Easy Chocolate Baked Oats (Printable)
A cozy, chocolate-infused baked oats dish with banana and maple syrup for a wholesome start.
# What's Needed:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 1 cup rolled oats
02 - 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
04 - Pinch of salt
→ Wet Ingredients
05 - 1 ripe banana, mashed
06 - 1 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
07 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Add-ins & Toppings
09 - 2 tablespoons chocolate chips (plus extra for topping)
10 - 1 tablespoon chopped nuts (optional, such as walnuts or pecans)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease two small ramekins or an oven-safe baking dish with cooking spray or a small amount of oil.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together rolled oats, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk mashed banana, milk, maple syrup (or honey), and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir until just combined, being careful not to overmix. Gently fold in chocolate chips and nuts if using.
05 - Divide batter evenly between prepared ramekins. Sprinkle additional chocolate chips on top for extra texture and visual appeal.
06 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until oats are set and tops appear slightly cracked. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out mostly clean.
07 - Let stand for 5 minutes to cool slightly. Serve warm, optionally drizzled with additional milk or topped with a dollop of yogurt.
# Tips for Success:
01 -
- Tastes like eating chocolate brownie for breakfast but secretly wholesome
- Comes together in five minutes with ingredients you probably have
- The texture is somewhere between cake and warm pudding absolute comfort
02 -
- The bananas need to be properly ripe. Yellow with brown spots. Green ones will not sweeten enough and you will taste the raw banana flavor.
- Do not overbake. These continue cooking as they cool and nobody likes dry baked oats. Pull them when they still look slightly underdone.
03 -
- Dark chocolate chips melt differently than semi sweet and create those gorgeous puddles on top. If that is your thing, go for the dark ones.
- If using frozen berries, toss them in a little flour before folding in. This keeps them from sinking to the bottom and creating a soggy layer.