Vegan Baked Apple Oatmeal

This delicious vegan baked apple oatmeal features soft baked apples, creamy nut butter, and warm spices. This dish turns humble oats into a nourishing and delectable breakfast that is great for meal prep! And for more baked oats, try strawberry baked oatmeal with caramel sauce.

I love to make this vegan baked apple oatmeal in the Fall and throughout the Winter. Apples are in season and a cozy breakfast of hot oats is perfect when it's cold and rainy outside.

For more delicious baked apple recipes, try German baked apples, an impressive apple frangipane tart, authentic German apple strudel, and German apple pie.

Usually I enjoy my oatmeal by soaking it in boiling water for a few minutes to soften it into a creamy, chewy breakfast. But every now and then, I like to take the extra time to mix oats with peanut butter, milk, honey or maple syrup, baking powder and a few key seasonings.

Vegan baked apple oatmeal takes longer to make than on the stove top, but the prep time is about the same. You could start the oatmeal in the oven while you're getting ready for the day, and by the time you're done, breakfast is ready!

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Olive oil - Or substitute melted coconut oil.
• Nut butter - I usually use peanut butter, but feel free to use any nut butter or seed butter that you prefer.
• Maple syrup - If you're not vegan, you can substitute honey.
• Dairy free milk - I usually use oat milk or almond milk.
• Baking powder
• Ground cinnamon
• Salt
• Rolled oats - I've also tested this recipe with quick cooking oats, and it still tastes great, but the texture is more crumbly.
• Chopped nuts - The optional nuts add a crunchy texture. You can use any nuts like peanuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, or pistachios.
• Apple - Some of the best apples for baking include Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, and Granny Smith.

How to Make Baked Oats

1. Mix the wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, nut butter, maple syrup, and dairy free milk.
   
2. Add the dry ingredients: Add the baking powder, cinnamon, salt, rolled oats and chopped nuts. Mix it all together until the oats are completely covered in the mixture.
   
3. Add the apple slices: Spread the mixture into the greased baking dish. Top with the thinly sliced apple.
   
4. Bake and cool: Bake for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the oatmeal. Allow it to cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing.

Recipe Variations

• Strawberries: Instead of apples, you can make strawberry baked oatmeal.
• Other fruit: Top your oat mixture with sliced pears. Or mix blueberries, cherries, raisins, or chopped peaches into the mixture.
• Chocolate: Add half a cup of chocolate chips or chopped chocolate into the oat mixture for chocolate chip baked oatmeal.
• Banana: Mash an overripe banana and mix it into the oat mixture.
• Spices: Instead of cinnamon, you can add pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice, ginger, cardamom, and cloves.

Storing

• Fridge: Allow the oats to cool completely before storing them. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  
• Freezer: Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
  
• Reheat: You can reheat baked oats on a microwave safe plate in the microwave for about 30 to 60 seconds. It makes the best breakfast meal prep!