Yes, this is oatmeal! It looks and tastes like a cinnamon roll but is healthy, nutrient-dense and the best way to start your morning. It's also vegan and gluten free!
I posted this recipe first on my Instagram (as a reel) about a month ago, then Pinterest. And I really am speechless about the response I got: over 80k saves & many kind words! SO many of you shared your photos and told me how much you loved it. My mind is blown and I am more grateful than I can express in words.
And then Linda Sun reviewed it in her youtube video (around the 13:50 min mark) with the absolute sweetest comments, saying it was the best recipe she had ever made in her life. Yes I cried. Thank you Linda.💓
So with all this, and many people messaging me asking where to find the recipe, I finally decided it's time this recipe got a well-deserved spot on the blog. Thank you so so so much, from the bottom of my heart, for all your reviews, kind comments, and love. I love you guys so much.
I'm still feeling very emotional and want to rant on and on about how much you all mean to me and how grateful I am, but I know you came here for the recipe and not a speech. So let's get into it!
This cinnamon roll baked oatmeal is literally the best breakfast ever, because it's a combination of oatmeal and cinnamon rolls! If you know me, you know cinnamon rolls are my absolute favorite dessert, and having a healthy, nutrient-dense cinnamon roll for breakfast is a dream come true.
It's really soft, but also chewy at the same time (like an oatmeal cookie!) and with the perfect amount of sweetness--all natural! It's vegan and gluten free as well, so you're free to enjoy if that's something you're looking for 🙂
I will be including an FAQ section too, because I have gotten hundreds of comments and messages about them. Yes, I will be covering them ALL! If you haven't already, I'm really excited for you to try this recipe😁
Oh yeah, and one more thing: if you don't have time to read or make this now, you can click here to save the recipe on Pinterest!📌 That way, you can always come back to it🥰
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Ingredients in Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal
The ingredients are relatively simple, and you probably have most or all of them right now (and if you don't there are substitutions)! Some you would find in a regular oatmeal recipe, and some not so much. But they all play a role in making this oatmeal as good as it is!
First is the banana. Make sure it's super ripe! This banana is what gives moisture, sweetness, and structure to the roll. If you use a green banana, it will throw off the taste of the whole thing. Brown, soft, spotty bananas are the best in this case, but as long as it's yellow with a bit of brown it should be fine.
Next we got the avocado oil. This is what brings in most of the moisture and really makes it feel like dessert! It also brings in some healthy unsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids which is great for raising good cholesterol and lowering triglycerides. You can get some here--this is my favorite brand and the best price I've found for the value! And no, it's not a one-time use thing, I literally use it in e v e r y t h i n g, from cakes to pasta to tofu.
Although the banana brings sweetness, we'll need to bump it up a bit more, and that's what maple syrup is here for. It's a natural sweetener that's vegan and tastes amazing! Make sure you use real maple syrup, not maple-flavored syrup or pancake syrup.
So that's it for the wet ingredients, and now for the star: oat flour! Is it really flour? Well, it's literally ground up oats so you can answer that question however you like. It acts like flour, but has the same nutritional benefits as oats (because it is essentially just really tiny oats lol), and no gluten! It'll also keep you way more full and satisfied than regular flour. All you need is rolled oats and a blender to make it, but make sure it's ground very fine. If you don't have a good blender or want to save time, you can always just buy oat flour itself!
There is also flaxseed meal, just there to add some extra health benefits like protein, fiber, and healthy fats. This is also an ingredient I use often! It's a very small amount so you can definitely leave it out, although you may need a bit more oat flour. You can even try to use protein powder instead, but I can't guarantee it'll work since I haven't tried.
Finally, the sugar. You can really use any kind you like, but I used cane sugar in this recipe. Other options include coconut sugar, brown sugar, or regular white sugar 🙂
How to Make Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal
Part of the reason why I wanted to write this post is because the video goes very fast and it may be hard to understand, so I'm going to explain each step by step!
First, you're going to mash your banana in a small bowl, then mix in the avocado oil and maple syrup. Then, add in the dry ingredients: oat flour, baking powder, salt, and flaxseed meal.
