I kind of wanted to call this one “Italian Cookie Baked Oatmeal.” This version of my baked oatmeal features the flavors of lemon zest and almond extract, with the delicious crunch of slivered almonds. Topped with confectioner’s sugar, this lemon almond baked oatmeal is reminiscent of the flavors of a classic Italian almond cookie. Pair it with some Greek yogurt and fresh fruit for the ultimate filling, healthy breakfast or snack.
What is baked oatmeal, anyway?
Baked oatmeal offers the comfort of a deliciously warm bowl of oatmeal, with the convenience of a batch-prepped bake. Since my version of baked oatmeal does not include eggs or dairy, this recipe is vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free (if you use certified gluten-free oats, of course). All of the flavors of your dreams are combined into a batter, and then baked to perfection, creating a soft-baked oatmeal that can be reheated in individual portions as needed, or serve four people all at once. It’s a cross between cooked oatmeal and a cake, with a soft and moist texture. My oatmeal bakes were created with breakfast in mind, but have morphed into something else. My original idea was to create an bake that would allow me to batch-prep multiple servings of warm oats for the week. Many people enjoy oatmeal, but don’t love eating cold overnight oats, so I wanted to cater to that need. The first baked oatmeal I made was the Maple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal and it really took off; you all loved the convenience and ease of the dish, and were blown away by the punch of flavor it packs. After I created that original recipe, I went on to create other variations of this delicious treat, including the Dark Chocolate Baked Oatmeal and most recently, the Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal. I love seeing how you are all enjoying this recipe! 
What you’ll need to make lemon almond baked oatmeal
To make the lemon almond baked oatmeal recipe, you’ll need the standard baked oatmeal ingredients, with a few twists:
- bananas
- unsweetened applesauce
- brown sugar
- kosher salt
- baking powder
- almond extract (this is a necessary ingredient, don’t skip this or sub it out!)
- the zest of one lemon
- unsweetened almond milk (or cashew, skim, or any milk of your choice)
- I calculated the stats for this recipe using unsweetened almond milk
- old fashioned oats
- slivered almonds
- granulated sugar (I used cane sugar, it is coarser)
- confectioner’s sugar
What if I don’t like bananas or am allergic to them? So, that’s definitely two separate things here and I will explain why: if you don’t like the taste of bananas, I wouldn’t worry. You don’t taste them at all here. The bananas serve as a means to sweeten this baked oatmeal naturally, without using a ton of extra sugar. If you are allergic to bananas, you can add more applesauce in its place. I would add an extra cup of applesauce in order to replace the banana. I do not recommend using pumpkin in place of bananas. It is not sweet enough.
How to make lemon almond baked oatmeal
To make this recipe, it doesn’t take much. Just preheat your oven to 375F. In the meantime, mash up your bananas, and then add the applesauce, extract, brown sugar, salt, baking powder, lemon zest, milk, and oats. Then, fold in the almonds. Combine them thoroughly, and pour the batter into a greased baking dish. The one I use is from Corningware, and it’s a 2.5-qt casserole dish. I think it works perfectly here.
After you pour the batter into the baking dish, top it with the granulated sugar. Bake for 35 minutes. Once it’s done cooking, remove it from the oven to cool. This part is optional, but I highly recommend sprinkling the cooled bake with some confectioners sugar for some extra sweetness, and for that real Italian-cookie vibe. This recipe makes four great-sized portions. Some people even split it further, into six portions. It’s totally your call! 
Lemon Almond Baked Oatmeal
Equipment
- baking dish, casserole dish, pie plate
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 2 bananas, overripe
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1 lemon, zested
- 1 cup almond milk, unsweetened, or cashew milk or skim
- 1.5 cups old fashioned oats
- 1 oz slivered almonds
Topping
- .5 tsp granulated sugar
- sprinkle confectioner's sugar
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, sugar, baking powder, salt, extract, and the zest of the lemon, and stir to combine.
- Add the milk. Whisk together.
