Easy Baked Oats For One (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

Why you'll love this recipe

• You can make these baked oats for one in a blender or combine everything in a bowl.
• If you're short on time, you can bake the oats in the microwave. Otherwise, bake them in the oven.
• You probably already have all the ingredients at home!

Key ingredients and substitutions

Oats are the base ingredient for baked oatmeal. You can use rolled oats, quick oats or oat flour. Avoid steel-cut oats for this recipe. Make sure to use gluten-free certified oats if you have dietary restrictions.

Flax seeds replace eggs in this recipe. No need to make a flax egg, simply blend the flax seeds with the other ingredients. Substitute them with chia seeds if necessary.

Banana improves the texture and makes the oats extra moist.

Plant-based milk is required to thin out the batter. We love unsweetened soy and almond milk. Oat milk is great for its neutral taste, too.

Almond butter adds a nutty taste to your baked oatmeal. You can leave it out completely or replace it with peanut butter or any other nut butter. Use sunflower seed butter or tahini to keep the recipe nut-free.

Pure maple syrup is used to sweeten the mixture. You can replace it with brown sugar or leave it out if you're using a really ripe banana.

Add-ins and toppings

Once you made the base recipe, you can vary the flavors with different add-ins and toppings.

• Chocolate chips transform this baked oats recipe into an incredibly indulgent breakfast. We usually go with dark chocolate chips since most brands are vegan.
• Cacao nibs are a great alternative to chocolate chips if you want to keep you breakfast healthy.
• Crushed pecans or almonds are perfect to add some crunch.
• A dash of cinnamon adds warmth to your oats. We absolutely love it in fall and winter.
• Protein powder can help you reach your protein intake goals and make you feel satiated for longer. We love this vegan protein powder for its incredibly clean ingredient list.

Elo's tips

1. Use 6 or 8-ounce ramekins. The batter will slightly rise over the edge of a 6-ounce ramekin (as seen in the pictures). By using 8-ounce ramekins you can be sure that the batter won't overflow in the oven.
2. Grease your ramekins well to prevent the batter from sticking to the sides. It will also make the clean-up a lot easier.
3. Triple this recipe to make it for the whole family (3-4 people). You can use your food processor or a high-speed blender to make the batter and bake it in a larger baking dish. A cake pan works great, too.

Step-by-step (with pictures)

STEP 1: Place all the ingredients in a blender. Add the oat flour (or whole oats), flax seeds, baking soda and a pinch of salt to the container of a small blender. Next, add the banana, almond butter, and maple syrup. Pour in the milk and close the lid tightly.

STEP 2: Blend until perfectly smooth. Don't use a food processor as there is not enough volume for it to blend properly. You can use an immersion blender.

If you don't have a blender, mash the banana with a fork. Start by combining the dry ingredients in a small bowl. Then, add in the wet ingredients and stir until combined.

STEP 3: Fold in the chocolate chips with a spoon.

STEP 4: Grease a single-serve ramekin with a little coconut oil or cooking spray. Pour the oat mixture into the ramekin and top with some more chocolate chips.

STEP 5: Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Alternatively, you can bake the oats in the microwave (see instructions below).

How to make baked oats in the microwave?

To bake the oats in the microwave, transfer the batter to a greased ramekin. Microwave on high (somewhere between 700W and 900W) for 2-3 minutes.

Make sure the oats are baked by inserting a toothpick or clean knife. If it comes out clean, they are ready to eat. If not, microwave for another 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Storage tips

Frequently asked questions