Brownie Baked Oatmeal

Looking for a feel-good breakfast that will satisfy your sweet tooth, too? This vegan brownie baked oatmeal is just the ticket.

By
Grace Elkus
Grace Elkus
Grace Elkus
Grace Elkus is a food writer, recipe developer, and content creator with over a decade of experience in food media. She is the former deputy food director at Kitchn, where she wrote a vegetarian recipe column called Tonight We Veg. She has also written for Epicurious, the Food Network, Real Simple, BuzzFeed, and more.
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Published January 09, 2023
Grace Elkus
Vegan Brownie Baked Oatmeal on a Marble Slab, Next to a Bowl with a Brownie and Whipped Cream and Another Bowl of Quartered Strawberries

Simply Recipes / Tara Omidvar

There was no shortage of tasty TikTok trends last year, from Snickers dates to grated egg toast. But the one that excited me the most was baked oatmeal. I watched in fascination as berries, nut butters, and all sorts of fun mix-ins were combined with rolled oats and baked to golden brown perfection. The cozy, make-ahead breakfast looked almost too good to be true.

It didn’t take long before I whipped up my own version. Though many of the trending recipes have you blend the batter before baking, resulting in a cake-like treat, I prefer the soft, creamy, and slightly chewy texture of a batter mixed by hand. I drew flavor inspiration from Healthy Girl Kitchen, whose brownie baked oats are plant-based bliss.

Adding espresso powder amps up the chocolate flavor and gives your breakfast a caffeine boost (leave it out if you have kiddos around), while stirring in chopped chocolate ensures melty goodness throughout. Mashed bananas and chia seeds help thicken and bind the oats, eliminating the need for an egg. Peanut butter adds protein, a drizzle of maple syrup lends the just the right amount of sweetness, and a final sprinkle of flaky salt gilds the lily. The result is a satisfying vegan breakfast bake that looks and tastes decadent, but is good for you, too. Serve as-is, with a glass of plant-based milk, or dolloped with dairy-free yogurt. 

Vegan Brownie Baked Oatmeal on a Marble Counter Next to a Bowl with a Brownie and Quartered Strawberries

Simply Recipes / Tara Omidvar

Use Whatever You Have on Hand 

  • No ripe bananas or don’t like their flavor? Feel free to swap in 1 cup of pumpkin purée instead. The resulting treat will just be a little less sweet. 
  • Any type of plant-based milk, such as oat or soy, can be used in place of almond. 
  • Both conventional peanut butter and well-stirred natural peanut butter work great, as does almond butter. 
  • If you’re looking to increase the protein content, you can stir in plant-based vanilla or chocolate protein when you add the oats. Just be sure to add an equal amount of extra milk. 

How to Store Baked Oatmeal 

Baked oatmeal holds up well throughout the week so that you can enjoy it for longer. Transfer leftovers into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. When you’re ready to dig in, enjoy a slice cold from the fridge or warm it up in the microwave or oven. 

Vegan Brownie Baked Oatmeal on a Plate Next to a Bowl with a Brownie and Quartered Strawberries

Simply Recipes / Tara Omidvar

More Vegan Breakfasts You’ll Love

Brownie Baked Oatmeal

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 35 mins
Rest Time 10 mins
Total Time 60 mins
Servings 9 to 12 servings
Yield 1 (8x8-inch) cake pan

Ingredients

  • Non-stick cooking spray

  • 2 very ripe medium bananas

  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds

  • 1 tablespoon espresso powder (optional)

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk

  • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • 1/2 cup vegan semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips or 1 (2-ounce) bar vegan chocolate, chopped, divided 

  • Flaky sea salt, for serving (optional)

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.

    Coat an 8x8-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Set it aside.

  2. Mash the bananas:

    Mash the bananas with a fork in a large bowl. You should have about 1 cup.

    Bowl of Bananas Mashed with a Fork for Vegan Brownie Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Tara Omidvar
  3. Add the dry ingredients: 

    Add the oats, cocoa powder, chia seeds, espresso powder, if using, baking powder, and salt, and stir the mixture with a rubber spatula to combine.

    Bowl of Vegan Brownie Baked Oatmeal Dry Ingredients (Oats, Cocoa Powder, Chia Seeds, Espresso Powder, etc)

    Simply Recipes / Tara Omidvar
    Dry Ingredients Stirred Together Using a Spatula for Vegan Brownie Baked Oatmeal Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Tara Omidvar
  4. Add the wet ingredients:

    Add the almond milk, peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla, and stir to combine. 

    Stir in half of the chocolate.

    Wet Ingredients (Peanut Butter, Almond Milk, etc) Added to Bowl for Vegan Oatmeal Brownie Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Tara Omidvar
    Wet Ingredients (Peanut Butter, Almond Milk, etc) Mixed with Dry Ingredients for Vegan Oatmeal Brownie Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Tara Omidvar
    Chopped Chocolate Added into the Bowl of Vegan Brownie Baked Oatmeal Batter

    Simply Recipes / Tara Omidvar
  5. Bake:

    Scrape the mixture into the prepared baking pan, spread it out evenly, and top with the remaining chocolate. Bake until the oatmeal is puffed, set, and the edges start to pull away from the baking pan, 30 to 35 minutes.

    Vegan Brownie Baked Oatmeal Batter Poured into a Baking Pan

    Simply Recipes / Tara Omidvar
    Vegan Brownie Baked Oatmeal Batter in the Baking Pan Topped with More Chopped Chocolate

    Simply Recipes / Tara Omidvar
    Baking Pan of Vegan Brownie Baked Oatmeal Topped with Chopped Chocolate

    Simply Recipes / Tara Omidvar
  6. Serve: 

    Let the oatmeal cool for 10 minutes on your kitchen counter. Top with flaky sea salt, if desired, and serve warm or at room temperature. The oatmeal will be very creamy and scoopable when warm. As it cools, it will become firmer and sliceable. How you enjoy it is entirely up to you!

    Did you love the recipe? Leave us stars below!

    Pan of Baked Vegan Brownie Baked Oatmeal

    Simply Recipes / Tara Omidvar
    Vegan Brownie Baked Oatmeal on a Small Plate with Quartered Strawberries

    Simply Recipes / Tara Omidvar
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
182 Calories
8g Fat
24g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 9 to 12
Amount per serving
Calories 182
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g 10%
Saturated Fat 2g 12%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 206mg 9%
Total Carbohydrate 24g 9%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 2mg 11%
Calcium 117mg 9%
Iron 3mg 15%
Potassium 261mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.