Baked Steel Cut Oatmeal

Name: Baked Steel Cut Oatmeal
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup steel-cut oats (176 g); 3 cups almond milk or another plant-based milk of choice (750 mL); 2 bananas, mashed (approx. 220 g); 1 apple, chopped (approx. 150 g, or other fruit of choice); 1 tsp cinnamon; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1/2 tsp sea salt

posted: 02/18/19 — updated: 02/11/23 by Deryn Macey Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe·★★★★★5 from 5 reviews

This baked steel cut oatmeal recipe is easy to make with just a few ingredients for a healthy and delicious breakfast.

Oven baked steel cut oatmeal with apples and banana, topped with berries and almonds.

This delicious baked steel cut oat is easy to make in the oven for a filing, nutritious, whole grain breakfast the whole family will love.

Baked oats make your house smell amazing and there’s nothing better for warming up on a chilly morning.

This recipe is very easy to make. All you need to do is add all the ingredients to a baking dish, cover and bake! An hour later you’ll have the most delicious breakfast. They’re perfect for a hot breakfast but are also healthy reheated during the week for a healthy, make-ahead breakfast option.

Table of Contents hide

Recipe Features
What are Steel Cut Oats?
Ingredient Notes
Step-by-Step Instructions
Topping Ideas
FAQ
Storing
More Oatmeal Recipes
Baked Steel Cut Oatmeal

Recipe Features

Dietary Features: Vegan, gluten-free (use GF-certified oats if needed), no added sugar.
Easy to make with simple, wholesome ingredients.
Great for meal prep.
Family and kid-friendly!
High in fiber.
You’ll need to just a few minutes to prep followed by 1 hour of baking time.
Customize with different add-ins like nuts and fruits.

What are Steel Cut Oats?

Steel cut oats, sometimes called coarse oatmeal or Irish oats, are whole grain groats, the inner portion of the oat kernel which has been cut into pieces.

They’re golden in colour and look like chopped nuts and are hard and crunchy. When they’re cooked, they look a bit like cooked brown rice and have a chewy texture and nutty flavour.

Ingredient Notes

Steel cut oats in a measuring cup beside an apple, banana and jar of plant-based milk.

A complete list of ingredients with amounts and full instructions is located in the printable recipe card below. This section covers ingredient and substitution considerations.

Steel-Cut Oats: This recipe is made specifically for steel-cuts oats. For baked rolled oats, try my Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal or Easy Banana Baked Oatmeal.
Plant-Based Milk: I suggest unsweetened almond or cashew milk but you can use any variety of plant milk you enjoy such as soy milk, oat milk or hemp milk.
Banana: The banana adds sweetness without the need for added sugar and helps to thicken the oats. Ripe or slightly over ripe banana works.
Apple: For extra flavour, texture and nutrition, try any variety of chopped apple.
Flavourings: To enhance the flavour you can add cinnamon, vanilla and a pinch of salt.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Before You Start: Preheat the oven to 350 F and gather all your ingredients and an approximately 8×8-inch baking dish.

Step 1: Add the banana to the baking dish you plan to use and mash it up until you have a chunky paste.

Two hands mashing banana with a fork in a glass baking dish.

Step 2: Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well to combine.

Quick Note: For flavour variations, swap the diced apple for peaches or berries. If you’d like to add anything else, such as raisins or cranberries, those can be added now as well.

Almond milk, chopped apple, cinnamon, banana and steel cut oats in a glass baking dish with a wooden spoon.

Step 3. Cover the oats and bake for 45 minutes then remove the cover and bake for another 15 minutes.

If you’d like to add a topping, such as a sprinkle of coconut, brown or coconut sugar, slivered almond or chopped pecans or walnuts, add those now. These can also just be added at serving.

Quick Tip: If you don’t have a baking dish with a lid, you can use a baking tray flipped upside down and placed on top of the dish.

Baked steel cut oats in a glass baking dish.

Enjoy your delicious baked oats with fresh berries, nuts or any other toppings you might enjoy!

Oven baked steel cut oats in a small bowl with blackberries, maple syrup, almond milk and almonds.

Topping Ideas

Enjoy your oats with some of these topping ideas:

fresh berries
chopped dates or raisins
cacao nibs or chocolate chips
pecans, almonds, walnuts or cashews
hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
peanut butter or almond butter
tahini
maple syrup or raw honey
fresh sliced banana
caramelized banana
cinnamon sauteed apples
blueberry chia seed jam
homemade caramel sauce or date paste

FAQ

Can I substitute rolled oats for steel cut oats?

Rolled oats wouldn’t be suitable without some adjustments to the recipe. For baked rolled oats recipes, try:

• Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal
• Vegan Baked Oatmeal Cups
• Easy Banana Baked Oatmeal

What are the best apples to use?

Really anything works but I like gala, jazz, honeycrisp, Fuji or for a more tart flavour, granny smith.

Hot oven baked steel cut oats in two small bowls with blackberries and almonds.

Storing

Fridge: Store in a sealed container for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Let cool then store in one container or portion into single-servings and pull as needed the night before you want to enjoy them.
The oats will thicken considerable after storing but can be reheat with some plant-based milk to make adjust them to a creamier texture.
Reheating: You can eat baked eats cold or reheat them in a pot or the microwave until heated through.

Did you try this recipe?
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