Baked Strawberry Oatmeal

Begin your day on the right note with this delicious Baked Strawberry Oatmeal. This is a healthy, make-ahead breakfast that the whole family will love. The Baked Oatmeal is rich in nutrients, with fragrant, fresh strawberries, chia seeds and milk added to the rolled oats. They are all mixed together in one bowl, and gently sweetened with maple syrup. It is so easy to make that it’s suitable for busy weekdays.

You will love this Baked Strawberry Oatmeal because:

• You just need a few simple ingredients, all of which are readily available.
• It is an easily made, healthy breakfast that is egg-free, nut-free, refined sugar-free and vegan. Use certified gluten-free oats if required.
• Baking the oats in the oven is a great, hands-off way to prepare oatmeal.
• This is a great recipe for meal prep. For busy weekday mornings, it is a great advantage to have breakfast ready to go. 
• The Baked Oatmeal is almost cake-like but with texture from the rolled oats, complemented by the sweet, slightly tangy flavour of strawberries, but in a healthy breakfast form.
• No culinary skill is required – you just combine all the ingredients in one bowl, add to an ovenproof dish and bake.
• It is the perfect stress-free breakfast to serve at a brunch party. Just make it ahead of time and reheat to serve.

Ingredients in this recipe:

Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

Rolled Oats – use old-fashioned Rolled Oats for this recipe. They are a budget-friendly whole grain, complex carbohydrate and a good source of dietary fibre.

Chia seeds – these little seeds are a nutritional powerhouse being a complete protein, a good source of omega-3 fatty acids as well as being rich in dietary fibre. You can use black or white.

Baking powder – is a raising agent which helps lift and lighten the Baked Strawberry Oatmeal. 

Strawberries – I have used fresh strawberries, sweet, juicy and full of flavour; they perfectly complement the mellow oatmeal.

Milk – use milk of your preference. I like to use almond or oat milk, but soy milk works just fine. You can use dairy milk if you don’t need the oats to be vegan.

Maple syrup – we use a small amount to sweeten the Baked Oats. If you prefer more sweetness, you could add extra maple syrup when serving.

Vanilla – use vanilla that is naturally extracted, in preference to one which is artificially flavoured.

Lemon zest – adds a bright note. Be sure to just remove the yellow flesh and not the bitter white pith.

Coconut oil – to lightly grease the baking dish.

How to Make Strawberry Baked Oatmeal:

Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

1 – Slice your strawberries:
Slice your strawberries into 3 or 4 pieces, depending on their size.

2 – Prepare the dry ingredients:
In a large bowl, add the oats, chia and baking powder. Stir to combine.

3 – Add the wet ingredients:
To the dry ingredients, add the milk, maple syrup, vanilla and lemon zest.

4 – Combine with the strawberries:
Lastly, add ¾ of the sliced strawberries.

5 – Fold through the mixture:
Fold through the strawberries until just combined.

6 – Add to the baking dish:
Pour the mixture into your greased baking dish, and top with the remaining strawberries.

Bake in your preheated oven for approximately 35 minutes. Remove from the oven, and rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Tips for success and FAQs:

This healthy, delicious Baked Strawberry Oatmeal is a great way to start the day and it will leave you satisfied until lunchtime. 

It has a moist, slightly chewy texture; it’s almost like eating cake for breakfast – but it’s healthy!