reheat Before Serving

  1. 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.
  2. 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

  1. Mix together your dry ingredients in a bowl, cover and let sit out on the counter until morning.
  2. Mix together all the wet ingredients in another bowl, cover and store in the fridge until morning.
  3. In the morning, simply mix the wet and dry ingredients together, pour oatmeal mixture into your prepared baking dish and bake as recipe suggests.
Maple syrup being poured over a slice of pumpkin baked oatmeal that is topped with whipped cream.

How to Serve Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

  • Enjoy a delicious breakfast with some nut butter (my fave is almond butter and peanut butter) and maple syrup drizzled on top. Paired with a glass of pumpkin cream cold brew and you’ve got the perfect fall morning.
  • Pair a slice with 2 hard boiled eggs or a dollop of Greek yogurt for a protein boost.
  • Enjoy this baked oatmeal with a protein shake or protein smoothie for a more filling breakfast.
  • Serve it up for a holiday brunch alongside my spinach quichefruit salad and apple cider mimosas.
  • Serve it for dessert and make it a tad more indulgent with a scoop of whip cream or ice cream. Or make a simple glaze with powdered sugar, almond milk and vanilla extract and drizzle it on top.
Pumpkin baked oatmeal in a square baking dish.

Storing & Reheating

This baked pumpkin oatmeal recipe is perfect for meal prep because it stores beautifully. I like to make a baked oatmeal on Sunday to enjoy for breakfasts throughout the week. Every morning I can just open the fridge, pop the baked oatmeal in the microwave or toaster oven to reheat and boom! I’ve got a breakfast that I’m excited about. Here’s how to store and reheat leftover baked oatmeal:

  • In the fridge: Allow the baked oatmeal to cool, then cover the baking dish with a lid or plastic wrap or transfer individual portions to an airtight container. It’ll stay fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • In the freezer: You can also freeze baked oatmeal for up to 3 months. To do this, let the oatmeal cool completely, then cut into portions and store in freezer-safe containers or bags.
  • To reheat the entire pan of baked oatmeal: Cover with foil and reheat in the oven at 350ºF for about 20 minutes or until warm.
  • To reheat individual portions: Set oven or toaster oven to 350ºF and bake for 5-10 minutes. You can also reheat in the microwave for 1 minute. Once warm, add your toppings and enjoy!

More Baked Oatmeal Recipes

More Pumpkin Recipes

Be sure to check out all of my pumpkin recipes as well as the full collection of baked oatmeal recipes here on EBF.

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4.33 from 343 votes

Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

This pumpkin baked oatmeal is made with oats, pumpkin, maple syrup and warm spices. It's vegan, gluten-free, easy to make and the perfect cozy fall breakfast.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375°F and spray an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the oats, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and salt. Stir to combine.
    Rolled oats used for the pumpkin baked oatmeal in a large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon.
  • Add in the milk, pumpkin, maple syrup, flaxseed, coconut oil and vanilla. Stir well to combine and gently add in 1/4 cup pecans or walnuts. 
    Wet and dry ingredients for the pumpkin baked oatmeal combined with pecans added in a large mixing bowl.
  • Carefully pour oatmeal mixture into the prepared baking dish. Scatter the remaining pecans/walnuts across the top.
    Pumpkin baked oatmeal batter added to a square baking dish.
  • Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top golden and center is set. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Portion and serve. Drizzle each portion with maple syrup if you want it a bit sweeter.
    Pumpkin baked oatmeal batter added to a square baking dish and topped with crushed pecans.
  • Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat the whole baked oatmeal, cover with foil and reheat in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes. For individual portions, set oven (or toaster oven) to 350°F and bake for 5-10 minutes or reheat in the microwave for 1 minute.

Video

Notes

  • Rolled oats – Rolled oats work best for baked oatmeal and I don’t recommend swapping them for quick oats or steel-cut oats as the liquid ratio and cook time will differ. If you’re looking for a baked oatmeal recipe that’s made with steel-cut oats I suggest checking out this baked steel cut oatmeal recipe instead. You can easily customize this recipe and swap the banana with pumpkin instead.
  • Milk – I like using unsweetened almond milk because it’s low in calories, but you can use any milk you like, such as cow’s milk, soy milk, oat milk, coconut milk or coconut milk.
  • Maple syrup – Any liquid sweetener like honey, agave or monk fruit maple syrup will work instead of maple syrup.
  • Coconut oil – Any neutral oil like avocado oil or olive oil will work as a substitute. I’ve also made baked oatmeal without coconut oil and it turned out just fine!
  • Ground flaxseed – If you don’t have flaxseed on hand, chia seeds can serve as an alternative binding agent or you can use 1 egg if you don’t need this recipe to be vegan.
  • Pumpkin – Pumpkin is the star ingredient in this baked oatmeal, but you could also use sweet potato puree or butternut squash puree instead of the pumpkin puree if you’d like. I also have this sweet potato baked oatmeal recipe that you could try instead.
  • Nuts – Feel free to swap the pecans or walnuts with another nut of choice like almonds. Or if you need this recipe to be nut-free skip them all together or use a different mix-in like chocolate chips, dried cranberries, pepitas or raisins.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/6 of recipe | Calories: 288kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 322mg | Potassium: 48mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 6g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: pumpkin baked oatmeal
Did you make this recipe?Mention @eatingbirdfood and tag #eatingbirdfood!

