Chocolate Baked Oats

Name: Chocolate Baked Oats
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 & 1/4 cups rolled oats; 1/3 cup cocoa powder; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 & 1/4 cup milk, room temperature; 1/3 cup honey ((runny)); 2 large eggs, room temperature; 3.5 tablespoons coconut oil, melted & divided; 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided ((optional) ); 1/2 cup chocolate chunks, divided ((optional) ); flaky sea salt & berries for topping

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Start your day with a decadent and nutritious breakfast with this easy and delicious Chocolate Baked Oats Recipe. Made with wholesome rolled oats, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips, this breakfast dish is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping you fueled for the day ahead.

close up shot of chocolate baked oat bars topped with a chocolate drizzle, sea salt, and bight and juicy strawberries and raspberries.

Sometimes you just need something rich and fudgy to start the day! This recipe is the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth, using wholesome ingredients. These chocolate oats come together quickly and easily and will become a breakfast staple.

Looking for more oatmeal recipes? You might like these protein overnight oats, these bliss balls (energy bites), these baked oatmeal cups, this apple cinnamon oatmeal, or this summertime peaches and cream oatmeal!

You may also like these frozen granola yogurt bars or these muesli cookies.

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❤️Why we love this recipe
🍫Ingredients
✨Substitutions & variations
🔪Prep work
📋Instructions
✨Tips & tricks
💭Frequently Asked Questions
More Recipes To Consider
📖 Recipe
💬 Community

❤️Why we love this recipe

Delicious. The combination of oats, rich cocoa powder, chocolate chips and chocolate chunks topped with fresh berries make for a decadent and satisfying sweet treat that's bursting with rich chocolate flavor.
Nutritious. Oats are a great source of fiber, protein, and complex carbohydrates. (Read more about oat health benefits). This recipe is also naturally sweetened with honey, so it kicks the day off right.
Made with simple ingredients. This recipe is made with pantry staples. Anything you don't already have can be found at any grocery store.
Versatile. You can easily customize this recipe by adding in different mix-ins, such as fresh or frozen berries, nuts, or nut butter, to suit your taste preferences. This recipe can also be made dairy free and vegan.
Quick and easy to make. This recipe requires just a few simple tools, and can be prepped and baked in under an hour.
Convenient. You can meal prep a batch of this easy baked oatmeal on the weekend and enjoy leftovers throughout the week for a quick and simple breakfast.
Kid-friendly. Kids will love the chocolaty taste and brownie-like texture of these baked oats, making them a fun breakfast option for the whole family.

🍫Ingredients

Here are the ingredients we used for this recipe. You can find more information for substitutions below.

Unsweetened cocoa powder - We like using Dutch process cocoa powder for the rich, chocolatey flavor and less acidity than other types of cocoa powder.
Rolled oats - Quick cooking oats will also work, but we don't recommend using steel cut oats, as they just won't absorb the ingredients properly.
Baking powder
Kosher salt
Milk of choice - Room temperature. We used whole milk for added protein. You can use any type of milk you prefer.
Eggs - Room temperature.
Honey - The runny type.
Vanilla extract
Coconut oil - Melted and cooled slightly so it isn't hot.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips & dark chocolate chunks - Optional but very yummy. Mini chocolate chips can also be used.
Berries & flaky sea salt for garnish - Optional but highly recommended!

Visit the recipe card for the full quantities and nutritional information.

✨Substitutions & variations

Here are a few suggestions on additional flavors to try, or simple variations to this recipe.

