Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
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This Blueberry Baked Oatmeal recipe with Vanilla Glaze has it all. It’s healthy, easy, freezable, and delicious. It’s also gluten-free & dairy-free! I feel great about filling my family’s tummies with this first thing in the morning.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I LOVE baked oatmeal recipes. They are great to make ahead or to serve to groups of people. This Blueberry Baked Oatmeal is a perfect make-ahead recipe for the holidays or for potluck meals. It’s a warm, satisfying, heart-healthy breakfast your whole family will love.
The blueberries in it are a powerhouse fruit that can help protect your heart, brain, eyes, and more. They also contain anti-inflammatory properties that can ward off diseases like diabetes, cancer and heart disease.
Oatmeal is also incredibly good for you to have on a regular basis. It’s a whole grain loaded with fiber and keeps you fuller longer.
Ingredients
The ingredients are super simple and you likely have them in your pantry. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 large overripe banana – Maybe you have some frozen bananas??
- Milk – Your choice of dairy or non-dairy.
- Eggs
- Vanilla – Here’s how to make your own vanilla.
- Avocado oil or melted coconut oil
- Pure maple syrup
- Old fashioned rolled oats
- Ground flaxseed
- Baking powder
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Blueberries – Fresh or frozen works.
- Powdered sugar, for the glaze (optional)
Vanilla Glaze
While the vanilla glaze drizzle is optional (and can be replaced with maple syrup in a pinch), I highly recommend it! It not only adds some sweetness to the baked oatmeal but it also adds a nice, shiny glaze over the top which makes it look prettier when serving. You can mix it up in less than 1 minute!
Variations and Substitutions
- Dairy-Free Option: Use dairy-free milk in the recipe and glaze.
- Gluten-Free Option: Make sure your oats say “gluten-free” on the package.
- You can sub the banana with 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce.
- You can use quick oats instead of old fashioned oats in the recipe.
- Swap out the blueberries for raspberries, blackberries, or chopped strawberries.
- Because this recipe is so easy, it works great to double and freeze like we do in our 1 Hour Freezer Prep Sessions.
- Add nuts like sliced or slivered almonds or chopped pecans for additional protein and crunch.
- Use maple syrup instead of the vanilla glaze.
How to Serve Baked Oatmeal
While some of our recipes are easy to slice and serve cake-style, this one works best to be served in a bowl. It falls apart like traditional oatmeal and you’ll want to add some milk over it to bring in some moisture when serving.
How to Freeze This Meal
We are big fan of freezer meals. In fact, we’ve worked hard to create valuable freezer meal resources for you–including two cookbooks, a library of 1 Hour Freezer Prep, and an index of tried and true freezer meal recipes.
Guess what? We have freezer meal instructions for this baked oatmeal, too. The picture below is our Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Recipe but the freezing method is the same for Blueberry Baked Oatmeal.
Freeze For Later: Put together the casserole either in an 8×8 inch casserole dish, but don’t bake it. Tightly wrap the dish in a few layers of plastic wrap or foil (or a tight-fitting lid) and freeze.
Prepare From Frozen: Thaw completely using one of these safe methods. Bake according to instructions.
What Goes Well With Blueberry Baked Oatmeal?
Here are some easy recipes that would go well with this baked oatmeal:
- Any of our Top 7 Smoothies
- Baked Omelette
- Baked Ham & Egg Cups
- Oven Baked Bacon
- Top it off with a little Strawberry Freezer Jam
Want More Make Ahead Breakfast Ideas?
Foolproof make-ahead breakfast recipes that will help you start the morning the right way.
FAQs
Yes, you can prep baked oatmeal (unbaked) ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3-6 months. Thaw and bake per instructions.
You can also fully cook and cool the baked oatmeal ahead of time and store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Just rewarm individual portions in the microwave. Our readers have told us that they freeze fully cooked, individual portions of baked oatmeal in the freezer, as well, and rewarm in the microwave.
While you can use quick oats in baked oatmeal, it’s best to use rolled oats because they give the dish a heartier texture. Quick oats or instant oats can result in a denser, mushier result.
Baked oatmeal can be made gluten-free or dairy-free with these substitutions:
Dairy-Free Option: Use dairy-free milk in the recipe.
Gluten-Free Option: Make sure your oats say “gluten-free” on the package.
