Attention oatmeal lovers! Make this simple recipe for baked oats without bananas using a handful of healthy ingredients. Like this collection of overnight oat recipes, healthy baked oats are easy to make and perfect for weekly meal prep! Try Kodiak Cakes pumpkin muffins or overnight oats with coconut milk for another single-serve breakfast.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Applesauce: Instead of bananas, I use applesauce to hold the baked oats together. I have also tried this recipe with pumpkin puree with good results for a tasty fall flavor.
- Baking Powder: Use baking powder to help the oats become light and fluffy.
- Spices: Spice the oat mixture with ground cinnamon and salt.
- Egg: Bind the ingredients together with an egg.
- Almond Milk: You can use unsweetened almond milk, water, regular milk, coconut milk, oat milk, or soy milk.
- Sweetener: Finish the baked oats without banana with vanilla extract and a sweetener of choice, like honey, pure maple syrup, date syrup, or brown sugar. Use golden monk fruit for a sugar-free alternative.
- Oats: Use old-fashioned rolled oats for this recipe. Steel cut oats don’t cook fast enough, and quick oats come out too soft.
Additions and Substitutions
The best thing about easy-baked oats is that they are super quick and easily customizable. Here are a few suggestions we love.
- Fresh Berries like Blueberries and Raspberries, Raisins, Craisins, Shredded Coconut, Lemon Zest
- Nuts, Chia Seeds
- Chocolate Chips
- Almond Butter, Peanut Butter, Sunflower Butter, Nutella
- Protein Powder, Cocoa Powder, PB2
Tools Used to Make this Recipe
Make this easy breakfast dish with ramekins, baking dish, or a muffin tin and an air fryer. I used an Instant Pot Vortex Air Fryer with a large basket.
How to Make Baked Oats Without Bananas
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Combine apple sauce, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt in a mixing bowl.
Step 2: Add the egg, vanilla extract, almond milk, honey, and oats. Stir to combine.
Step 3: Fold in your mix-ins like berries, chocolate chips, or chopped nuts.
Step 4: Divide the mixture between four prepared ramekins. Bake them in the air fryer at 320℉ (160℃) for 12-15 minutes.
Step 5: Let them cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Expert Tips
- If you prefer a fluffy cake-like texture, process the oats in a high-speed blender or food processor to create oat flour before including them in a mixture.
- Thoroughly grease the ramekins with cooking spray, butter, or coconut oil for easy cleanup.
- If using frozen fruit as a mix-in for the oatmeal, add the fruit to the oatmeal while it’s still frozen instead of thawing it first.
If you enjoy this easy baked oats recipe, try one of these breakfast favorites!
Serving Suggestions
Baked oats without banana is best served fresh out of the oven with a drizzle of peanut butter, a dollop of Greek yogurt, or a fresh fruit bowl.
For more breakfast sides, try air fryer sausage patties, turkey bacon, and air fryer chicken sausage.
What to do with the Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store the leftovers in an airtight container for 3-5 days!
- Freeze: Freeze leftover baked oats in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 2-3 months.
- Thaw: Defrost the oats in the refrigerator overnight.
- Reheat: Wrap the leftover baked oats in a damp paper towel and warm them in the microwave for 1 minute.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I use instead of bananas?
If you’re like my husband, who can’t even stand the smell of bananas, let alone their taste, use applesauce, pumpkin puree, Greek yogurt, or a flax egg instead of bananas.
Can I make this recipe in the oven?
You sure can! Follow the directions in the recipe card and bake the oats in the oven at 375℉ (190℃) for 20-25 minutes.
More Oatmeal Recipes:
Baked Oats Without Bananas
- 4 Ramekins, 4-ounce
- ½ cup applesauce or pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup almond milk
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1½ cups oats
- ½ cup fresh berries
- ½ cup chopped apples or pears
- ¼ cup chocolate chips
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- Combine apple sauce, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt in a mixing bowl.
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, almond milk, honey, and oats. Stir to combine.
- Fold in your mix-ins like berries, chocolate chips, or chopped nuts.
- Let them cool for 5 minutes before serving.
- If you prefer a fluffy cake-like texture, process the oats in a high-speed blender or food processor to create oat flour before including them in a mixture.
- Thoroughly grease the ramekins with cooking spray, butter, or coconut oil for easy cleanup.
- If using frozen fruit as a mix-in for the oatmeal, add the fruit to the oatmeal while it’s still frozen instead of thawing it first.
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.
Marie Johnson
Wednesday 8th of November 2023
I have to rave about this baked oats recipe! I'm always rushing in the mornings so having a tasty and healthy breakfast I can throw together in just minutes is a lifesaver. These oats baked up light and fluffy and the cinnamon-applesauce flavor was to die for. I'll definitely be making this again and again!