Gluten-free - Use gluten-free rolled oats. (affiliate link) All of the other ingredients are naturally gluten free.
For a more cake-like texture - You can use a food processor to blend up the dry ingredients, giving the oats a flour-like texture that will bake up more like cake. This can also be achieved by mixing everything in a high-speed blender (affiliate link).
Protein packed - Add a scoop of vanilla or chocolate protein powder for a protein boost.
Dairy free - Use plant-based milk instead of cow's milk, and be sure to use dairy-free chocolate.
Vegan - Use flax eggs in place of the eggs, nut milk of choice instead of whole milk, vegan chocolate, and maple syrup instead of honey.
Alternative sweetener - You can use any granulated sweetener like regular white sugar, or brown sugar. You can also use agave nectar, pure maple syrup, or a sugar alternative, our favorite is Swerve brown! (affiliate link)
Add fruit - Add in fresh fruit like strawberries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, or banana chunks.
Mix in nuts & seeds - For extra texture, nutrition, and crunch, add in nuts like chopped almonds, walnuts, and pecans. Hemp hearts, flax seeds, and chia seeds are also great ways to add fiber and nutrients.
Add nut butter - Like peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter for extra richness, flavor, and protein.
Spiced - Try mixing in a teaspoon of cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin spice.

🔪Prep work

Pull the milk and eggs out of the fridge roughly an hour in advance so they can come to room temperature.
Preheat the oven to 350°F, and position the oven rack to the center position.
Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper.
Melt coconut oil in the microwave and set aside to cool.
Measure out all remaining ingredients.

📋Instructions

In a mixing bowl, add rolled oats, salt, baking powder, and cocoa powder. (Image 1)

Combine very well to ensure all ingredients are incorporated. (Image 2)

Oats, cocoa powder, salt, and protein powder in a bowl.

oats with cocoa powder in a bowl combined with a gold spoon.

In a separate bowl, combine coconut oil, honey, eggs, milk, and vanilla extract. (Image 3)

Whisk to combine. (Image 4)

mixing bowl with milk, eggs, vanilla and coconut oil.

hand whisking a bowl of wet ingredients.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, using a rubber spatula to fold the ingredients together. (Image 5)

Add in optional chocolate chips and chunks. (Image 6)

wet batter for chocolate baked oats in a mixing bowl with a rubber spatula.

combined ingredients to make chocolate baked oats with chunks of chocolate in a mixing bowl with a rubber spatula.

Pour the batter into a prepared baking dish, and top with more chocolate chips and chunks if desired. (Image 7)

Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the center is set. Top immediately with flaky sea salt, and allow the oats to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes. (Image 8)

unbaked chocolate oats in a baking dish topped with chocolate chips and chunks.

Meanwhile, prepare the optional chocolate drizzle by combining chocolate chunks and coconut oil, and microwaving at 50% power in 15-second increments, stirring in between until smooth. (Images 9 - 12)

collage of chocolate being melted with coconut oil in a small bowl, and being stirred until smooth.

Cut the bars into 9-12 equal pieces, and drizzle with the chocolate drizzle. (Image 13)

spoon drizzling chocolate drizzle onto chocolate baked oats.

Top with more flaky sea salt, and fresh berries if desired. Enjoy!

flat lay view of chocolate baked oats topped with a chocolate drizzle, sea salt, and fresh berries.

✨Tips & tricks

Use good quality cocoa powder. Choose a high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder for the best taste. We prefer using Dutch-processed cocoa powder (affiliate link) because it has a rich chocolatey flavor and is less acidic than natural cocoa powder.
Use room temperature ingredients. Allow milk and eggs to sit out at room temperature for about an hour before mixing if possible. This will help ensure that the coconut oil doesn't seize up when it makes contact with the other wet ingredients. You'll also want to ensure that the coconut oil has time to cool off after melting, or else you run the risk of scrambling the eggs.
Mix the dry ingredients well before adding the wet ingredients. Mix the oats, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt well before adding the wet ingredients. This will ensure that the ingredients are evenly distributed and the baked oats will cook evenly.
Don't overmix the batter. When adding the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, be careful not to overmix. Overmixing can result in tough, dense baked oats. Just mix until the ingredients are just combined.
Let the chocolate oats cool before serving. This allows the oats to firm up and make it easier to cut and serve.

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💭Frequently Asked Questions

How to store the leftovers?

Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven.

To freeze, allow the baked oats to cool completely before transferring them to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. Store for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat in the microwave or oven.

Can I use quick oats instead of rolled oats for this recipe?

Yes, you can. The texture will be altered slightly, as rolled oats have a chewier texture.

More Recipes To Consider

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