In a separate bowl, mix together the cinnamon and sugar. This is the filling! Roll out the dough into a rectangle and brush with more avocado oil. Cut the dough into four equal strips and start rolling!
You can choose to make four mini rolls, or one large roll (how I did it!) Either way, this recipe serves 1 🙂
Bake the roll (or rolls) at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes and enjoy! You can also make an icing, which I will explain in just a second.
Frequently Asked Questions
As I mentioned before, I received a lot of questions about this recipe! Here are the most commonly asked ones:
What can I use instead of a banana?
I have tried this recipe using ⅓ cup of plain, 1% greek yogurt. A few notes on this: you can taste it a little, and you will need to add a 1-2 more tablespoons of maple syrup. I also noticed it was more sticky and needed to add 3 tablespoons extra oat flour, but I think a better option would be to use ¼ cup instead of ⅓.
You could also do this with unsweetened applesauce just as well! Applesauce would need less sugar (since it's already naturally sweet), and it's vegan, but has less protein. Greek yogurt is high in protein, but it's not vegan and less sweet, although you could definitely try a vegan yogurt.
Overall, both of these substitutions do work so choose which one you like! But I would stick to a banana if you can 🙂
What is a good substitute for avocado oil?
I know avocado oil is not the most common, so you do have options! Literally any neutral-tasting oil will work: refined coconut, sunflower, light-tasting olive (just stay away from regular olive oil!), canola, etc. Avocado oil is my favorite, but I know not everyone has access/can afford it, so feel free to use any of these 🙂
Some people have also asked for an oil free version. While applesauce, greek yogurt, or banana *could* work as a substitution (it'll still roll up and end up like a cinnamon roll), the texture and taste just won't be the same. Try it if you want, but oil will always be the best choice😌
What can I use instead of flaxseed meal?
I mentioned this above, but if you missed it: you can skip it and add a bit more oat flour, or try replacing with protein powder (although I have not tried this and can't guarantee it will work). The main purpose of this ingredient is for extra health benefits, so it won't hurt the recipe to skip 🙂
It turned out sticky, why is that?
The unfortunate reality of working with bananas is that they are all different sizes. So, if you use a big banana then it will be a bit more sticky. This is also true if you don't use flaxseed meal. Some people have said it's sticky and some have had no problem, but a simple solution would be to add more oat flour. If you don't want to dry it out, you can roll it on an oiled surface and oiled rolling pin. I have tried this and it's so easy to roll!
How did you make the icing?
The icing isn't really part of this recipe; I really just put it on because it looked nice😂but if you do want more of a cinnamon roll feel, or a bit of extra sweetness, all you have to do is mix powdered sugar with oat milk. Any nondairy milk will work instead of oat milk if you don't have any! Others have also reported back with success using yogurt as a topping.
How can I get the roll to stick together more?
I haven't heard many issues about this, but if you're having trouble keeping the layers together, there is a simple solution. In this recipe, I've written to brush the oil first, then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top. This is the easiest way, but the roll may slip apart a bit since the sugar on top is dry. To prevent this, you can mix the sugar and oil together to make a paste before spreading. This way, it'll be more sticky when you roll! Again, I haven't had any problems with the original method but the second is always there if you need to use it 🙂
How many calories?
If you're interested in the calories for this recipe, you can just send me a dm on instagram @nutritiousdelights. I want to keep this blog as a safe space for people with or with a history of eating disorders/disordered eating and therefore I do not post calories publicly 🙂
I hope this answers your questions! If you still have any that are not mentioned in this post, feel free to leave a comment and ask. I'd be happy to help you!
