I absolutely love this Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Recipe because it’s cozy, comforting, and packs such a delicious autumnal flavor into every bite. Whether you’re easing into a chilly fall morning or need a wholesome breakfast that holds you over until lunch, this baked oatmeal fits the bill perfectly. Plus, it’s one of those recipes I turn to when I want something a little different from my usual oatmeal routine but still crave that warm, spiced pumpkin goodness.
When I first tried this recipe, I was amazed at how simple it was to throw together, yet the results felt indulgent and special. You’ll find that the combination of pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice brings a depth of flavor that your regular baked oats might be missing. It’s a wonderful way to sneak some extra veggies in your breakfast, and if you meal prep, this recipe keeps beautifully for several days—making busy mornings so much easier.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Wholesome and Nutritious: This recipe combines fiber-rich oats with nutrient-packed pumpkin for a satisfying, healthy breakfast.
- Easy to Make Ahead: You can bake it once and enjoy warm or cold servings throughout the week.
- Customizable Flavors: Add chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit to suit your taste buds.
- Perfect Texture: Soft and tender inside with lightly golden edges that hold together beautifully.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient in this Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Recipe plays an important role in creating the perfect balance of flavors and textures. Using rolled oats gives it a hearty chewiness, while pumpkin puree adds moisture and earthiness without overpowering.
- Olive oil or avocado oil for greasing: Prevents sticking and adds a subtle richness.
- Rolled oats: Use certified gluten-free oats if you have dietary restrictions.
- Pumpkin spice: The fragrant blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves is key to the warm seasonal flavor.
- Baking powder: Helps the oatmeal rise slightly for a light, fluffy texture.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances flavors.
- Pumpkin puree: Make sure it’s pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling which contains added sugars.
- Milk of choice: I love almond milk for dairy-free, but any milk works well.
- Large eggs: They bind the mixture and add protein; flax eggs work too for vegan options.
- Vanilla extract: Deepens flavor and adds subtle sweetness.
- Maple syrup or honey: Natural sweeteners that complement pumpkin’s earthiness.
- Optional toppings: Chocolate chips, nuts, or raisins—mix and match based on what you love or have on hand.
Variations
I love how versatile this Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Recipe is—you can really make it your own by switching up add-ins or adjusting sweetness. I often tweak it depending on the season or what I have in my pantry.
- Nut-Free Version: I swapped out nuts for extra raisins one time and my family couldn’t tell the difference!
- Vegan Twist: Using flax eggs and a plant-based milk makes this completely egg- and dairy-free, perfect for vegan friends.
- Extra Protein Boost: Add a scoop of your favorite protein powder to the wet ingredients for more staying power.
- Flavor Twist: Try stirring in a handful of fresh or frozen blueberries for a fruity surprise.
How to Make Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prep Your Baking Dish
Start by heating your oven to 375°F. I always use olive or avocado oil to grease an 8×8 baking dish to keep that oatmeal from sticking and to add a slight richness to the edges. This simple step helps your finished oatmeal slide out cleanly and makes cleanup easier.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the rolled oats, pumpkin spice, baking powder, and salt. This ensures that all those warm spices and rising agents are evenly distributed so every bite is full of flavor and the texture comes out just right.
Step 3: Combine the Wet Ingredients
Add the pumpkin puree, milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and maple syrup (or honey) directly to the dry mix. Stir everything just until it’s combined—you don’t want to overmix here, or your baked oatmeal might get tough.
Step 4: Pour, Top, and Bake
Spread the batter evenly in your prepared baking dish. At this point, I like to sprinkle on chocolate chips or nuts for a little extra texture and fun. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes—you’re looking for puffed-up edges, a set center, and a golden top.
Step 5: Cooling and Serving
Let your oatmeal cool for at least 5 minutes before slicing—it will be soft right out of the oven but firms up as it rests. Serve warm with your favorite toppings like yogurt, milk splash, or a drizzle of honey. It’s delicious either way!
Pro Tips for Making Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Recipe
- Don’t Skip the Pumpkin Puree: Using actual pumpkin (not pie filling) gives this recipe that authentic seasonal flavor without extra sugar or spices.
- Use Rolled Oats, Not Instant: I learned this the hard way—the texture benefits greatly from the chewiness of rolled oats for baking.
- Let It Cool Before Slicing: It helps the baked oatmeal set so your slices hold their shape perfectly instead of falling apart.
- Watch Your Bake Time: Ovens vary widely—start checking around 30 minutes to avoid overbaking and drying out the oatmeal.
