These Banana Baked Oatmeal Cups are an easy wholesome breakfast option packed with ripe bananas, creamy almond butter, and hearty oats. These delicious make-ahead cups are perfect for meal prep and freezer-friendly, providing a convenient and nutritious start to your day.
Pin for later HERE and follow my boards for more recipe ideas!
Updated March 2024
Easy Banana Baked Oatmeal Recipe for Breakfast
If you’re tired of the same old morning routine and craving something deliciously wholesome to kickstart your day, then you’re in for a treat with our Banana Baked Oatmeal Cups. These little cups of goodness are not only packed with flavor but also loaded with nutrients to fuel your busy mornings.
With their wholesome ingredients, customizable options, and make-ahead convenience, they’re sure to become a breakfast favorite in your household. Whether you’re rushing out the door or leisurely enjoying breakfast at home, these baked banana oatmeal cups are sure to become your new breakfast go-to!
Why You Should Make This Recipe:
- Convenient Breakfast Option: Perfect for busy mornings or meal prep, these baked banana nut oatmeal cups are portable and easy to grab on the go.
- Wholesome Ingredients: Made with nutritious ingredients like oats, almond butter, and ripe bananas, these cups are a satisfying and nourishing breakfast choice.
- Leftover Bananas: A delicious way to use up any ripe bananas sitting on your counter.
- Customizable and Versatile: Easily adaptable to suit your taste preferences, you can customize these oatmeal cups with your favorite toppings and add-ins.
- Family-Friendly: Loved by both kids and adults alike, these oatmeal cups are a crowd-pleaser and can be enjoyed by the whole family.
- Freezer-Friendly: Make a batch ahead of time and freeze for later, ensuring you always have a quick and convenient breakfast option on hand.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Unsweetened Almond Milk: Adds moisture and flavor to the oatmeal cups without adding extra sugar.
- Eggs (or Flax Eggs): Provides structure and helps bind the ingredients together. Flax eggs are a vegan-friendly alternative.
- Maple Syrup: Offers natural sweetness and enhances the banana flavor. You can also use any sticky liquid sweetener of your choice such as sugar-free maple syrup, allulose for a lower carb / lower sugar option or even honey if you’re not vegan.
- Coconut Oil or Neutral Oil: Adds moisture and richness to the oatmeal cups.
- Almond Butter: Provides richness and adds nutty flavor. You can use any nut butter or seed butter of your choice.
- Ripe Banana: Adds natural sweetness, moisture, and banana flavor. Unsweetened applesauce will work too if you’re in a pinch.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor of the oatmeal cups.
- Baking Powder: Helps the oatmeal cups rise and become fluffy.
- Ground Cinnamon: Adds warmth and enhances the flavor profile.
- Sea Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the other flavors.
- Gluten-Free Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: The main ingredient that forms the base of the oatmeal cups. For a grain-free alternative, you can substitute with 1 3/4 cups of roughly chopped sliced almonds and 1 3/4 cups of roughly chopped coconut flakes
Instructions: How to make Banana Baked Oatmeal Cups
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven and prepare a muffin tin with oil spray or silicone liners.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Make the flax egg (if using), then whisk in the remaining wet ingredients until well combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Fold in the oats until evenly mixed.
- Divide and Garnish: Divide the batter into the muffin tin or silicone muffin liners and top each cup with sliced bananas and chopped walnuts.
- Bake: Bake the oatmeal cups until set and golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cups to cool slightly before removing them from the tin. Serve warm or freeze for later.
Tips for Success
- Ripe Banana: Ensure the banana is ripe for maximum sweetness and flavor.
- Liners: Use silicone muffin liners or grease the muffin tin well to prevent sticking.
- Toppings: Feel free to customize the toppings and add-ins with a variety of your favorite nuts, seeds, or dried fruits.
- Sweetener: Adjust sweetness according to preference by adding more or less maple syrup.
Variations and Substitutions
- Swap almond milk with any preferred milk alternative.
- Experiment with different nut butters or seed butters for unique flavors.
- Add chocolate chips, dried fruit, or shredded coconut to the batter for extra texture and sweetness.
- Choose more add-in options and variations from our Baked Oatmeal Cups recipe.
Serving Suggestions
- Enjoy the oatmeal cups warm with a dollop of yogurt or drizzle of nut butter.
- Pair them with fresh fruit or a side of scrambled eggs for a balanced breakfast.
- Pack them as a portable snack for on-the-go energy.