More Baked Oatmeal Dishes You’ll Love
If you enjoy baked oatmeal as much as our families do, give a few of these others a try. They all work well to freeze before baking, as well.
Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!
Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
This Blueberry Baked Oatmeal Recipe with Vanilla Glaze has it all. It’s healthy, easy, freezable, and delicious. It’s also gluten-free & dairy-free! I feel great about filling my family’s tummies with this first thing in the morning.
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 1 large overripe banana, mashed (sub: 1 cup unsweetened applesauce)
- 3/4 cup milk (DF option: Use plain non-dairy milk.)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or melted coconut oil
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (GF Option: Use gluten-free oats.)
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed (sub: more oats)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (do not thaw the frozen ones!)
- Optional for serving: milk, sliced almonds or chopped pecans, blueberries, sliced bananas, more maple syrup
(Optional) Vanilla Drizzle:
- 1 tablespoon milk (DF option: Use plain non-dairy milk.)
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
Make It Now:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 8×8-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add the banana and mashed really well with a fork. Add the milk, eggs, vanilla, oil, and maple syrup and whisk together with the banana until combined. (Another option is that you can throw all these ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. This will avoid any banana chunks.)
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together the oats, flax, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until well combined. Stir in the blueberries. Pour the batter into the greased casserole dish. (Freezing instructions begin here.)
- Bake for about 35-40 minutes (if using frozen blueberries or a glass pan, it may take 5-10 minutes longer), or until firm around the edges and the middle is set but not too firm.
- Make the (Optional) Vanilla Glaze: Let oatmeal cool while you make the Vanilla Glaze. In a small bowl, stir together the milk, vanilla, salt, and powdered sugar. Once the baked oatmeal has cooled a little bit, use the spoon to drizzle it all over the top.
- Serve the baked oatmeal warm in a bowl with a little milk on top. You can also top with sliced bananas, more blueberries, sliced almonds or chopped pecans, if desired.
Freeze For Later: Skip Step 1. Follow Steps 2 and 3. Tightly wrap the dish in a few layers of plastic wrap or foil (or a tight-fitting lid), fill out and tape on the freezer label, and freeze.
Prepare From Frozen: Thaw completely. Follow Steps 4-6.
Notes/Tips
You can skip the Vanilla Drizzle and add a little more maple syrup at the end if you need it.
More Make-Ahead Recipes Like Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
Baked oatmeal recipes like this one are a great recipe to take to others. In fact, they are perfect for new moms! Here are other recipe ideas like this one that would be great to pass on to someone in need:
This is a great recipe, it has become a favourite at our house. We like it with a scoop of yogurt and slivered almonds for extra crunch!
So glad to hear this Janette. Thanks for letting us know how you personalize it!
This is so yum! Going in our breakfast rotation
Glad to hear it Kristen. Thanks for leaving a review.
Wow! This was delicious! First time making baked oatmeal and I think I’ve found my new favourite breakfast. So easy, no special ingredients & it made my house smell gorgeous. Like a cross between a blueberry muffin & glazed donut but healthy. We served it with Greek yoghurt. Highly recommend! Can’t wait to try the other baked oatmeal recipes on your website.
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it Anna. I’m partial to the Brownie Baked Oatmeal, but the blueberry is a close second. Thank you for leaving a review.
Can you make this in muffin cups?
Hi Krista. We have not personally tested it, but we have had several readers say they cook it in muffin tins and then freeze what they called “oatmeal pucks” for quick breakfasts. We’d love to hear how it turns out if you also try it.
New staple! Added protein powder and it makes it a bit more dense but not less moist. Love it!
Good to know on the protein powder Jen. Thanks!
This recipe is delicious!!!
Thank you Lynn!
Can the recipe be altered to make a firm, moist almost heavy cake like baked oatmeal.
I’m not sure. Haven’t tried that.
This turned out so great! Thank you!
Yay! Glad to hear it Lori. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. 🙂
Amazing for breakfast
Glad you enjoyed it!
Can you bake this and then freeze it and warm up in microwave?
Yes, you can. Be sure to wait until it cools, then wrap tightly to diminish air exposure. Hope that helps!
A family favorite and breakfast staple!
Awesome to hear that, Kristin. Thanks!
what other oil can you use in place of avocado oil or melted coconut oil in the Blueberry Baked Oatmeal? I don’t have either on hand. Thanks in advance
Melted butter is delicious. Or you can use canola or vegetable oil.