How to Serve Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Recipe
Garnishes
I often top my pumpkin baked oatmeal with a dollop of Greek yogurt and a drizzle of maple syrup; it adds a wonderful creaminess and extra sweetness. Sometimes I sprinkle chopped toasted pecans or walnuts on top for a bit of crunch. Fresh fruit like sliced bananas or berries always brightens the dish if you want a fresher touch.
Side Dishes
This baked oatmeal pairs beautifully with a simple green smoothie or a hot cup of coffee or chai tea. On weekend brunches, I like serving it alongside scrambled eggs or crispy bacon for a balanced, hearty spread.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I’ve layered this Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Recipe in individual ramekins topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. It’s a lovely way to impress guests without too much extra effort. You could even serve it with a side of warm caramel sauce for a dessert-like breakfast treat!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover baked oatmeal in an airtight container in the fridge, and it keeps beautifully for up to 4 days. I find that letting it come to room temperature or warming it briefly brings back that freshly-baked comfort almost like new.
Freezing
You can absolutely freeze this recipe! I like to cut it into individual squares, wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap, and pop them in a freezer-safe bag. When I’m ready, I thaw a piece overnight in the fridge or microwave it straight from frozen for a quick breakfast fix.
Reheating
Reheat slices in the oven at 350°F for 10 minutes or microwave for 60-90 seconds—adding a splash of milk before heating helps prevent the oatmeal from drying out. This little trick keeps it moist and just as tasty as when it was fresh.
FAQs
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Can I make this Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Recipe dairy-free?
Absolutely! Simply swap the milk with any plant-based alternative like almond, oat, or coconut milk. Use oil instead of butter to grease your dish, and you’ll have a delicious dairy-free version that everyone will enjoy.
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Is this recipe suitable for vegans?
Yes! Replace the eggs with flax eggs (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal + 3 tablespoons water per egg) and use plant-based milk. The texture is just as satisfying, and the flavor remains warm and comforting.
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Can I use instant oats instead of rolled oats?
I recommend sticking with rolled oats because they hold up better during baking and provide a nice chew. Instant oats tend to become mushy and lose their texture in baked dishes like this one.
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How sweet is this Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Recipe? Can I reduce the sweetener?
The sweetness is perfectly balanced to complement the pumpkin without being overpowering. Feel free to reduce the maple syrup or honey slightly if you prefer less sweet breakfasts—you won’t lose the delicious warm flavor.
Final Thoughts
This Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Recipe has truly become my go-to during fall mornings and beyond. There’s something incredibly satisfying about waking up to a warm, fragrant, sliceable oatmeal that feels just a little special. I hope you’ll give it a try and love how it fits perfectly with your busy routine or leisurely weekend breakfasts. Trust me—you’re going to want to make this again and again.
PrintPumpkin Baked Oatmeal Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 9 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal is a delicious and wholesome breakfast option that combines the warm flavors of pumpkin and pumpkin spice with hearty oats. Perfectly soft and slightly golden, it’s baked to perfection and can be customized with your favorite toppings such as chocolate chips, nuts, or raisins. Easy to prepare and ideal for meal prepping, this nutritious dish can be enjoyed warm with yogurt or cold straight from the fridge.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats (use certified gluten free if needed)
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin spice
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 1/4 cup milk of choice (works great with almond milk if dairy-free needed)
- 2 large eggs (can substitute flax eggs to make egg-free)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey
Other
- Olive oil or avocado oil for greasing the baking dish
- Chocolate chips, nuts, raisins, or toppings of choice (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare dish: Preheat the oven to 375℉ (190℃). Lightly grease an 8×8 inch baking dish with olive oil or avocado oil to prevent sticking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the rolled oats, pumpkin spice, baking powder, and salt. Stir well to evenly distribute the spices and leavening agent.
- Combine wet ingredients: To the bowl of dry ingredients, add the pumpkin puree, milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and maple syrup or honey. Stir thoroughly to create a uniform batter.
- Transfer and bake: Pour the oatmeal mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes until the edges are puffed, the center is set, and the top has a golden hue.
- Cool and serve: Remove from the oven and let the baked oatmeal cool for 5 minutes. It will be soft initially but will firm up as it cools. Serve warm with optional toppings such as yogurt, a splash of milk, honey, maple syrup, fruit, or whipped cream. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Notes
- This recipe can be made dairy-free by using plant-based milk such as almond milk.
- To make egg-free, substitute eggs with flax eggs (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoons water per egg).
- Optional toppings like chocolate chips, nuts, or raisins can be added for extra flavor and texture.
- Ensure to use pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, for best flavor and texture.
- Baked oatmeal can be reheated in the microwave or oven before serving if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1/9th of the dish)
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 0.7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 40mg