Mixed Berry Chocolate Baked Oatmeal

Name: Mixed Berry Chocolate Baked Oatmeal
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
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; 4 cups mixed berries (frozen); 1 tsp sugar; 1 tsp corn starch; optional: extra cocoa and powdered sugar for topping

December 5, 2021 By Steph 37 Comments

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Mixed berry chocolate baked oatmeal is the most deliciously sweet breakfast that will leave you wondering: is this breakfast or dessert? Truthfully, it could be either one. This recipe is a healthy but indulgent tasting breakfast, naturally sweetened by fruit with just a bit of added sugar. Serve this delicious oatmeal dish alone, or with a doll-up of yogurt for some extra protein.

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: delicious mixed berries! This baked oatmeal has the wonderful flavors of dark chocolate (from unsweetened cocoa powder), sweet cane sugar, and tart, luxuriously sweet mixed berries. I love the flavor combination of chocolate and berries. It is just the best!

What you’ll need to make mixed berry chocolate 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
cornstarch
frozen mixed berries
- I used a blend of raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries
- If you prefer to use fresh berries, you will also have to add 1/4 cup of water when cooking them on the stove top.
- Since frozen berries 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 this delicious baked oatmeal

Making the berry topping

Add the frozen berries to a saucepan with the sugar and the corn starch, then put the saucepan on medium to medium-high heat. Cook the berries for 10 minutes or so, or until they are cooked down, broken down, and resemble a compote or jam consistency. The berries 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 berries, also add 1/4 cup of water for cooking.

Once the berries 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 berry mixture. Bake for 35 minutes.

How-To Video

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Storage and reheating

This baked oatmeal recipe (and all of my baked oatmeal recipes) should be stored in the fridge. They also freeze very well; simply wrap individual portions in plastic wrap and freeze. To defrost, microwave to heat through. This makes for a great meal prep. Whenever you have ripe bananas, make a baked oatmeal!