Blueberry Baked Oatmeal

Name: Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats; 3/4 cup chopped nuts (we used pecans); 1/4 cup coconut sugar; 2 tsp cinnamon; 3/4 tsp ground ginger; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 1/4 cup nondairy milk (we used oat milk); 1/4 cup maple syrup; 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce; 2 flax eggs (1 tbsp flax meal + 2.5 tbsp of water per "egg"); 1/4 cup melted vegan butter or coconut oil; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 2 cups blueberries, divided; 1/3 cup finely chopped nuts (we used pecans); 3 tbsp shredded coconut; 1 tbsp melted vegan butter; 1/2 tbsp maple syrup; 1/2 tsp cinnamon; pinch of fine kosher salt

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This vegan and gluten free blueberry baked oatmeal is the perfect make-ahead breakfast or brunch! It's easy to customize with various add-ins and makes for a great brunch for a crowd.

overhead view of vegan blueberry baked oatmeal on wood cutting board

Best type of oats for baked oatmeal

Old-fashioned whole rolled oats are the best choice. They hold up well to liquid (they don't get too mushy) and provide a bit of texture, which makes this easy to slice and serve.

We don't suggest using quick-cooking or steel cut oats. Quick cooking oats do not hold up well to liquid. Steel cut oats, on the other hand, require a longer cooking process, so they are not a perfect 1:1 substitute in this recipe.

Love oats? Try a few more of our favorite oatmeal recipes:

side view of slice of blueberry baked oatmeal on small plate

Ingredients

Old fashioned rolled oats: See above for notes on why we only use old-fashioned rolled oats in oatmeal bakes.
Chopped pecans: you can also use another chopped nut, like walnuts or almonds.
Coconut sugar
Cinnamon, ginger and salt
Nondairy milk: we used oat milk, but you can also use almond, cashew, soy, etc.
Flax eggs: flax "eggs" are essentially ground flax meal mixed with water, which create a gelatinous paste that acts as a binder (similar to a real egg). Read more about flax eggs and how to use them in vegan baking here.
Maple syrup
Applesauce: similar to flax eggs, applesauce also works as a binder, which helps thicken this vegan oatmeal bake and keep it together when sliced.
Melted butter or coconut oil
Vanilla extract
Fresh blueberries

We've also included the recipe for a simple coconut/pecan topping. It's optional, but adds nice texture and tastes fantastic!

Instructions

Prep: Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Grease a 9 x 9 pan and line with parchment paper. Make flax eggs by stirring together 2 tablespoon flax meal and 5 tablespoon water. Let sit for 15 minutes to thicken. Wash blueberries and pat dry with paper towel. Try to remove as much moisture as possible.

Mix: In a mixing bowl, stir together oats, chopped nuts, coconut sugar, cinnamon, ginger and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, maple syrup, applesauce, flax eggs, butter, and vanilla. Add wet mixture to dry and stir well. Let sit for 15 minutes, stirring about every 5 minutes, then add in 1 cup of blueberries.

Bake: Transfer to the baking pan and spread evenly. Top with remaining blueberries. Bake for 25 minutes. While baking, stir together all ingredients for topping. After 25 minutes, top evenly with nut/coconut mixture and return to the oven for an additional 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 20 minutes to set.

side view of blueberry oatmeal bake on parchment paper

Serving suggestions

Maple syrup is the simplest (and most delicious) topping. You can also top with whipped cream, nut butter, blueberry syrup, more fresh berries, or anything else you'd top oatmeal with.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! This baked oatmeal stores well in the refrigerator overnight. To reheat an individual slice, microwave in 20 second intervals until warmed through. To reheat the entire oatmeal bake, cover with foil and heat in a 350˚ oven for 10-15 minutes.

Can I freeze baked oatmeal?

Yes! We suggest slicing the bake into squares and freezing individually. This way, you can reheat one slice at a time for a quick breakfast. To reheat, defrost in the refrigerator overnight, then microwave for 1 minute on high.

What other fruit works well in baked oatmeal?

Bananas, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries and apples are my favorite options for baked oatmeal. You can also use dried fruit, like dried apricots, cranberries, cherries, raisins, etc.

Can I make this nut free?

Yes! Substitute chopped nuts for a seed, like sunflower or pumpkin seeds. If you need to go nut and seed free, substitute with coconut instead.

overhead view of vegan blueberry pecan baked oatmeal sliced into squares on wood cutting board

More brunch recipes:

If you make this vegan blueberry baked oatmeal, we’d love for you to leave a comment and rating below! We also love to see your creations on Instagram – tag us at @crowded_kitchen so we can see what you’ve been cooking.