- Add the oats. Fold in.
- Stir in the almonds.
- Pour the mixture evenly into the baking dish.
- Sprinkle with the granulated sugar.
- Bake at 375 for 35 minutes.
- Once cooled, top with confectioner's sugar for serving.
Notes
- 6 points
Nutrition
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So excited to try this new version of baked oats! Can’t wait🥰
Going to try this with blueberries on the side! Thank you for all your hard work you do for us!! 💕💕
This is my favorite bake oatmeal so far. It tasted amazing with blueberries on top. Thank you, Steph!
I made this over the weekend in a smaller pan, I recommend using the size Steph suggests or larger. Mine came out too moist & cakey, not cookie texture, even after 10 additional minutes in the oven. However the flavor is amazing! I will try it again in a larger pan.
This oatmeal bake is good!! This will be a regular on my menu!
Is there a way to add more lemon flavor?
Lemon extract would work
Thank you!
Couldn’t you just add some lemon juice?
Each oatmeal bake is better then the last. I think this one is my all time favorite. So fresh tasting! I honestly dream about this when it’s in my fridge.
Do you use old fashioned oats the ones you cook longer or the instant? Thanks!
Best baked oatmeal!! Although I love them all, this one is definitely my favorite!
Thank you!
So SO good!! I will be making this one a ton!
I just came to say this is probably my FAVORITE recipe in the entire world now, and I could eat this everyday! Thank you thank you!
Omg- this is amazing!! Baked up perfectly and tastes just like an Italian almond cookie. I will definitely be adding this in to my rotation… so yummy & quick!
This is AMAZING!!! I didn’t have a fresh lemon so I used 2 TBSP of lemon juice instead – still turned out great!! What a treat!!! I will make this a regular in my home but would also make to add to my brunch table. Delicious!
I just made this hand down best one yet!! I used a 9×13 baking dish I shoulda used a smaller one !! I’ll be making this a lot!!! 🤤
This recipe is so easy to make and delicious!
Delicious!
So delicious! I’m eating it as my dessert tonight!
I’ve been making a pancake bake every week for a year for myself and my daughter. When I saw these oatmeal bake I thought my husband would like it because he loves lemon. I made yesterday yesterday and when I was cutting it to put it away it looks so good I had to taste it. It is out of this world and I will be making it again for sure and it won’t be just for him!!
If I could give this 20 stars, I would!! This will be my go to breakfast for a while!
2nd batch this week. My favorites of the oatmeal bakes.
So so yummy! May be my new fave! My hubby gave his approval too! Works so well for snacks during the day for us and easier than overnight oats for some reason!
Can’t wait to wake up tomorrow morning and eat this again-delicious!
This was amazing! Definitely will keep this recipe on repeat.
I love all the oatmeal baked recipes, but this one is my new favorite! You won’t be disappointed.
Best baked oatmeal I’m a true lemon lover so this was right up my alley. As I was making it I decided to also use the juice from the lemon I zested it was so good! Huge portions so I cut it into (6) and it’s also a delicious dessert with some Reddi Whip or Cool Whip Thank you for all your hard work it’s greatly appreciated.
My favorite of the oatmeal bakes! Delicious!
Not sure of the consistency. Is this supposed to come out crunchy like a cookie or a little moist?
It’s supposed to be a moist oatmeal bake. Like cooked oatmeal that you can cut into servings. Not crunchy.
WOW! This is my new favorite! The flavors are incredible, especially if you like almonds. So, so good!
Anything that Steph makes is the best! This recipe does not disappoint. I will be adding this to the rotation!
Hi I didn’t have the almonds or almond extract so I substituted with raspberries. I know, very different substitution but OMG! Sooo DELISH!!! Thanks so much for the inspiration. I’ve tried a lot of your recipes and they never disappoint! 😊
I just made this!! I had it straight out of the oven and it’s sooo good! Definitely warm it up first if it’s been in the fridge – makes it that much better.