Click here to save this recipe on Pinterest so you can always come back to it!📌
I really hope you like this recipe! If you decide to make it, be sure to post a picture/story and tag me @nutritiousdelights on Instagram–I’d love to see!🥰 Also leave a comment below so everyone can see how it goes 🙂
More recipes you might love:
Healthy Cinnamon Roll Cookies (Vegan, Gluten Free, Paleo)
Healthy Vegan Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls
Healthy Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal (Vegan, Gluten Free)
Ingredients
- ½ very ripe banana mashed
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil plus more to brush
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ¾ cup oat flour or blended oats
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon flaxseed meal or more oat flour
- 1 tablespoon cane sugar or any granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the mashed banana, avocado oil, and maple syrup and mix. Then add the dry ingredients: oat flour, salt, baking powder, and flaxseed meal until a dough forms.
- In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Roll out the dough and brush with more avocado oil, and then sprinkle on the cinnamon sugar. Cut the dough into four equal strips and start rolling. You can either make 4 separate rolls, or combine them all together (which is what I did) to make a large roll.
- Bake the roll (I baked it in a mug) at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes. If you want to add icing, just mix powdered sugar and oat milk!
Notes
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Sandy
Can I prepare in advance and cook the next day?
Hannah
Sure! Hope you enjoy 🙂
Roxie
I'm back to report that holy f*ck-- these are amazing 🤤. After my tweaks & refrigerating the dough overnight to make it rollable, baked for 10 mins. Results were a soft & chewy, amazing-tasting pan of mini cinnamon rolls. Topped mine with my own DIY vegan cream-cheese/protein frosting.
Colin.D
Hello, this recipe caught my eye as I am interested in doing Meal prep while I am away at college. How well does the recipe hold up when reheated in the microwave? Thanks! Looks good can't wait to try it!
Hannah
Hi Colin, you can definitely rehear this in the microwave! Just make sure not to overdo it because the texture can become gummy if heated for too long. Hope you enjoy! 🙂
Alyssa
This is sooo good! I tripled it for my family of 3 and made 2 smaller rolls each. It was a little difficult to roll (I might have had too much oat flour so it was a little crumbly) but it was seriously great! I like it better than the regular yeast dough cinnamon rolls I usually make!
Hannah
yayy thank you Alyssa! I appreciate it <3
emily
soo good 🥰 i made this christmas morning for me and my mom, we loved it
Hannah
aww so happy to hear it!🥰🥰
Karina
new favorite I was a little intimidated at 1st since theirs a rolling pin involved but I finally tried it wasnt as hard as I thought it would be just kept adding more oat flour to the board so it wouldn't stick I will probably bake longer than 10 min for next time my center was a little mushy but my husband preferred it that way as well so depends on preference they definitely hit the spot and very filling I did Xs 4 to make 4 big ones
Chopped up strawberries and Walnuts on ours and of course icing made it extra yummy
Colin.D
I'm interested in doing meal prep while away at college to start eating healthier. How well does this recipe hold up when reheated in the microwave? And what would be good to serve with it? Fruit like a banana?
Julia
These are SO good. Breakfast rarely keeps me full all morning, but I feel sooo full and satisfied after eating this. Plus, this cinnamon roll is incredibly delicious and tastes so decadent while being healthy at the same time…so you really can’t go wrong with it!!
Hannah
thank you so much Julia! I'm so happy you enjoyed it 🙂
Roxie
I tried this recipe and in my case the dough was so wet/ mushy it was unrollable. So I tweaked the recipe, refrigerated the dough, and will bake them this morning. Will report back.
coffeebeebs
Ok so I found this recipe through Linda Sun's yt channel...she was raving about these and told that this recipe was the best thing ever. so I wanted to try it and OMG OMG OMG HOLY SHIT WAS THIS GOOD...I made these twice and all of family ate these and they loved it. The rolls are unbelievable...the texture was crunchy but also sooo moist...I can't even explain it. My mom's kind of a health nut and now this is her favourite recipe...still can't believe it's vegan and gluten free...hands down the best recipe I hv found..🖐️😌
Hannah
this is the sweetest thing ever omg!!🥺this seriously makes me so happy; thank you so much!!💓💓
DogMom4
I made this this morning and it turned out great! Had to use quite a bit more oat flour than the recipe suggested to get it to not be so sticky. But it was amazing and I would definitely make again!
Jolene
This recipe is absolutely amazing! When you have a craving for a cinnamon roll but want a healthy version, this is the recipe to make!
