This healthy baked oatmeal is super creamy, delicious, and the perfect way to start your day! It's vegan, gluten free, and has no added sugar, but it's still has just the right amount of sweetness.
I love my oatmeal bowls in the morning, but most of the time when I wake up I'm too tired and lazy to actually make breakfast. Yes, I've tried overnight oats but they just never impressed me.
My favorite thing is when I wake up knowing my breakfast is already made for me! Since I started prepping my breakfast beforehand, it's become so much easier for me to make healthy choices in the morning. This baked oatmeal is one of my favorites!
It's extremely creamy, one of the most important things to me in terms of oatmeal. It also has NO added sugar (also really important), no dairy, eggs, or gluten!
This recipe can stay in the fridge for up to 5 days (maybe even longer, but it always disappears before I can find out😂), so you can bake it ahead of time on Sunday and enjoy it for the rest of the week!
So let's get into the recipe, where I explain how you can make the most delicious baked oatmeal that's vegan, gluten free, and added sugar free!
This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. These funds help me keep this blog running for free! Please note that I only recommend tools that I personally use and love and I always have my reader's best interest at heart.
How to Replace Added Sugar
It's actually quite simple! We're using tricks very similar to this Healthy Banana Walnut Bread (which is one of my absolute favorite recipes btw👀). Just bananas and dates!
Bananas are a very common sugar substitute for people trying to eat healthier or just cut down on added sugars. It's a really healthy alternative, too, providing plenty of fiber and antioxidants.
It is important to take note that using purely bananas as a sweetener will not work, unless you REALLY like the taste of bananas. Trust me, it'll take a lot of bananas before you can get it sweet enough.
Which is why we're not relying on just bananas, we're also using dates! Not just any kind of dates though...medjool dates! Medjool dates are much softer and sweeter than regular dates, and they have a distinct caramel-like flavor that you really can't get from anything else.
Personally, I like the taste of dates better than refined sugar. It just tastes more natural and real than the processed white sugar. And the best news is, they're really good for you!
Dates are an excellent source of fiber, and various vitamins and minerals. And unlike some healthier sweeteners like maple syrup or honey, dates are NOT considered added sugar by the FDA! Probably because they're not...they're fruits😂
Dates are also a lot more filling than regular sugar, so this oatmeal will likely keep you full until lunch.
Again, it's very important that you're getting medjool dates and not regular old dates. I recommend getting this brand because they are very high quality and always super soft.
How to Make Super Creamy Oats
Yes, you can have super creamy oats without dairy, eggs, or oil! How do you do it? With the help of a few nutrient-dense ingredients (spoiler alert: you probably have them all already)!
The first ingredient we'll talk about is bananas. Again?? Yep, bananas are doing a lot of work here! Not only do they provide sweetness and a delicious banana flavor, they also are a HUGE contributor to the creamy texture.
It's no wonder people are using banana for so many healthier foods; they act as a sweetener, oil replacement and egg replacement! But of course, bananas can't do the job alone.
The next ingredient is probably the most important for texture: almond butter! Almond butter is not only super creamy and delicious, it's also super nutrient-dense! Fiber, protein, and healthy fats are just a few of the numerous health benefits it provides.
However, not all almond butters are created equal. The best kind you can get are the ones with no added oils or sugars, as many do. That's why I love this brand--it only has two ingredients: dry roasted almonds and salt.
If almond butter isn't your favorite, or you have an allergy, feel free to substitute for you favorite nut butter like peanut or cashew, or go completely nut free with sunflower butter.
And finally, the milk. I will hardly ever recommend using water in recipes; only if it's entirely necessary. Because why put water when you could be using something richer and creamier, like oat milk?
A lot of people think they don't like oatmeal, but that's just because they're not cooking it the right way. I share a bunch of oatmeal tips on my Instagram, but one of the most important things is to replace water with milk.
I say oat milk because it's my favorite, but pretty much any nondairy milk will work. I've also had success using almond milk in this recipe, but feel free to try cashew, coconut, or soy milk instead (the choices are really endless). Or if dairy free isn't a concern for you, regular dairy milk is just fine.
Steps to Make Blueberry Banana Baked Oatmeal
It doesn't get much easier than this--the entire thing is made in a food processor! You can also use a blender, but the directions are slightly different.
This is the food processor that I own and love. It's the perfect size so it fits the size of a normal batter, and it's powerful enough to blend the dates into a smooth paste.
Anyways, here are the few simple steps to making your healthy baked oatmeal:
- Process the dates with banana and almond butter (add all the wet ingredients at once if using a blender).
- Add in the rest of the wet ingredients and process until smooth.
- Fold in the dry ingredients, plus walnuts and wild blueberries.
- Bake, serve, and store to eat for days in advance!
It really doesn't get much simpler than this!
>>Click here to PIN this recipe and save it for later!<<
){kind=link}
I really hope you like this recipe! If you decide to make it, be sure to post a picture/story (or dm me!) and tag me @nutritiousdelights on Instagram--I'd love to see it!💗
More recipes you might love:
Healthy Blueberry Lemon Crumb Bars
Gluten Free Apple Crisp (Healthy, Vegan)
Healthy Zucchini Cheddar Muffins
Healthy Blueberry Banana Baked Oatmeal (Gluten Free, Vegan, No Added Sugar!)
Ingredients
- 2 medium bananas super ripe
- 1 cup pitted medjool dates about 10
- ¼ cup almond butter natural, no added oils/sugar
- 2 cups nondairy milk of choice I used oat
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cups roasted walnuts chopped
- 2 cups frozen wild blueberries defrosted and drained
- 2 cups gluten free rolled oats
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ - ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease an 8"x 8" baking pan. Set aside.
- In a large food processor, blend the dates with banana. Add the almond butter and blend until very smooth. Blend in the rest of the wet ingredients: milk, vanilla, and salt, then fold in the dry: oats, cinnamon, and baking powder.
- Fold in the walnuts and blueberries, then transfer to the prepared pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Miriam
This looks delicious! Is there something I can use to replace the dates?
Hannah
thank you! unfortunately this recipe relies heavily on dates and you can't replace it. however, I do have a similar single serve recipe like this without dates! here is the link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CMDOzOaBfp3/
I hope you enjoy!🥰