This is so delicious! I had it for dessert!
You knocked it out of the park with this. Unreal! First of all, the smell in the house is exactly like an Italian bakery on Arthur Ave, and the flavors are absolutely amazing! So easy to make, and so filling. Thank you!!
Another great one. I LOVE these oatmeal bakes! So quick and easy to make, and super delicious!!
I’m not a fan of bananas can this be made without them??
Just pulled this out of the oven and cannot wait for breakfast tomorrow. My house smells sooo good!
Delicious!
My favorite baked oatmeal yet! I didn’t have almond extract so I used vanilla and I added in some fresh lemon juice! So decadent!! Thanks for continuing to create amazing food!
This one is hand down my favorite!! I love the lemon almond combo! Like biscotti in a bowl!
So delicious and flavorful! Perfect amount of sweetness. Thank you!
Never in my life have I had breakfast and thought about it all day. I had this oatmeal bake with Greek yogurt and some blueberries and it was just so so so delicious!!!
This is AWESOME!! It’s my favorite Oatmeal bake so far!
Loved it!!
Omg soooo good ! The family loved it. Can’t wait to try the s’mores one! Your name is now a staple in our household! Thanks for all your yummy recipes! You totally ROCK!
I will be honest, I wasn’t super excited about this recipe, but I trust Steph! Let me tell you, I love all of the Baked oatmeals so far, but this one is possibly my favorite now. The game changer is the almond! Having that texture and crunch in the oatmeal, makes it completely different and exciting. Thank you!!!
This one is my new favorite ( for now ) 😄 soooo yummy. I have this for dessert with some fresh blueberries & ff reddi whip!
So delicious and easy! My only change was that I put the batter in cupcake tins. I did 2 cupcakes per serving for 6 total servings. This was easier for me to have as a breakfast on the go!
How long did you bake it as muffins?
Delicious!
All I can say is wow! Love this combination of lemon and almonds. Very hearty and feeling.
This is so delicious and easy to make!
This is soooooo delicious!
This is so good! Love it 🥰
Really tastes like a 7 layer cookie!!
Couldn’t find almond extract so used almond flavor. Think it was fine.
Oh my word, made this yesterday and it is literally like eating a dessert for breakfast. Absolutely wonderful!
This was amazing!! So good, as usual!
This is my 2 oatmeal bake in 3 days. The 3rd recipe I’ve made from Steph’s recipe’s. This one is the Lemon Almond Oatmeal Bake. It’s absolutely delicious. In my opinion if possible better than the PBJ one I made Saturday.
This was so easy to make and beyond delicious. Looking forward to breakfast tomorrow. Thank you!
This is my breakfast this week and is so good! I added fat free Greek yogurt so yummy! Will make a different next week!
Love your recipes Steph!
I made this yesterday for brunch. It was AMAZING!! Bright and delicious…full of flavor. I was a little skeptical of the banana(the hubs is not a fan of bananas baked in things). You can not taste them at all. We will be having this again soon!!
Loved this! I made 1.5x the recipe and added an egg to the mixture. Came out perfect.
So good! Perfect for breakfast and also a sweet and filling treat! Can’t wait to try the other varieties!!
Finally got around to trying this one. So, so, good. Thank you Steph for another home run.
This one is my favorite oatmeal bake so far.
Breakfast or dessert, it’s up to you. Don’t forget the powdered sugar. The flavors are great again! The oatmeal bakes are part of my regular rotation because they are quick, easy, and delicious. Don’t miss that you don’t have to wait for bananas to ripen, bake them on 350 for 15 – 25 minutes.
I bought bananas for the sole purpose of letting them over-ripen so I could make this baked oatmeal. So glad I did, and it is even better the second day, after all the flavors have had a chance to develop! (A squirt of whipped cream and some fresh blueberries didn’t hurt, either!). Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms!
