Vegan Apple Baked Oatmeal

This vegan baked oatmeal without banana is one of those breakfasts I can make once and pull from the fridge for the next few mornings, just like overnight oats with yogurt and frozen berries. Not only is it deliciously apple flavored and lightly sweetened but I can either bake it and reheat in the morning or just pop it in the oven in the morning and have coffee. It’s a huge time and stress saver.

Most of the time, I make it and reheat for school mornings. However, for weekend baseball games I just let it bake while we all get ready, similar to my sheet pan pancakes with mix.

Why Makes The Recipe Different💭

Apple flavor in every bite: There’s double the apple in this vegan baked oatmeal recipe. Applesauce is used to keep it moist and fresh apples are layered for sweetness.

Chia seeds replace the eggs: Chia seeds gel when combined with water so this is what binds the baked oats together for more structure.

Built for busy mornings.: Bake once, divide into six portions, and reheat them throughout the next few mornings instead of making oatmeal from scratch every day. It’s especially handy during those weeks when you’re already trying to figure out how to survive sports season without takeout.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Apples: Any apples you have on hand will work well, but the kind you choose will alter the sweetness of the oats. Aim to slice them roughly ¼ inch thick so that they’re tender but not mushy once baked.
• Chia seeds: The reason you need 6 full tablespoons is so that they gel properly and thicken the mixture. Do not use ground chia; you need the whole seed, or it won’t bind.
• Rolled oats: Better than quick oats so that they don’t turn mushy and one of the best foods to buy in bulk to save money. If you need the recipe to be allergy-friendly, make sure to use gluten-free certified oats.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Flavors To Try

As with any baked oatmeal recipe, it’s easy to adjust and adapt the flavors to suit your preferences. Below are a few of the ones I’ve tried with the kids and enjoyed.

Pumpkin spice: Replace the applesauce with pumpkin filling and the apples for chocolate chips. Then, add in a sprinkle of pumpkin spice seasoning. Or, make these pumpkin chocolate chip cookies with molasses to pair with the oats!

Bursting berry baked oats: You can interchange the fruit in the recipe. Our next favorite is probably strawberry baked oats or blueberry. Adding old fashioned blueberry pancake syrup on top to serve with this is even better.

Peanut butter banana: A classic. Swap the applesauce and apples for mashed and sliced bananas and then drizzle peanut butter on top before serving.

How To Make Vegan Apple Baked Oatmeal

Step 1:  Use an electric mixer to combine the applesauce, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl until mostly smooth. Then add in the milk.

Step 2: Stir the chia seeds into the apple mixture and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. You’ll see it thicken.

Helpful Hints

• Binding: Don’t rush the chia seeds setting in the mixture. This is where the baked oats bind and are able to hold together once baked since chia seeds absorb liquid.
• For the best texture (and ensuring the oats don’t ddry out) try to use a narrower baking dish with high sides.
• Slicing the apples: You want them roughly ¼ inch thick so that they soften nicely but don’t before mushy.
• Resting: letting the vegan apple walnut baked oatmeal sit for 10 minutes before slicing into it helps them set so that they’re not crumbly.

Storing and Meal Prepping

The best part about this vegan baked oatmeal with chia seeds for our family is the ability to meal prep it! It’s a saver on busy mornings, just like these low calorie waffles that can be made ahead.

Storing: Once baked, let the oats cool fully and store it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Reheating: You can reheat slices covered on a plate in the microwave or in the oven at 350F with a splash of water in the dish to bring back moisture.

Meal prepping: Of course you can bake the oats and reheat them. But, you can also prepare them and store them overnight (covered) before you bake them. In the morning, remove the cover, let the dish sit on the counter while the oven preheats and bake as noted.

How To Serve It

Raspberry compote makes everything it touches taste that much more indulgent. This apple oatmeal breakfast casserole is so versatile it’s amazing. Below are a few ways we pair it for our mornings.

Pairings: We’ve enjoyed it on the side of scrambled eggs, flavored yogurt, or just some fresh fruit.

Toppings: Fresh fruit, nut butter, a drizzle of chocolate or a dollop of my raspberry compote recipe.

Vegan Apple Baked Oatmeal FAQs

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How do you reheat oatmeal without drying it out?

The key to reheating any oatmeal, baked or otherwise, is to add a splash of water or milk to the pan and reheat it covered. This way the oatmeal re-absorbs the liquid and brings the moistness back to the dish.

More Easy Breakfast Recipes

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Overnight Oats With Yogurt And Frozen Berries

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If you tried this Baked Apple Pie Oats recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!