Christeen
Love it but quick approx. Of calories puts it at about 700.
Echo
do you think you could cook this in the microwave instead of the oven? I wake up wayyyy too hungry to wait for an oven to preheat 😂
Hannah
haha I feel you!😂I haven’t tried microwaving but it’s definitely worth a try, just be sure to not overdo it because it could end up really dry. another option is to meal prep 🙂 hope you enjoy!🥰
Jocelyn
Delicious! I’ve made it twice now (use 2 tbsp applesauce instead of banana). I like to top it with coconut butter. First time I also splashed some milk on it as i ate because it was a bit dry. Second time i added shredded zucchini to the filling and it was perfect... no milk needed. Both versions were amazing! Thank you
Hannah
thank you Jocelyn! appreciate the feedback and review & I'm so happy you enjoyed it!🥰
Jolene
Absolutely amazing, I have made this recipe twice now and it is my favorite!
Hannah
so happy you like it Jolene! 🙂
Saisha
I am always on the lookout for good gluten free recipes and this is probably the best oats recipe i have had and really does taste like a cinnamon roll while still being healthy! will most definitely make this again! was a huge hit in my house...thanks for the awesome recipe 🙂
Saisha
THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST oats recipe I have had and really does taste like a cinnamon roll while still being healthy! Will most definitely make this again! Was a huge hit in my house...thanks for the awesome recipe 🙂
Hannah
thank you so much Saisha! I really appreciate it :)💖💖
Lexie
This recipe is literally AMAZING no matter if you put it in a cinnamon roll shape or just mash it into a ball! I always add about 20g of vanilla protein powder as well and it works very amazingly. EASILY the best recipe I've ever made <3
Hannah
aww thank you so much Lexie! this means a lot💕💕
Emma
This is AMAZING!!! So glad I finally tried it as it was one of the best recipes I've ever had. So easy to make and I can't put into words how delicious it was. Will definitely make it again and recommend to everyone I know.
Hannah
thank you so much Emma! I'm so happy you liked it💖💖
Asony
this are honestly incredible! i’m not one to leave comments but i had to for this one! this takes oatmeal to a whole other level without even tasting like oatmeal - because it tastes like a cinnamon roll- and it’s healthy! it takes a little effort (not anymore than making pancakes or waffles) but it’s totally worth it and its better than baked oatmeal! so happy i found this recipe, will be making these regularly now!
Hannah
aww this is so sweet! thank you Asony🥰🥰
Siska
Honestly, this is the best-baked cinnamon roll oats ever!! It may not look like the regular baked oats, but the taste is just *chef's kiss* PERFECT! I also replaced cane sugar with stevia and the taste was still AMAZING 🔥 DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED 11/10 😍
Hannah
thank you Siska, I appreciate this! so glad to hear🥰🥰
Rocío
can these be prepared a day before? or make several and save them for the week? how long do you think they would last? to eat them will be good then put them in the microwave or oven? Thank you!
Hannah
yes! you can refrigerate it (baked, I haven't tried raw) for up to 4 days and microwave to reheat 🙂
Megan
AMAZING!!! Super delicious and cinnamony. This cinnamon roll literally melts in your mouth. Super easy to make and my whole family LOVED it!!!
Hannah
thank you so much Megan, so happy to hear that!🥺💕
Alejandra
Me and all my family love this recipe!! definitely Im going to make it again in theses days❤️❤️
Hannah
I'm so glad you enjoyed it Alejandra! thank you for the review🥰🥰
Ana
I don’t have maple syrup can I replace with pancake syrup or something else? Also can I bake in a pan instead of rolling them into rolls?
Jee Ann qi
This is life changing! OMG I cant believe that healthy also can taste so good! Thanks for the amazing delicious recipe! Xoxo
Hannah
Thank you, I'm so glad!💓
Soraya
I made this two times now, and there are soo delicious, especially with some vegan yoghurt, nut butter en fruit!!! So good.
