This baked oatmeal is a cookie lover’s dream! Topped with chocolate chips, brown sugar, and chopped walnuts, this baked oatmeal is sinfully sweet and satisfying. Old fashioned oats are mixed with brown sugar, mashed bananas, applesauce, and milk to create the creaminess you crave when it comes to oatmeal; baked to perfection, this chocolate chip walnut baked oatmeal is easy to cut and serve into portions. For breakfast, eat it alone or pair with yogurt and fruit, or top with whipped cream for the ultimate healthy dessert.
What does baked oatmeal taste like?
My best description of baked oatmeal is that it’s like a dense, moist cake. It is my solution to batch-prepping oatmeal. In other words, let’s skip the instant oatmeal packs, and let’s not worry about having to stir and cook oats on the stove top. Just combine your oats together with your liquid and flavors, and bake them all together. If you think you don’t like oatmeal, I still recommend you trying baked oats. It’s not your typical, clumpy oatmeal (if that’s the part you aren’t crazy about). It’s easily cut like a cake, and can be eaten alone as a snack, or paired with yogurt and fruit for a filling breakfast. Since my baked oatmeal doesn’t contain any eggs, it’s really quite easy to prepare and bake. You can bake it for as long as you’d like, to get whatever texture you are aiming for. You don’t have to worry about under or over-cooking anything. And since this recipe doesn’t contain eggs or dairy, it’s completely vegan and dairy free. It can also be gluten-free, if you use certified gluten-free oats. 
What you’ll need to make chocolate chip walnut baked oatmeal
Here’s the ingredient list for this recipe:
- bananas
- unsweetened (or no sugar added) applesauce
- vanilla extract
- brown sugar
- baking powder
- cinnamon
- kosher salt
- unsweetened almond milk (or cashew milk, skim milk, milk of choice)
- old fashioned oats
- chocolate chips
- chopped walnuts
Frequently asked questions, re: substitutions
What if I don’t want to use bananas?
If you don’t like the taste of bananas (or you are allergic to bananas) you can use substitutes here. If you don’t want to use bananas because you do not enjoy the flavor, I suggest still using them here. You do not taste the banana at all; they serve as a sweetening agent for the dish only. If you are allergic to bananas or are unable to eat them, you can add more applesauce in place. To replace two medium-sized bananas, I recommend using an extra 1 cup of applesauce in this recipe. I do not recommend using canned pumpkin. It is not sweet enough to replace the sweetness the banana offers here. Can I use sugar free chocolate chips? You absolutely can use whatever chocolate chips you want here. I used regular, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and that’s how I calculated the nutritional information. However, you can use sugar free chips (or Lily’s chips), and use more of them for the same calories and points as regular chips. You really can’t have too many chocolate chips in this recipe! Can I use sugar replacements in this recipe? You can make any other substitutions in this recipe. I have not tried them myself, so I can not attest to the flavor result or my recommendations for the amount to use. As always, I do recommend using the real thing here, unless you can’t for medical reasons. I enjoy the flavor of the real brown sugar and other ingredients, and I feel it truly makes a difference in the overall taste of this recipe. The calories and points are still reasonable while using real sugar, so I feel it’s a win-win for everyone here. 
How to make chocolate chip walnut baked oatmeal
Just like all of my other baked oatmeal recipes, start off by preheating the oven to 375F. In a mixing bowl, mash the bananas until smooth; then add the applesauce, vanilla extract, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Pour in the milk, and then fold the oats in.
Spray your baking dish (I use this one) with cooking spray, and then pour the oat mixture in.
Next, top the oats with the chocolate chips, brown sugar, and chopped walnuts. Press the toppings slightly into the top of the oatmeal so that they are submerged in the oats.
How to serve and store baked oatmeal
This recipe makes four generous servings (but can be divided into more, if you prefer). To store this, I keep it in the baking dish, covered in the fridge. It will stay good for about a week in the fridge (if it doesn’t get devoured before then!) To serve this baked oatmeal, I reheat it quickly in the microwave for about a minute, and then I serve it alongside a scoop of plain non-fat Greek yogurt and some sliced banana. This is the perfect, filling combination of flavors for breakfast or for a sweet treat. 
