Baked oats are just like eating CAKE for breakfast – and they happen to be nutritious, too! My Chocolate Chunk Walnut Baked Oats recipe is a variation on the viral TikTok baked oats trend from 2021. I love baked oats SO MUCH, I decided to create a permanent home for a few of my own creations on the blog. They also happen to be gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and can be made vegan, too!
So here we are today – a soft, chocolate cake-type-thing, made in a mug/ramekin, that’s bursting with chocolate and walnuts. The base is made from rolled oats that are ground into flour. The rest is just a banana and a few simple ingredients that I’m quite sure you already have sitting in your pantry.
Who Started The Baked Oats Trend?
I first saw baked oats pop up on Instagram in 2021 from my friend Jeannette, from @sweatysweetpotato. At the time, I honestly wasn’t impressed. What was the big deal about oats in a mug? Shortly thereafter, thousands of other creators jumped on the bandwagon, coming up with their own variations on the baked oats trend. If you are on TikTok, be sure to check out the hashtag #bakedoats to see what went down. But, it wasn’t until about 8 months after these made the headlines that I finally decided to give them a try.
Once I did, my eyes were opened and I finally understood why people were going crazy for the baked oats. It is literally a breakfast CAKE – light, filling, and the best part? HEALTHY.
What You Need To Make My Chocolate Chunk Walnut Baked Oats
- Rolled or quick oats: You need rolled or quick cook oats or old fashioned oats. Basically, you can use ANY oats you’d like, except steel cut oats. This recipe will not work with steel cut oats, as the texture is completely different.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: This is what gives the baked oats a nice chocolate-y flavor. Be sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder to avoid unnecessary added sugars.
- Milk of choice: I recommend almond milk or oat milk, but any will be find.
- Egg: To make baked oats, you need one egg. If you are vegan, simply substitute the egg for one flax egg (in a small bowl, stir together 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed meal + 3 tablespoons water and let thicken for 5 minutes.
- Banana: Banana is key in this recipe. But I do know other creators have used apple sauce in its place if banana is not your thing.
- Maple syrup: The maple syrup just adds a touch of sweetness without being too overpowering.
- Collagen peptides (optional): I am always looking for additional ways to sneak more protein into my diet, and adding collagen peptides is a great way to do it! It doesn’t have any flavor (if you buy plain), but it contains a nice serving of protein and has a whole host of health benefits, such as strong joints, hair, skin, and nails. If you are vegan, do not use collagen peptides, as it is not vegan. And if you don’t have any, don’t worry. It’s an optional ingredient!
- Nut butter of choice: I recommend using cashew butter or almond butter in this recipe, but if you want yours to have a peanut taste, go with peanut butter. This also adds a nice dose of healthy fats to help you stay fuller, longer.
- Baking powder: You just need a touch to help your baked oats rise.
- Chocolate chips: I used dairy-free chocolate chips, but you can use what ever you’d like; even a few squares of chopped chocolate would be great.
- Walnuts: I love the crunch and taste of walnuts in this recipe, so if you have them on hand, you will love the extra crunch and flavor. Plus, they are heart-healthy. If you don’t have them, leave it out.
How To Make Baked Oats
Making baked oats is so EASY! Once you see how easy, you are going to be making these on repeat!
- First, preheat your oven to 350F.
- Next, grease an oven-safe mug or 6-8 oz ramekin.
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender, except for the chocolate chips and walnuts, and blend until smooth.
- Pour oat mixture to the mug/ramekin.
- Add the walnuts and chocolate chips/chunks on top.
- Bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove from oven and add a splash of milk of choice, if desired.
Want More Baked Oats?
Get creative in the kitchen. As long as you keep the base recipe the same, you can play with different add-ins, such as shredded coconut, butterscotch/white chocolate chips, fresh berries, and so forth!
I hope you guys love this recipe! If you make it, be sure to leave a comment below and let me know what you think! And if you post to Instagram, I repost your remakes on my IG stories! xx
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled or quick oats, old fashioned is okay!
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup milk of choice
- 1 egg, or substitute for a flax egg
- ½ ripe banana
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 scoop collagen peptides
- 1 tablespoon cashew or almond butter
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons dairy-free chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F.
- Grease an oven-safe mug or 6-8 oz ramekin.
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender, except for the chocolate chips and walnuts, and blend until smooth.
- Pour oat mixture to the mug/ramekin.
- Add the walnuts and chocolate chips/chunks on top.
- Bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove from oven and add a splash of milk of choice, if desired, and enjoy!
Rate & review
SELECT A RATING and tell me what you think!
What others are saying
Can this go into microwave instead of oven? Looks amazing! Love all your recipes! Thank you
Hi Carrie! This recipe has not been tested in the microwave, so I can’t confirm whether or not it will work the same as in the oven. However if you decide to try it out, please let me know how it goes for you!
These baked oats are so so good! I wanted ask if how many calories does one serving have— thanks!
Hi Sola! Thank you so much for making this recipe, and for leaving a review! Unfortunately I do not provide calorie information for my recipes, and you can read why here: https://kalejunkie.com/why-i-decided-not-to-include-nutrition-information-on-my-blog/