Hannah
thank you Soraya! so happy to hear that 🙂
Gabrielė
Hi there, thank you for the recipe, rolls realy taste great! But I wouldn't dare sharing the picture... Rolls did not rise at all 🙁 Also not sure if they cooked through, thout I backed nearly twice as long.
I used more oat flour - still very sticky and needed to roll the dough between two parchement papers, also cut 1 roll into 4 buns. Replaced avo oil with coconut... Not sure what was the reason for the dought being so sticky... But again it tastes great 🤗
Anna
i made these with apple sauce because i had no ripe bananas and they were So unbelievably good! it is kind of tricky to find the right balance between wet and dry, but i would honestly be really happy if i could only eat these for the rest of my life!! so filling and satisfying and topped off with some yogurt... so heavenly!
Hannah
thank you so much Anna!!💕💕💕
Kat
I may be sounding dramatic, BUT YOU HAVEN’t lived until you’ve tried this. it’s soooooo amazing. out of all the baked oat cinnamon rolls, this is the closest match to the real thing!!
Hannah
awww this is so sweet! thank you so much Kat!🥰🥰
Landa
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! SO EASY AND NUTRITIOUS! 20/10! itS SOO yummY! AND ITS VEGAN! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS reCIPE! WILL DEFINITELY BE MAKING THIS OFTEN! 💕
Hannah
Omg thank you so much Landa!🥺I'm so happy you liked it💕💕
Mathilda:)
Honestly one of my favourite breakfasts right now. IT'S PERFECTLY SWEET, SATISFYING AND THE TEXTURE IS AMAZING. rEALLY LIKE HOW QUICK IT IS TO MAKE AS WELL. ALL MY FLATMATES ALWAYS LOOK AT IT IN AWE! WOULD 100% RECOMMEND.
Hannah
Thank you so so much Mathilda! I'm so glad🥰🥰
ellie barten
Omgg i love it..I’ve already tried this beauty 3rd times and im in love🤤its healthy and it tastes soooo delicious❤️my whole family also love it, i post photo of it on its story and so many ppl texted me ‚it looks so good’ and for sure it is❤️looking forward for next time cooking this🥳thanks for this recipe, so grateful😍highly recommend
Hannah
Thank you so much for the review Ellie! I'm so happy to hear that🥺💓
Basler
Thank you for this delicious recipe! The notes you made on the recipe helped me feel confident enough to try it out.
Hannah
Yay I'm so glad! Thanks for the review Basler🥰
Emelyn Nicole
I love this recipe! I have tried 3 different "healthier" cinnamon rolls. This recipe is the best! I even gave some to my mom's friends. She loved it!
Teresa
IS IT POSSIBLE TO PREPARE THIS THE NIGHT BEFORE? I REALLY WANTED TO TRY THIS FOR BREAKFAST, BUT I DON'T HAVE TIME TO PREPARE IT IN THE MORNING 😭
Hannah
Yes! I've actually done this multiple times 🙂 Just store in the fridge and microwave to reheat! Hope you like it💕
Teresa
I just had for breakfast and it was absolutely delicious! I added cashews before rolling it out to give it more texture. Also, extended the baking time to 18-20 mins to crispen up the exterior and It still came out soft and chewy on the inside. Will definitely going to batch make this! Thank you for this recipe!
Hannah
ahhh thank you so much Teresa! Cashews sound like an amazing addition and I'm so glad you enjoyed it!🥰
Destiny
Can I substitute the maple syrup for honey or even brown sugar?
Hannah
Hi Destiny! Yes, both will work just fine 🙂 I hope you like it!💖
Saga
SO SO GOOD!! Definitely doing these again.
Hannah
yayy so happy you liked it Saga!💕 Thanks for the review 🙂
Hussain
I found this recipe throught Linda Sun, it was delicious, however it is very intense & rich & I would personnally recommend making into 2 or 4 buns rather than 1 large one & would serve it with single cream rather than icing.
Hannah
thanks for the feedback Hussain! 🙂
Virisik
The BEST cinnamonroll EVER!!! It easy and vegan! Love it
Hannah
Thank you so much Virisik! I'm so happy you liked it🥰