These easy Baked Oatmeal Cups are an ideal way to serve oatmeal to babies, baby-led weaning style, and to toddlers who like to feed themselves. Oatmeal as finger food with much less mess? Yes please!
Baked Oatmeal Cups
I love this method of making oatmeal into little cups that can be eaten with hands or a fork—and are so easy to make ahead and stash into the fridge for easy kids breakfasts. You can make these in either a mini muffin tin or a silicone mold and both will create little oatmeal bites that are super yummy.
TIP: These use chia seeds to help bind them together, without any eggs, and are a great source of healthy fats, fiber, and protein.
Ingredients in Baked Oatmeal Cups
To make this easy kids breakfast idea, you’ll need:
- rolled oats
- milk or water
- chia seeds
- cinnamon
- vanilla extract
- raisins or other dried fruit
- maple syrup or honey, optional
TIP: If making these for a baby who’s not yet ready for cow’s milk, use unsweetened plain nondairy milk.
Baked Oatmeal Cups Step-by-Step
To make this recipe, here’s what you do. Scroll down to the bottom of the recipe for the full information.
- Gather your ingredients.
- Place the oats and chia seeds in a medium bowl and stir in the hot milk or water.
- Add the cinnamon, vanilla, dried fruit, and honey, and stir well. Let sit.
- Press batter into each mold or mini muffin cup. Bake!
TIP: These store well in the fridge, so you can plan to serve the batch throughout the week. You can serve them slightly warmed or cold according to what your kiddo prefers. (My middle kiddo ate a lot of these cold packed in daycare lunches when she was one years old!)
Why do we use chia seeds in this recipe?
Yes! The chia seeds plump up and gel as they absorb the liquid, which is so handy for helping to hold the batter together. And since the seeds also add a dose of healthy fats and fiber, it’s a simple way to pack this meal with a little extra nutrition. The texture of the chia seeds blends in nicely with the rest of the ingredients.
Are rolled oats or instant oats better in this recipe?
These baked oatmeal cups are made from ground rolled oats—just stick them into a food processor or blender and grind into smaller pieces—or you can use store-bought quick or instant oats. The texture of the oats, in addition to the chia seeds, helps the batter hold together nicely.
Vegan Baked Oatmeal Cups
By adding chia seeds to oats and water, you can bind everything together into little bites without needing to use eggs. This is great for kids who have an egg-allergy and just because it’s one less ingredient! (The chia seeds and milk add some protein, so we’re not missing out on nutrition here.)
TIP: To make these egg-free and dairy-free, choose your favorite nondairy milk.
Make-Ahead Toddler Breakfast
I like to make a quick batch of this baked oatmeal and have it on hand for busy mornings. I also pack the bites in lunches and serve them as snacks. You can dice them for older babies and younger toddlers to make them a little easier to eat—and limit too much food being stuffed into a little mouth!
TIP: We even sometimes have them with a smear of nut butter on top!
Tips for Making the Best Baked Oatmeal Cups
- You can use dairy or nondairy milk in this recipe according to your preferences. If you use nondairy milk, check to see if it’s flavored or sweetened before adding the vanilla or optional sweetener. You may not need either.
- Use unsweetened nondairy milk for kids under 1.
- Avoid honey for babies under 1.
- Grind the oats in a food processor or blender, or use instant oats.
- You can use leftover cooked oatmeal in this recipe too, though it works best with cooked oatmeal that’s thick. Simply stir 1 tablespoon and 1-3 tablespoons milk into cooked oatmeal and proceed with Step 3 of the recipe.
- You can use raisins or other dried fruit (cranberries, cherries, and the like) or chopped fresh blueberries or raspberries. You may want to cut bigger pieces of fruit with scissors or a knife.
I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipes, so please comment below to share!
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PinDescription
Transform plain oats into a yummy and easy to eat finger food with this baked oatmeal recipe. You can double the recipe to make more if desired.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats, ground (or quick oats)
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons raisins or other dried fruit snipped into small pieces
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey, optional
- 3/4 cup milk, warmed until hot (but not boiling)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease the silicone molds or mini muffin tin.
- Place the oats, chia seeds, cinnamon, vanilla, raisins, and maple syrup or honey, if using, into a medium bowl.
- Add the warm milk and stir. Let sit for 5 minutes.
- Press about 1 tablespoon batter into each molds or mini muffin cup. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 5-10 minutes, then on a wire rack. Serve slightly warm or chilled.
Notes
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3 days.
You can use dairy or nondairy milk in this recipe according to your preferences. Both work just the same. If you use nondairy milk, check to see if it’s flavored or sweetened before adding the vanilla or optional sweetener. You may not need either.
Use unsweetened nondairy milk for kids under 1.
Avoid honey for babies under 1.
Grind the oats in a food processor or blender, or use instant oats.
You can use raisins or other dried fruit (cranberries, cherries, and the like) or chopped fresh blueberries or raspberries. You may want to cut bigger pieces of fruit with scissors or a knife.
You can use leftover cooked oatmeal in this recipe too, though it works best with cooked oatmeal that’s thick. Simply stir 1 tablespoon and 1-3 tablespoons milk into cooked oatmeal and proceed with Step 3 of the recipe.
Serve with fruit or a smoothie or a drink as breakfast or even lunch. They work for snack too!