I love the maple cinnamon baked oatmeal so much that it took me forever to try this version – but I LOVE this one too! I made a few changes to make it 4 points per serving on WW Blue – Subbed in 2 tbs of sugar free maple syrup for the brown sugar, topped with monk fruit granulated sweetener instead of sugar. I also used sliced almonds as I could not find silvered ones, just a delicious!
Love this one 😋
Another winner by Steph!
Delicious!
All of Steph’s baked oatmeals are delicious but this one is far and away my favorite! AH-mazing!! The almond extract is the key, with the lemon and slivered almonds – the combination is absolutely delicious!!
This is my absolute favorite oatmeal bake of Steph’s. So easy, filling and delicious! I usually eat with blueberries and strawberries.
I am a huge fan of anything almond and lemon but this is insanely good. I’m talking totally dessert worthy. I will be making this regularly!!
This is a favorite at my house. Not only is it outstanding right out of the oven but reheated in my office toaster oven makes it over the top. This is the envy of all my office workers when I heat up my first meal of the day. 💛🍋✨
Wowza this is delicious! It’s amazing what a little lemon zest and almond extract can add to the flavor of oatmeal. I knew I would like it because I’m a baked oatmeal fan but I love it. Feels very indulgent. Eating it with strawberries and yogurt today. Thank you!!
This oatmeal bake might be my favorite of all time. The kids love it too!
This looks absolutely delicious. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I can’t wait to try this. Maybe I can finally get my hubby to eat oatmeal lol.
Great almond flavor! One of my favorites!
Delicious tastes like an Italian cookie. The lemon zest really pulls it together.
Love all the baked oatmeal’s but this is one of my favorites!
Made this for meal prep this weekend, so tasty and simple!!
Delicious baked oatmeal! Like all of them 🙂 I have liked every one I have tried!
This is delicious! Tastes just like my Nonna’s Italian cookies. Bonus: Your kitchen will smell AMAZING!
Another winner! Made this today for the week and it has the perfect lemon & almond flavors. Highly recommend!
Can I use coconut sugar? I don’t really use any other kind these days.
Love this flavor combo! So yummy. Served with vanilla greek yogurt. Thanks again!!!
Delish!!
Just made this And is did NOT disappoint.
Can’t wait to eat it for breakfast tomorrow.
Any suggestions on how to make this without the bananas? It sounds amazing otherwise and I was hoping to try it this weekend.
You can use 1 cup of applesauce instead 🙂
Being full blooded Italian, this really appealed to me. It’s soooooo good!!!
It is so good. Lite cool whip and just 1/2 a portion is the perfect dessert!
I was so excited when i saw this prepared on the Instagram page. I’m a big fan of the cinnamon maple oatmeal bake so i was excited to try this one. It did not disappoint. Both my spouse and i loved it. So easy to prepare and delicious. I meal prepped it on Sunday and we each took it to work with us during the week. I added fresh blueberries and it kept me full and happy.
OMG a little late to the baked oatmeal game but YUM!!!! Thank you for all you do!!
I am obsessed with all of Steph’s oatmeal bake recipes. This one is one of my favorites. It does taste like an almond biscotti cookie. It’s so goof! Thanks Steph!
So good, even cold. Great, easy recipe.
Steph,
Just made the Lemon Almond Baked Oatmeal. This was so delicious. These recipes are just amazing.
Thank you so much
Maureen
This is so good! I added in the juice of the lemon to make it even more lemony. This is my favorite baked oatmeal so far!
Tastes like a lemon biscotti! Pairing it with Greek yogurt and fresh blueberries this week!
Oh my, I absolutely love this recipe! I leave out all the sugar and it’s still plenty sweet for me. I’ve mixed in blueberries and dark cherries and my kids absolutely devour it. I’m gluten, dairy and egg free so breakfast options are tricky for me! This is an absolute staple now. Thank you!
Love meal prepping this for breakfast!
This is my favorite one!! I used lemon extract since I didn’t have a lemon, and it worked well. These are quick and easy to keep me on track throughout the week!