Baked Oats without Banana

These baked oats without bananas are healthy, gluten-free, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup. They’re made in one bowl without a blender!

Meal prep healthy baked oats without banana

Baked oatmeal is my favorite breakfast… ever! I make them at least twice a week. All my other baked oatmeal recipes are super popular, and you guys love them! My favorites are this vegan baked oatmeal and protein baked oats. Both of those recipes have bananas, so here is a recipe for all the people out there that hate bananas.

You are in for a treat with this baked oatmeal recipe. This recipe is naturally sweetened with maple syrup, is loaded with healthy ingredients, and is super customizable. But, best of all, there are no bananas! Instead, we use applesauce to bind the oats together and make them moist and soft.

These baked oats without bananas are flavorful, moist, and have nice crispy edges. They are easy to make in one bowl, loaded with all my favorite fruit, and everyone will love them. You don’t need a blender for this recipe!

I make a batch or two on a Sunday and save the rest for meal prep breakfast for the week. Baked oatmeal is the perfect busy-person recipe for those who are always on the go!

Why you’ll love this baked oatmeal recipe:

• No Bananas: This is the best baked oats recipe made without bananas.
• Healthy: Made with simple, wholesome, nutritious ingredients. No added sugar!
• Gluten-free and dairy-free: Great for everyone!
• Meal Prep: Easily meal prep this baked oats recipe for the week.
• Freezer-Friendly: Easily freeze leftover baked oatmeal for up to 3 months.
• Customizable: These bakes oats are customizable with over 10 flavor options below.
• Make it Vegan: Easily make this recipe vegan by using homemade flax eggs.
• No Blender: I love that this recipe does NOT call for a blender like every other recipe. It’s so easy to make, and clean-up is a breeze.
• Similar Recipe: Try these chocolate baked oats or these air fryer baked oats next!

Ingredients needed

This baked oats without banana recipe calls for simple and healthy ingredients. You’ll need old fashioned rolled oats, unsweetened applesauce, maple syrup, oat or almond milk, and a few other ones. There are no bananas in this recipe! Here is a list of all the ingredients so you are prepared:

• Eggs: First up, you need eggs to add protein and hold the baked oats together since we are not adding mashed bananas.
• Milk: I use unsweetened vanilla almond milk, but feel free to use your favorite oat milk, cashew milk, soy milk, or regular milk.
• Maple Syrup: For a dash of sweetness. I love baking with maple syrup because it’s refined-sugar-free and delicious.
• Unsweetened Applesauce: Instead of bananas, we use applesauce to help hold the baked oats together and add some texture.
• Vanilla Extract: A dash of vanilla extract goes a long way! I love the flavor so much.
• Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: The star of the show! You need 2 cups. If you are gluten-free, make sure to use gluten-free certified rolled oats.
• Ground Cinnamon: For the best flavor! It’s warm and delicious.
• Baking Powder: This helps the baked oats rise and make them super fluffy.
• Salt: A dash of salt for that sweet and salty combo.
• Fresh Berries: I used a mix of fresh blueberries, raspberries, and sliced strawberries. But you can do any combination and use frozen berries if you need them. Just remember not to defrost them!
• Nuts: Finally, feel free to add 1/3 cup of walnuts, almonds, or pecans. I used walnuts; they are my favorite.

Kitchen tools needed

You only need a few kitchen utensils to make baked oats. Here is a list:

• Mixing bowl
• 9-inch square baking dish
• Spatula
• Measuring Tools: 1/2 teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, and 1 cup.

How to make baked oat without bananas

Baked oatmeal without bananas is easy to make, and you don’t need a blender! It’s great for breakfast, brunch, meal prep, and even as a snack. Here are step-by-step directions with pictures:

Step 1:

First, preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9-inch square dish with cooking or avocado oil spray.

Step 2:

Then, whisk together the eggs, almond milk, maple syrup, applesauce, and vanilla extract in a large bowl.

Step 3:

Mix the rolled oats, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and nuts in another bowl.

Step 4:

After that, Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and hand-fold in the berries. Pour into the greased baking dish and top with extra nuts and berries.

Step 5:

Finally, bake the oats for 40 – 45 minutes until the top is golden and the center is done. For softer baked oatmeal, bake closer to 35 minutes.

Let the baked oats cool for 5 minutes before serving with your choice of maple syrup, fresh berries, peanut butter, almond butter, and/or yogurt!

