This baked steel cut oatmeal recipe is easy to make with just a few ingredients for a healthy and delicious breakfast. This recipe is made with banana, apple and cinnamon but can easy be customized with other additions like blueberries, nuts or any other fruit.

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

This delicious baked steel-cut oatmeal 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 than a warm bowl of oatmeal 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 can also be reheated during the week for a make-ahead breakfast option.

For baked oatmeal made with old-fashioned oats, you can try Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal, Vegan Baked Oatmeal Cups or Easy Vegan Banana Baked Oatmeal.

For stovetop oatmeal you can make with instant oats, quick oats or old fashioned oats, this Easy Creamy Banana Oatmeal Recipe, Vegan Peaches and Cream Oatmeal and Strawberry Rhubarb Oatmeal are all very yummy and easy to make.

Recipe Features

  • Vegan, gluten-free (use GF-certified oats if needed).
  • Easy to make with simple, wholesome ingredients.
  • Banana adds natural sweetness – no added sugar!
  • Made right in the baking dish – no bowl needed!
  • 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.
  • Perfect to reheat for a filling breakfast on busy mornings!

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.
  • Steel-Cut Oats: This recipe is made specifically for steel-cuts oats.
  • Plant-Based Milk: I suggest unsweetened almond milk or cashew milk but you can use any variety of plant milk you enjoy such as soy milk, oat milk or hemp milk. You can use light coconut milk as well.
  • Banana: Ripe or slightly over ripe banana works.
  • Apple: Use any variety of chopped apple. This can be substituted with other add-ins like berries, nuts, dried fruit or fresh fruit, etc.
  • Flavourings: To enhance the flavour, I like to add cinnamon, vanilla and a pinch of salt.

This list is not complete. Please see the recipe card at the end of the post for the complete ingredient list with measurements and detailed instructions.

Variations & Additions

  • Chia or Flax: Add 2-3 tbsp chia seeds or ground flax seed for healthy fats, fiber and thickening.
  • Sweetening: The recipe has no added sugar and is only sweetened with the banana. For sweeter oats, add 2-3 tbsp brown sugar, maple syrup or coconut sugar. You can also top with sweetener when serving rather than adding to the mixture.
  • Cranberry Coconut: Add up to 1/3 cup each dried cranberries and coconut flakes.
  • Maple Walnut: Add up to 1/2 cup chopped walnuts and 2-3 tbsp maple syrup.
  • Blueberry: Mix in up to 1 cup fresh blueberries before baking.
  • Carrot Cake: Add 2-3 tbsp raisins, 1/2 cup finely grated carrot and 1/2 cup shredded coconut.
  • Spices: For additional spices, try adding ginger, nutmeg, apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice.
  • Peanut Butter Banana: Add 3 tbsp peanut butter to the mixture. Almond butter also works.
  • Chocolate Chip: Mix in up to 1/2 cup chocolate chips before baking.

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 any fresh 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 sheet 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

Recipe 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.

How long does baked steel cut oatmeal keep?

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. The oats will thicken considerable after storing but can be reheat with milk to adjust them to a creamier texture. You can eat baked eats cold or reheat them in a pot or the microwave until heated through.

Can you freeze baked steel cut oatmeal?

Yes. Let cool then store in one container or portion into individual servings and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

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? I’d love to hear about it! Scroll down to the comment section to leave a star rating and review.
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Oven baked steel cut oats in a small bowl with blackberries, maple syrup, almond milk and almonds.

Baked Steel Cut Oatmeal

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 5 reviews
  • Author: Deryn Macey
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 60 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 4
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

Easy, healthy and delicious steel-cut baked oatmeal recipe. Try them served hot topped with berries, splash of milk, banana and peanut butter


Ingredients

  • 1 cup steel-cut oats (176 g)
  • 3 cups almond milk or other plant-based milk of choice (750 mL)
  • 2 ripe 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

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Place the bananas in an 8×8-inch glass baking dish and mash with a fork until they form a paste.
  3. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
  4. Cover and bake for 45 minutes then remove the cover and bake for 15 more minutes until golden brown on top. If you don’t have a lid for your baking dish, you can use a baking pan flipped upside down and placed on top of the dish.
  5. Enjoy right away or store in the fridge for up to 5 days, enjoying cold or reheating as needed.

Notes

These will thicken up as they sit. If reheating later, add a splash of milk, if you like.

Topping ideas: Maple syrup, almond milk, berries, banana slices, peanut or almond butter, nuts, cacao nibs, coconut or tahini.

This recipe contains no added sugar. The only sweetness comes from the banana. For sweeter oats, mix in 2-3 tbsp sweetener of choice such as maple syrup, coconut sugar, brown sugar or sprinkle them over when serving.


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 (approx. 260 grams)
  • Calories: 234
  • Sugar: 10 g
  • Sodium: 88mg
  • Fat: 4.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 44 g
  • Fiber: 6.5 g
  • Protein: 6.3 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 g

This recipe was originally posted April 7th, 2013.