There’s no doubt that oatmeal is nutritious and delicious. But if we’re being honest, the standard bowl of old fashion oats can become boring over time. So, why not make a high-protein baked oatmeal instead? With ingredients like mashed bananas and maple syrup, this banana bread-like dish is hard to resist.
Besides, protein powder isn’t just for smoothies. It works well in a variety of recipes (like pancakes).
And while it’s easy to mix protein powder into a plain ol’ oatmeal, this option allows you to prepare it in advance. One recipe makes enough for about a week’s worth of breakfast, though it’s delicious as a snack or dessert too. How’s that for meal prep?
- Oats. As a fiber-rich whole grain, oats make an excellent breakfast option. Be sure to use gluten-free oats if you want this recipe to be gluten-free. Also, avoid using oats in the packet, which have added sweeteners and ingredients. Use plain old fashioned oats.
- Vegan vanilla protein powder. We used KOS Organic Plant Protein in Vanilla. It was our top pick in our hands-on vegan protein review, where we taste-tested popular vegan protein powers. The texture, flavor, and sweetness of this protein powder was spot on.
- Flax eggs. Flax eggs act as a binder in this recipe in place of gluten rich flour. To make it, mix 2 tablespoons fresh ground flaxseed and 6 tablespoons water, then chill in the refrigerator until thick.
- Fruits. You’ll also need an assortment of fruits, like sliced fresh strawberries and blueberries, to garnish the baked oatmeal. This is an easy way to add flavor, natural sweetness, and nutrients like vitamin C to the dish.
Table of Contents
How to Make High-Protein Baked Oatmeal
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8-inch pan with parchment paper. Combine the oats and protein powder in a bowl.
2. In a larger bowl, mash up the bananas. Do your best to get rid of any chunks.
3. Add the oat-protein mixture, flax eggs, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and maple syrup.
4. Stir well to combine the ingredients.
5. Stir in the hemp seeds, if using. You can also mix in chopped nuts, if you’d like. Both ingredients will add more protein to the dish.
6. Transfer the oat mixture into the baking pan. Using a spatula, spread into an even layer.
7. Top the oatmeal with your favorite sliced fruits. Don’t be afraid to get creative and use what you have on hand. For this batch, we used 1/2 cup sliced strawberries, 1/2 cup blueberries, and 1/2 banana.
8. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
9. Let cool for about 20 minutes, then slice into squares or rectangles. Drizzle with maple syrup and top with coconut flakes, if desired. Yum!
Recipe Tips, Variations, and Substitutions
- Switch up the fruit. Of course, you’re not limited to berries. Fruits like peaches, plums, and apples would be tasty as well. If you want to stick to berries, check out our recent post regarding several ways to wash them.
- Add jam or preserves. No fresh fruits on hand? Swirl strawberry jam or strawberry preserves on top of the oatmeal before baking.
- Try different toppings. For an extra crunch, add a handful of chopped nuts. If you love chocolate, add dairy-free chocolate chips.
- Elevate the flavor. Sprinkle brown sugar on the oatmeal before baking. Another option is to add a dash of salt on top, which will coax out the sweetness of the fruits.
- Zest it up. Give the recipe as summer-inspired spin with a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon zest.
How to Store Baked Oatmeal
Baked oatmeal lasts for 5 to 6 days in the refrigerator. (It’s yet another reason why this dish makes for the perfect make-ahead breakfast!) To reheat a slice, simply warm it in the microwave. Enjoy with nut butter, vegan butter, or even more fruit.
Serving Suggestions
- Blueberry chia jam — Add a spoonful for extra sweetness and protein
- Coconut milk whipped cream — Make it a dessert with whipped cream
- Homemade applesauce — Use applesauce instead of flax eggs or serve it on top
High-Protein Baked Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 2 bananas
- 2 cups oats
- ⅓ cup vanilla vegan protein powder
- 2 flax eggs
- 1 cup non-dairy milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ⅓ cup hemp seeds optional
Topping
- ½ cup strawberries sliced
- ½ cup blueberries
- ½ banana sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8” baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, combine the oats and protein powder. In a larger bowl, mash the bananas, getting rid of any clumps.
- Add the oat-protein mixture to the mashed bananas. Add the flax eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla, and maple syrup. Mix until combined. Fold in the hemp seeds, if using.
- Transfer to the baking pan, spreading it into an even layer. Top with sliced fruits.
- Let cool for about 20 minutes, then slice into squares or rectangles. Drizzle with maple syrup and top with coconut flakes, if desired.
Notes
- You’re not limited to berries. Fruits like peaches, plums, and apples would be tasty as well.
- No fresh fruits on hand? Swirl strawberry jam or strawberry preserves on top of the oatmeal before baking.
- For an extra crunch, add a handful of chopped nuts. If you love chocolate, add dairy-free chocolate chips.
- Sprinkle brown sugar on the oatmeal before baking. Another option is to add a dash of salt on top, which will coax out the sweetness of the fruits.
- Give the recipe as summer-inspired spin with a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon zest.
- Baked oatmeal lasts for 5 to 6 days in the refrigerator. (It’s yet another reason why this dish makes for the perfect make-ahead breakfast!) To reheat a slice, simply warm it in the microwave. Enjoy with nut butter, vegan butter, or even more fruit.
Nutrition
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2056kcal, is that for the whole dish? How many servings?
What can I replace with the protein powder, more banana or oat flour maybe ? Just because I don’t have any protein powder :/
I would add a tablespoon of nut butter.