Expert recipe tips

1. Use old-fashioned rolled oats. This is my #1 tip for baked oats. Steel-cut oats don’t cook, and quick oats can get soft.
2. Make sure your oven is at 375°F. Most baking recipes are baked at 350°F, but since there are no bananas in this recipe, we need a higher heat to achieve a soft inside and crispy outside.
3. If you use frozen berries, do NOT allow them to defrost. Add frozen fruit directly into the oatmeal mixture. If you don’t, the baked oats will be soggy.
4. Don’t skip out on the applesauce. Since this baked oats recipe has no banana in it, you need to add the applesauce as a substitute. You can use Greek yogurt or mashed pumpkin instead of applesauce if needed.
5. Double or triple the recipe. To double or triple this recipe, just divide it into multiple baking pans or transfer it to a large 9×11-inch pan.
6. Grease the pan. This is super important so you can easily remove the baked oats from the baking dish.
7. Top with toppings before baking. You can add chocolate chips, berries, fruit, or nuts.
8. Make it Vegan: Easily make this recipe vegan by using homemade flax eggs.

Flavor variations

I love that this baked oats recipe is super customizable! Here are some ideas:

• Peanut Butter Baked Oats: If you are like me and love peanut butter, try adding 2 – 4 tablespoons of peanut butter to the mixture.
• Blueberry Baked Oats: Add 1 and 1/2 cups of fresh or frozen blueberries to the oatmeal mixture for the best healthy baked oatmeal.
• Strawberry Baked Oats: Add 1 and 1/2 cups of fresh or frozen sliced strawberries to the oatmeal mixture
• Mixed Berry Walnut Baked Oats: Add 1 and 1/2 cups of fresh or frozen mixed berries plus 1/3 cup of walnuts to the oatmeal mixture.

What to serve with baked oatmeal

There are so many great options for what you can eat your baked oatmeal with. I love enjoying these baked oats with a spoonful of Greek yogurt, nuts and seeds, maple syrup, or peanut butter and fresh fruit. If you are looking for other recipes to serve, check these out:

1. Feta Sweet Potato Quiche
2. Healthy Shakshuka
3. Almond Flour Banana Muffins
4. Oat Milk Pancakes
5. Air Fryer Hash Browns

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use quick oats?

For best results, I recommend using old fashion rolled oats. If you use quick oats, the texture will be softer, and if there is too much liquid, it can get mushy.

Can I use steel-cut oats?

Do not use steel-cut oats for baked oatmeal.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

Yes, this recipe is 100% gluten-free. Make sure to use gluten-free certified oats.

Can I add protein powder to baked oats?

Yes! If you want to increase the protein of these baked oats, I recommend adding 1 scoop of plain or vanilla protein powder along with two extra tablespoons of milk.

What can I use instead of a banana as a binder?

The best banana substitutes are applesauce, Greek yogurt, mashed pumpkin, or even nut butter like almond or peanut butter.

Are baked oats without bananas as healthy?

Baked oats without bananas are healthy since we use whole-grain oats, a natural sweetener, and fresh berries. It’s a wholesome and balanced meal.

Can I make this recipe vegan?

You can substitute the 2 eggs with 2 flax eggs. The texture might be softer, but it should work! Check this vegan baked oatmeal recipe out too!

Can I use frozen berries?

You can use frozen or fresh berries in this baked oats recipe. If using frozen berries, make sure that you add them directly to the mixture.

What do these baked oats taste like if there is no banana?

These baked oats without bananas are super flavorful from the fresh berries, vanilla, and cinnamon. They’re warm, cozy, and taste like a delicious bowl of classic berry oatmeal.

What size pan is best for the baked oats?

I always use a 9-inch pan for baked oats; however, you can use an 8-inch pan too. The bake time might increase by 3 – 8 minutes; keep an eye on them in the oven.

Can I make this recipe into muffins?

You can easily make this baked oats recipe into baked oats muffin cups. Simply divide the batter evenly into 12 lined muffins cups and bake for 20 – 30 minutes or until done.

How to store, freeze, and reheat leftovers:

• Storing: Store leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Freezing: Freeze leftover baked oats in an airtight ziplock bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. When freezing, I recommend cutting the oatmeal into squares, as seen in the pictures, wrapping them in plastic wrap, and placing them in a large freezer bag.
• Reheating: If you are reheating the entire pan, cover it with aluminum foil and reheat in the oven at 350ºF for about 15 – 20 minutes or until warm. If you are reheating an individual square, set the oven or toaster oven to 350ºF for 5 – 10 minutes, or reheat in the microwave for 1 minute (I recommend wrapping it in a damp paper towel to keep it moist).

If you love this recipe, try these oatmeal recipes next!

• Pumpkin Spice Latte Baked Oats
• Egg White Oatmeal (6 ways!)
• Vegan Baked Oatmeal (10 ways!)
• Healthy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars
• Oatmeal Blueberry Banana Muffins

Did you make this recipe?

If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don’t forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!

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