Chocolate Chip Walnut Baked Oatmeal
Equipment
- baking dish, casserole dish, pie plate
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 2 bananas, overripe
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, or cashew milk, or skim
- 1.5 cups old fashioned oats
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Topping
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1/2 oz walnuts, chopped
- 1/2 oz chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- Spray a small baking dish or casserole with cooking spray. I used an 8.5" x 11" 2.5qt casserole dish for this.
- Add the bananas to the bottom of a mixing bowl, and mash them with a fork.
- Add the applesauce, brown sugar, baking powder, kosher salt, cinnamon, and vanilla extract, and stir to combine.
- Add the milk. Whisk together.
- Add the oats. Fold in.
- Pour the mixture evenly into the baking dish.
- Sprinkle the topping ingredients on top of the oats, press them into the oats slightly.
- Bake at 375 for 35 minutes.
Notes
- 7 points
Nutrition
You might also like these similar recipes: Smores Baked Oatmeal Almond Joy Baked Oatmeal Apple Pecan Baked Oatmeal
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Another perfect oatmeal bake. Thanks so much Steph! Breakfast prep is done for the week and this will be as great as morning coffee!
In the oven for breakfasts this week. I love these! I didn’t have walnuts so I used slivered almonds 😀
This sounds delicious! Can’t wait to make it😋
This was so easy to make and it was delicious. It smells like a dessert when it’s baking. I didn’t have walnuts, so I used pecans. I’m on WW and the serving size is generous. I will definitely make this again for my breakfast meal prep!
What can you substitute for the bananas? I see you already use applesauce. Would I just use more applesauce?
So good, I used more applesauce since I didn’t have any extra rip bananas. The walnuts add a nice texture
This was amazing!! I reheat mine in the air fryer for 5 minutes, the nuts were crunchy & the chips were perfectly melty! This has now passed the Carrot Cake as my favorite baked oatmeal!!
Tomorrow I’m tackling the Chicken Pot Pie.
Thank you for all of your awesome recipes!
So good! I never liked oatmeal until I started making your different baked flavors.
THANK YOU…again!
So delicious and easy!!! Love this one!
Omg! This is the best oatmeal bake I’ve made. I wish I made a double batch- it’s amazing! I don’t think there’s a recipe of Steph’s that I’ve tried and didn’t love
I made this tonight and I promise it doesn’t disappoint! Steph knocks it out of the ballpark again with another delicious oatmeal bake!
I’ve loved all of your baked oatmeal recipes, but this one might be your best one yet!!! Thanks, Steph!!
This oatmeal bake is delicious! I’m already looking forward to tomorrow’s breakfast!
Made this for breakfast and it was delicious !! Thank you for always sharing the most tastiest dishes that are easy for a non chef to prepare!
Delicious! A little sweet for me. Maybe next time I will use 1 banana. One thing to note, I put the nutrition info provided into the WW calculator and it came up as 9pts on the blue plan. Still worth the points though 🙂
You have to build a recipe to get the points. It’s not accurate with the calculator because of zero point foods.
This recipe inspired me to prep breakfast for the week. I did not have regular chocolate chips so I tweaked it a bit; used espresso flavored chocolate chips and added a teaspoon of espresso powder. Has a bit of Italian flair & Tastes delicious!
Great recipe.
I love to finish off my day with this for dessert! I broke it into 6 servings and top it with fat free Reddi Whip. Perfect sweet treat! Highly recommend
My favorite cookie EVER is the Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Walnut cookie. This is exactly that… but with a bit of banana. I love it! I felt like I was eating dessert this morning AND I can actually eat this for dessert too! I will be making this again and again. 🙂
Me and my 6 year old loved this! Will be making it again for sure.
This is absolutely 10/10. Reheats perfectly and doesn’t dry out. Doesn’t taste “healthy” or like I’m compromising taste and settling for something meh. I mixed the chocolate chips in the batter instead of on top and loved it. Like a delicious chocolate chip banana bread. My picky kids even like it. Making this every week!!!
