Description
Hearty banana nut baked oatmeal delivers a comforting breakfast packed with wholesome ingredients. Warm spices and nutty undertones create a satisfying morning meal perfect for sharing with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 bananas (ripe, mashed)
- 2 cups (480 ml/16 fl oz) rolled oats
- ¼ cup (80 ml/2.7 fl oz) maple syrup or honey
- 1 egg (or flax egg for vegan)
- 1 ¼ cups (300 ml/10 fl oz) milk (dairy or plant-based)
- ½ cup (60 g/2 oz) chopped walnuts or pecans
- ¼ cup (40 g/1.4 oz) chocolate chips (optional)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Preparation: Heat oven to 375°F (190°C) and position rack in center for optimal heat circulation.
- Dish Preparation: Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish with cooking spray or line with parchment paper for easy removal and clean serving.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Whisk rolled oats, ground cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl until thoroughly integrated.
- Liquid Component Blending: In a separate bowl, combine mashed bananas, eggs, milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract, whisking until smooth and homogeneous.
- Batter Creation: Gently fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients, mixing until just combined to maintain a light, tender texture.
- Nutty Enhancement: Incorporate most of the chopped walnuts into the batter, reserving some for a decorative and crunchy topping.
- Baking Process: Pour mixture into prepared dish, spreading evenly and sprinkling remaining nuts across the surface for added visual appeal and crunch.
- Oven Transformation: Bake for 35-40 minutes, monitoring until the top turns golden brown and the center becomes firm and set.
- Resting and Setting: Allow oatmeal to cool for 10 minutes, enabling flavors to meld and texture to stabilize before serving.
- Serving Suggestion: Cut into squares and serve warm, optionally garnishing with a maple syrup drizzle or yogurt dollop for extra indulgence.
Notes
- Banana Ripeness Matters: Use overripe bananas with brown spots for maximum natural sweetness and deeper flavor profile.
- Prevent Dry Texture: Avoid overmixing batter to maintain moisture and prevent tough, dense oatmeal consistency.
- Customize Nut Options: Swap walnuts with almonds, pecans, or sunflower seeds for dietary preferences or allergies.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the night before and refrigerate, then bake in the morning for a quick, hassle-free breakfast.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 224
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 24 mg