- Pair with fresh fruit or a side of scrambled eggs for a balanced breakfast.
Storage, Make-Ahead, and Freezer Tips:
- Storage: Once cooled, store the banana baked oatmeal cups in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. This makes them an excellent option for meal prep, allowing you to enjoy a nutritious breakfast all week long.
- Make-Ahead: These oatmeal cups are perfect for making ahead of time. You can prepare a batch on the weekend and have breakfast ready to go for the week ahead. Simply reheat in the microwave for a quick and convenient breakfast on busy mornings.
- Freezer-Friendly: If you want to stock up on breakfast options, these oatmeal cups freeze beautifully. Place cooled oatmeal cups in a freezer-safe bag or container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, simply thaw in the refrigerator overnight or reheat in the microwave for a quick and easy breakfast option.
- Individual Portions: Portioning the oatmeal cups individually before freezing makes it easy to grab just what you need. This allows for flexibility in meal planning and ensures minimal food waste.
- Customize Your Batch: Consider making a variety of flavors and add-ins when batch cooking these oatmeal cups. This allows for greater variety throughout the week and keeps breakfast exciting.
By following these storage, make-ahead, and freezer tips, you’ll always have a nutritious and satisfying breakfast option at your fingertips, making busy mornings a breeze!
FAQs
- Can I use regular eggs instead of flax eggs? Yes, you can use 2 large eggs instead of flax eggs.
- Can I make these oatmeal cups without nuts? Yes, you can omit the almond butter and use sunflower seed butter or tahini instead.
- Are these oatmeal cups suitable for meal prep? Absolutely! These cups are perfect for meal prep and can be made ahead of time for busy mornings.
More banana recipes you will love:
Easy Banana Nut Breakfast Cookies
These Banana Baked Oatmeal Cups are an easy wholesome breakfast option packed with ripe bananas, creamy almond butter, and hearty oats. These delicious make-ahead cups are perfect for meal prep and freezer-friendly, providing a convenient and nutritious start to your day.
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk , or preferred milk of choice
- 2 large eggs , or use flax eggs for vegan (For each flax egg - combine 1 tablespoon flax seed + 2.5 tablespoons water + let it sit for 5 minutes until thick + gel-like)
- 1/2 cup maple syrup , you can also use any sticky liquid sweetener of your choice such as sugar-free maple syrup, allulose for a lower carb / lower sugar option or even honey if you're not vegan.
- 4 teaspoons melted coconut oil OR neutral oil , such as avocado oil, please not that coconut oil will harden with any cold liquids - this is totally normal and will melt down once baked
- 1/4 cup creamy almond butter , or your favorite nut butter or seed butter
- 1 medium-sized ripe banana , mashed. Unsweetened applesauce will work too for a banana-free option.
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- 3 1/2 cups gluten-free old-fashioned rolled oats , for a grain-free option, you can sub with 1 3/4 cups of roughly chopped sliced almonds and 1 3/4 cups of roughly chopped coconut flakes
- 1/2 banana sliced for garnish
- chopped walnuts , optional for garnish
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease or line a 12-cup muffin tin with oil spray or line with silicone muffin liners.
- In a large bowl, mix the flax seeds and water to make the flax egg. Set aside until thickened (about 2 minutes) (Skip if using regular egg). After 2 minutes, whisk in the milk, maple syrup, oil, mashed banana, almond butter, vanilla, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Fold in the oats.
- Divide batter evenly into prepared muffin tin or silicone muffin liners. Top each serving with sliced bananas and chopped walnuts, if desired.
- Bake in preheated oven for 18-25 minutes, or until set.
- Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing from tin. Enjoy immediately or freeze in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave when ready to enjoy.
- Storage: Once cooled, store the banana baked oatmeal cups in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. This makes them an excellent option for meal prep, allowing you to enjoy a nutritious breakfast all week long.
- Make-Ahead: These oatmeal cups are perfect for making ahead of time. You can prepare a batch on the weekend and have breakfast ready to go for the week ahead. Simply reheat in the microwave for a quick and convenient breakfast on busy mornings.
- Freezer-Friendly: If you want to stock up on breakfast options, these oatmeal cups freeze beautifully. Place cooled oatmeal cups in a freezer-safe bag or container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, simply thaw in the refrigerator overnight or reheat in the microwave for a quick and easy breakfast option.
wendy -
wow just made these and they were so delicious! perfect for meal prep.