Made this for my husband’s breakfast last week and it smelled like chocolate chip cookies baking! (Add drool emoji here, lol!) I ended up having a piece myself and WOW!! So good. I felt like I was eating dessert. Thanks again Steph for a delicious recipe.
Made this for breakfast this week. Really good. I didn’t have ripe bananas so just increased the applesauce
This was super easy, fast, and delicious. Made it two weeks in a row!
I Love Stephanie’s Baked oatmeals but this by far may be my favorite! I used Swerve brown sugar and it tasted Delicious!!
I’ve tried both this and the strawberries and cream oatmeal bake and they are both delicious! Very easy to make and big portions too!
This is in the oven now and I cannot wait to have a warm slice for breakfast!
So delicious and could easily pass as dessert too! Originally made 3 with plans to freeze them all but had to dig in after smelling them!
No banana flavor at all?
And no need to soak..? Can I soak overnight or not a good idea? I’m used to doing that for oatmeal bakes…. and preparing the night before.
Thanks for any advice ahead!, Tammy
Yum! I made this last night to have for this morning when I realized I had 2 sad looking bananas on my counter. Very good. I had to sub pecans for walnuts because I didn’t have any but it worked well.
This is delicious! I failed to buy walnuts before starting this recipe but I had everything else and it was still delicious. I added more chocolate chips but will definitely add the walnuts next time. Don’t wait to make this…you won’t be disappointed!
Another one of my favorites! It was like eating a delicious dessert for breakfast. Yay!
I have been enjoying this for the past two days! Incredible!!
Absolutely delicious!!! I paired with the slow cooker apple pie filling and it was like desert for breakfast!!
This was amazing and actually got me to like oatmeal!
Just made this and my house smells amazing. Can’t wait for breakfast this week☺️
This oatmeal is very good. I like the sweetness of the chocolate and the crunch of the walnuts. It was easy to make and I would definitely make it again.
I added some unsweetened shredded coconut to the topping and it was delicious. This recipe will be on repeat for me. So delicious and simple to make.
This is by far my favourite baked oatmeal! I was a sucker for the OG maple one.. but this is incredible !
Just sampled my breakfast for the week and i am loving the chocolate chips!!!
All of Steph’s baked oatmeals are amazing but this one may just be my new favorite!! It tastes a like a warm chocolate chip cookie, yummm, so so good!
Wow! I’ve made several of your baked oatmeal recipes and this one is my favorite! They are all great because they’re easy and versatile. But this one has flavors that are so yummy!!
Delicious!!
Simply AMAZING!!! This is so delicious and will be on REPEAT for me!!
Loved this! I couldn’t resist having a small portion while it was cooling. I’ll certainly be making this one again. I can’t wait to try the other variations of the oatmeal bakes. Thank you!
Family favorite!!! So delicious and easy to make. My family and i really enjoyed this oatmeal bake. Perfect for these cold winter mornings. My children loved it. Easy for my oldest to reheat before school. Definitely making again. Thank you so much for sharing all of your recipes.
Another great recipe! So yummy and simple as always!
So easy and absolutely yummy!
This is absolutely delicious! I made it with Enjoy Life chocolate chips and Unsweetened Cashew Milk to keep it dairy-free. Thank you for another great recipe to add to our regular rotation.
Simple, yet my favorite.
One of my favorites…love this combination!!
I keep coming back to this one!
I was a little nervous because this was my first oatmeal bake but what a way to start! This recipe is SO good! The texture, the flavors, the nutrition. Even my picky-eater wife LOVED it! I paired with vanilla nonfat Greek yogurt for a filling breakfast. Can’t wait to try more of your bakes!
I blend mine a little and it comes out more like. Cake. So good! I just air-fry a piece in the morning to warm and crisp it up. Loves this!
Delicious,easy,so easy and quick to prepare! Great for a filling a filling breakfast or nighttime dessert! Thank you Steph
Great breakfast for using up bananas that are on their way out – and the ingredients are all pantry staples that I have on hand. Delicious!