About Brittany

Hey there, I’m Brittany, the creator of Eating Bird Food, cookbook author, health coach and mama of two littles. Here you’ll find quick and easy recipes that make healthy fun and enjoyable for you and your family!

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Recipe Rating




252 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This has become a staple recipe! I first made it for a potluck dish to share (using coconut milk and omitting nuts to keep it nut free as needed) & simultaneously made the traditional recipe for my kids. Everyone loved it! I have made it at least three more times, freezing two as food prep before new baby. I add collagen powder to bump up the protein a bit so I can serve it for the kids on busy mornings.

    1. Yay! I’m so glad to hear this recipe is such a hit for you, Jenn! Thanks for coming back to leave a review and star rating, I really appreciate it!

    2. 5 stars
      This turned out fantastic! I sprinkled some small organic pumpkin seeds on top before baking! Excellent recipe, thank you so much!

      1. AHH this is amazing, Krissi! I am so glad you are loving this recipe and it turned out great for you. Thank you for sharing your review and star rating, it means so much to me!

  2. 5 stars
    Delicious! I prepared and batch, tested it and immediately made a second batch for my son. We love baked oatmeal, but most recipes include a generous amount of sugar. Adding a little maple syrup to the finished product, as you suggested, gives it a sweeter taste but we can control how much we add.

    1. YESS! I am so happy to hear that this recipe is a hit and your son is enjoying it as well, Amy. Thank you for your review & star rating, I really appreciate it!

  3. 5 stars
    Thanks for the great recipe! I’ve made it several times and everyone has loved it! I’m wondering if you’ve ever doubled the recipe before to feed a crowd and if you’d increase the baking time?

    1. Hi Jodi- I have not ever doubled this recipe, but I think it can easily be done. I would recommend increasing the baking time, but the amount of time would depend on the size of the pan you’re using. If you end up doubling it, I’d love to hear how it works out. I am so happy to hear you’re loving this recipe. Thank you so much for your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!

    1. In my opinion and working with both canned and fresh frequently, the only way you could get this to work would be if you cooked your fresh pumpkin for a long time to cook off all of the water. When I have used my fresh pumpkin for pies or any baking, I put all my purée in a crockpot overnight to cook off as much moisture as possible. When you use canned pumpkin, this has already been done which is why it is so dense. To extract more flavor from it, you can cube your fresh pumpkin and roast till carmilized and then Purée. If it still hold moisture however, you may still want to crockpot it till get rid of any water. Once you have done this, the. You can use your fresh pumpkin in any recipes that call for canned.

      1. Thank you so much for sharing, Michelle. Yes, fresh pumpkin puree should work in this recipe, but it might change the consistency a bit depending on how liquid your puree is.

    1. Ah yay! I am so excited to hear that you are loving this recipe, Karen. Thank you for sharing your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!

  4. 5 stars
    Loved this pumpkin baked oatmeal! Tender, moist and delicious. I used whipped coconut cream as a topping, but syrup was equally yummy. We will have this for our Thanksgiving breakfast!

    1. YUM! This sounds delicious. I hope this breakfast was a hit, Cheryl. Thank you for sharing your review + star rating, I so appreciate it.

  5. 4 stars
    Great breakfast recipe! I’ve never made baked oatmeal before and it’s going to become a staple. I ended up adding more maple syrup on top as well as a splash of cream before reheating, which absorbed in and it tasted delicious!!

    1. YUM! Happy to hear this recipe turned out great for you, Karli. Thank you for sharing your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!

  6. 5 stars
    So good! I added a handful or pepitas, chia seeds, and applesauce instead of oil. Delicious! Drizzled with low sugar vanilla yogurt and a tiny bit of maple syrup. A keeper! Great for meal prep.

    1. Ah yay! This sounds delicious, Kristen! I am so glad this recipe turned out great for you and you’re loving it. Thank you for coming back and sharing your review & star rating, it means so much to me.

  7. Thank you, thank you, thank you! 3 months ago I had a full hysterectomy for major fibroids and endometriosis. I’ve been doing a lot of research and I’ve been told endo WILL come back. I believe if I feed my body right I can defeat it! I’ve gone 30 days with no dairy, sugar, carbs and gluten. Now I’m ready to slowly introduce natural foods to my eating and this weekend I plan on making your gf vegan banana bread for guests that are coming over. I’m also going to be making this in the very near future. Again, thank you!

    1. Of course, Gina. I believe in you and love your mindset. I hope you enjoying my recipes and they can help you heal and enjoy delicious food at the same time! ❤️

  8. Can this be made without the coconut oil and without the maple syrup… could I use apple sauce instead of the oils and maple syrup? Thank you

    1. Hi Kristen – I have this mentioned in the substitutions and notes section above. But you can sub the coconut oil with any neutral oil like avocado or olive oil. For the maple syrup, you could sub with honey, agave, monk fruit maple syrup. Hope that helps and you enjoy this recipe!