Baked oatmeal has never been so sinfully sweet: dark chocolate cherry baked oatmeal is a cross between breakfast and dessert. This recipe features dark chocolate baked oatmeal flavored with cocoa, sugar and vanilla extract, covered in a layer of cooked, sweet cherries. Dark chocolate cherry baked oatmeal is the perfect solution for a sweet tooth, or the perfect sweet, healthy and balanced breakfast.
What is baked oatmeal? What does this one taste like?
Baked oatmeal offers the comfort of a warm bowl of oatmeal, but with the ease and convenience of baking a cake to make multiple servings. I first started making baked oatmeal for this exact reason: I love warm oatmeal, but I didn’t want to make it every morning (let’s face it, stirring oatmeal on the stove is not the most fun or practical for a daily breakfast). Sure, you can get those packages of instant oatmeal with flavors, but if you’re anything like me, those don’t really keep me satisfied.
What makes this one different?
This baked oatmeal is bulked up with other healthy ingredients to make this dish super satisfying, as well as delicious. It even has a built-in side dish and flavor enhancer: cherries! This baked oatmeal has the wonderful flavors of dark chocolate (from unsweetened cocoa powder both in the baked oatmeal, plus sprinkled on top), sweet cane sugar, and tart, luxuriously sweet cherries. I love the flavor combination of chocolate and cherries. It is just the best! 
What you’ll need to make dark chocolate cherry baked oatmeal
- bananas
- unsweetened applesauce
- sugar
- cocoa powder
- kosher salt
- vanilla extract
- baking powder
- old fashioned oats
- unsweetened almond or cashew milk, or skim milk
- lemon juice
- cornstarch
- frozen cherries
- I used frozen cherries here to avoid having to remove the pits in all of them.
- If you prefer to use fresh cherries, remove the pits. You will also have to add 1/4 cup of water when cooking them on the stove top.
- Since frozen cherries hold a lot of water, no extra water is needed for this method.
- Substitution suggestions:
- If you don’t like or are allergic to bananas, add more unsweetened applesauce (approximately 1 cup is equivalent to two bananas).
- If you are diabetic or do not want to use real sugar, you can use sugar replacements.
How to make dark chocolate cherry baked oatmeal
Making the cherry topping
Add the frozen cherries to a saucepan with the sugar. Combine the lemon juice and corn starch together to form a “slurry.” Add the slurry to the cherries, and then put the saucepan on medium to medium-high heat. Cook the cherries for 10 minutes or so, or until they are cooked down, broken down, and resemble a compote or jam consistency. The cherries should be thick and jammy, not watery (and still have some larger pieces throughout). Keep cooking them if they are too watery. Note: if you are using fresh cherries, make sure you remove the pits from them. Also, add 1/4 cup of water for cooking. Once the cherries are cooked down, set the pan aside to cool while you prepare the other ingredients.
Making the baked oats
Preheat the oven to 375F. Grab a baking dish or casserole dish (I use this one) and spray it with non-stick cooking spray. In a mixing bowl, mash the bananas and add the applesauce. Next, add in the baking powder, salt, cocoa powder, extract, and sugar. Once those ingredients are combined, add the milk and fold in the oats. Pour this mixture into the greased baking dish. Then, top with the cherry mixture, followed by a sprinkle of the remaining cocoa powder. Bake for 35 minutes.
Let the baked oatmeal cool before cutting into it (otherwise it will not hold up to cutting). 
Dark Chocolate Cherry Baked Oatmeal
Equipment
- baking dish, casserole dish, pie plate
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 2 bananas, overripe
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tbsp sugar, I used Cane Sugar; it is coarser
- 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup cashew milk, unsweetened, or almond milk or skim
- 1.5 cups old fashioned oats
Topping
- 2 cups cherries, frozen, about a 10-12 oz bag
- 1 tsp corn starch
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
- Add the topping ingredients (except for the cocoa powder) to a small saucepan.
- Cook the cherries for 10 minutes on medium heat or until broken down and into a thick jam consistency. Set aside,
- 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, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, 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.
- Pour the cooked cherry topping on top of the oatmeal. Spread in an even layer.
- Sprinkle with the 1/4 tsp cocoa powder.
- Bake at 375 for 35 minutes.
Notes
- 5 points
Nutrition
Links to similar recipes
If you like baked oatmeal recipes that incorporate fruit toppings, you might also enjoy these recipes: Blueberry Baked Oatmeal Peach Baked Oatmeal Strawberry Shortcake Baked Oatmeal Raspberry White Chocolate Baked Oatmeal As well as the base of this recipe, which is the classic: Dark Chocolate Baked Oatmeal
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This looks delicious! I have all the ingredients in the house, so I will definitely bake today!
I just made this oatmeal this morning. It’s delicious. I baked it in a 9×13 Pyrex dish, and it turned out great. Not too sweet & HUGE portion to fill me up for the rest of the morning. Can’t wait to eat it again tomorrow.
So good! Made these this week- I cooked a half batch and baked individual servings in three small ramekins. I think next week I’ll make the full batch so I have enough for breakfast AND dessert! So glad cherries are in season.
Loved it 🥰
Delicious! Made it this weekend as we had a lot scheduled. Filling breakfast that powered my day!! Looking forward to trying so many more recipes I’ve found in your page! Thanks for sharing.
I love this. However when I put the ingredients in the recipe builder I get 6 points for Blue.
This is by far my favorite baked oatmeal recipe of yours so far. Making it again for meal prep this week and it couldn’t be easier!
Just made this for brunch! Seeing this recipe of Steph’s was perfect timing as I had about 2 C of fresh cherries that were not so good fresh anymore and needed to be used somehow. This was a hit and delicious! I will make this again!
So easy and so good!
Another great recipe! I had cherries sitting in the fridge and I made this. Served it with honey almond fat free Greek yogurt for my husband’s meal prep for the week
Super easy and wonderfully tasty!!
I made this Dark Chocolate Cherry Baked Oatmeal and it is amazing. I added Lily’s chocolate chips on top, as well because I love chocolate. Cannot wait to try another and do not hesitate to make this especially if you love cherries and chocolate!!
So good!!!!!
I make this almost every week and serve with Greek yogurt. I absolutely love it. A great way to get several healthy breakfast items in one bowl!
A*MA*ZING!!!!!
This is like eating dessert. It is incredible. I accidentally added the cocoa to the cherries but I like the way it turned out. This topping is my favorite so far.
Love this one!!
Made this for desserts for the week! Something healthier and filling in the evening!
This recipe was divine ! The oats were so flavorful and moist and the cherry topping was the perfect amount of sweetness. This will be on repeat!!
This baked oatmeal is delicious!! ♥️ One of my favorites!! So good! So easy! So quick! 🌟
This is a yummy way to start the day!