Combine a handful of nutritious ingredients into one seriously yummy Blueberry Banana Baked Oatmeal. This is great to feed a crowd or to make ahead to feed your family throughout the week.
Blueberry Banana Baked Oatmeal
I love having toddler breakfasts ready to go for my entire family, and this easy baked oatmeal is a favorite option—the flavor from the berries and banana is just so delicious. It stirs together really easily; has a load of nutritious ingredients including oats, chopped nuts or seeds, and fruit; and is perfect for any age.
It’s a great make-ahead breakfast—and special enough to serve for a family brunch—that we love to top with butter and maple syrup. It’s also delicious with a big dollop of yogurt.
Older babies can eat it as a baby finger food, too. This is one of my favorite baked oatmeal recipes to enjoy all year round.
(You may also like my Berry Breakfast Cake, Baby Oatmeal, and Banana Oatmeal Bars.)
Table of Contents
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Ingredients You Need
Below is a look at the ingredients you need to make this breakfast recipe so you know what to have on hand and ready to go.
- Milk: I typically bake with whole-dairy milk, but you can use any type you prefer, including nondairy milk.
- Banana: I like to add ripe banana to the base of my baked oatmeal for extra sweetness (and then I don’t add any other sweetener).
- Eggs: This oatmeal bakes up slightly firm with the help of both the bananas and large eggs in the mix.
- Vanilla: I add vanilla extract to this recipe to round out the flavors. You can use pure vanilla extract or imitation.
- Rolled oats (old-fashioned oatmeal): This forms the base of the baked oatmeal, so look for it in your cereal aisle.
- Walnuts (or pecans): For a little extra texture and nutrition (including fiber and beneficial fats), I like to add finely chopped walnuts or pecans. To make this nut-free, you could use a seed your family likes or simply replace the volume with additional oats.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a delicious addition in the mix with the vanilla and fruit flavors.
- Baking powder: A little baking powder helps the mixture rise just enough to have a better texture than if we didn’t use it.
- Blueberries: You can use fresh or frozen blueberries here. (Learn how to freeze blueberries to take advantage of sales.) I particularly love using frozen wild blueberries since they have such intense flavor.
- Butter, maple syrup, yogurt, optional for serving
Step-by-Step Instructions
Below is a look at how to make this recipe so you know what to expect from the process. Scroll down to the end of the post for the full recipe, including the amounts and the timing.
- Mix together the wet ingredients in a medium bowl.
- Add the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
- Gently fold in the blueberries.
- Add to a greased baking pan and bake until firm and lightly golden brown around the edges.
How to Store
Once cooled, cover with foil or transfer squares to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to a week. Warm in the microwave or toaster oven.
You can also slice and freeze in a freezer bag for up to 6 months. Do your best to remove as much air as you can from the bag to minimize freezer burn.
Best Tips for Success
- Serve cold or warm with butter, maple syrup, whipped cream, or regular or Greek yogurt.
- Skip the nuts and replace with additional oats or shredded unsweetened coconut, as you like.
- Buy chopped nuts from the store and/or finely chop them to ensure they are very tiny pieces, which are easier to chew, more pleasant in the mix, and not considered to be a choking hazard.
- To make this egg-free, omit the eggs and add ½ cup more banana (for ¾ cup total).
- Use dairy-free milk as needed. Use gluten-free rolled oats as needed.
- Use another berry on top as desired.
- Serve with Flavored Milk, a Toddler Smoothie, or a Kids Protein Shake.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback on this post, so please rate and comment below!
Blueberry Banana Baked Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1¾ cup milk
- ¼ cup mashed banana (very ripe; about 1)
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 cups rolled oats (old-fashioned oatmeal)
- ⅔ cups finely chopped walnuts (or pecans)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
- Butter, whipped cream, maple syrup, yogurt, optional for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 8×8-inch metal baking dish.
- Mix together the milk, banana, eggs, and vanilla in a medium bowl.
- Add the oats, walnuts, cinnamon, and baking powder, and stir to combine.
- Add the berries and gently stir to combine.
- Pour into the prepared baking dish and bake for 38-42 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the center is set.
- Serve warm or cold with maple syrup, whipped cream, yogurt, or melted butter.
Notes
- Once cooled, cover with foil or transfer squares to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to a week.
- Serve cold or warm with butter, maple syrup, whipped cream, or yogurt.
- Skip the nuts and replace with additional oats or shredded unsweetened coconut, as you like.
- To make this egg-free, omit the eggs and add ½ cup more banana (for ¾ cup total).
- Use dairy-free milk as needed.
- Use another berry on top as desired.
Do you think you can make them into muffin size? Or mini muffin size? If so how long would you bake for?
So easy to make and delicious. I only think it was difficult to tell if it was done. My toothpick came out clean but the middle was still a bit too squishy!
I think that may simply be due to the mashed banana in the recipe!
How would you be able to reheat it if you haven’t cut it yet? I usually just microwave small pieces if needed.
You can put the whole thing into the microwave or do individual bowls.
My kids love this with a little honey on top. I use quick oats and whatever fresh or frozen berries I have on hand. They think it’s a “special breakfast” 🙂 Win! Thanks!
Can quick oats be used in place of rolled oats?
I haven’t tested it that way, but it may work just fine. I would check it for doneness starting 4 minutes earlier than my recipe says though.
Would it work with frozen bananas or too much moisture?
If you want to mash them and mix them in, thaw them and drain off any water then proceed with the recipe.
How can I use quick oats? Would I reduce the baking time?
I haven’t tested it that way, but it may work just fine. I would check it for doneness starting 4 minutes earlier than my recipe says though.
Can you freeze?
Yes!
My kids can be pretty picky and they devoured this this morning! Worth waking up early to make. Thank you!
This looks delicious! I typically add some nut butter to my kids’ oatmeal — do you think adding a few tablespoons of peanut butter to the batter would mess up the texture? Thank you for all these wonderful recipes!
I think that should be fine. Enjoy!
Is there any way to increase the protein in this? I’m thinking of adding Greek yogurt but would that be in addition to the milk or substituting the milk?
Thanks!
You might be able to substitute part of the milk for yogurt, or add nut butter or 2 more eggs to the batter.
Can I add flax or chia to this for extra fiber? I’m really trying to find ways to get that in there. Or is there a better recipe for those? Thanks!!
You can substitute part of the chopped walnuts for ground flaxseed or chia seed (I would do 2-4 tablespoons but not more).
I would love to make this. Any suggestions for swapping out the banana?
You could use applesauce instead if you prefer.
Tried it for the first time today. It was a hit! We are eating clean and I love that there is no sugar. We didnt add the maple syrup on top, it was sweet on its own. My 2 1/2 year old loved it as we did too! Can the blueberries be swapped out with other fruits? Like apples or strawberries, ect?
Sure, I think pretty much any other diced fruit would work. Enjoy!
Another 5 star recipe from our favorite toddler recipe guru! So easy to whip up and really elevated our oatmeal experience. Great texture and yummy flavor. Don’t skip the maple syrup on top!
I’m so glad and I agree with you about the maple syrup!
I love love love this recipe! My 22 month old loved it (he’s a blueberry fiend) and so did my husband and I. Plus having leftovers for a few days made our mornings so easy. Delicious!
Can you prep this the night before and then bake in the morning rather than bake & reheat? Thanks!
I haven’t tried it and it may absorb some of the liquid as it sits, which could make it drier so if you do that, check it for doneness in the oven a few minutes sooner than the time I call for in the recipe.