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Gingerbread baked oatmeal is a cozy, filling, and wholesome breakfast. We layer in rolled oats with molasses, tender apples, maple syrup, cozy spices, and toasted pecans for a delicious breakfast that is sure to become a new holiday favorite! It’s an easy, make ahead breakfast and enjoy throughout the week on busy mornings.
This Gingerbread Baked Oatmeal is such a satisfying and healthy breakfast! As a busy mom to teenagers, I am all about finding ways to prep make-ahead breakfasts for my kids to enjoy before school. Mornings can get quite hectic during colder months when we enjoy the extra sleep. Since both of my kids love my Baked Oatmeal recipe, I was determine to create a holiday variation they can enjoy during this month.
Reasons you will love this recipe!
- It’s so easy to make with less than 10 minutes of prep time and 35 minutes of bake time.
- You will feel good about starting your day with a nutritious breakfast! As a nutritionist, I am particular about ensuring our breakfasts are packed with nutrients. This one is loaded with fiber from oats and apples, it’s naturally sweetened and not loaded with sugar, and even the spices provide us with some antioxidants!
- It’s a make ahead breakfast that gives you multiple servings throughout the week! You can easily re-heat on busy weekday mornings.
- Baked oatmeal is wholesome and hearty like a bread pudding making this a great casserole for a crowd!
Ingredients for Gingerbread Baked Oatmeal
Here are the easy ingredients you need for this baked oatmeal!
- Oats: be sure to use rolled old fashioned oats and not the quick oats! You an also use certified Gluten-Free oats.
- Spices: I did a simple cozy blend of ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves
- Baking powder: this ensures the recipe puffs up a bit while baking!
- Milk: you can feel free to use dairy-free milk, or any milk that you currently have on hand and drink.
- Eggs: to help bind the oatmeal
- Molasses: this is to give us a rich taste with hints of sweetness that adds to the gingerbread “flavor”. Did you know molasses is also a good source of calcium?
- Maple syrup: this syrup along with the molasses is going to give us just the right amount of sweetness
- Applesauce: I use unsweetened applesauce.
- Sliced apples: I love the look, and also the bites of apple throughout this oatmeal pair deliciously with the gingerbread flavor.
- Melted butter: just for an extra hint of toastyness that will also prevent the oatmeal from becoming rubbery. You can also use coconut oil in it’s place!
- Diced pecans: for more texture and addition of healthy fats.
This Baked Oatmeal is so easy to make!
You will love how easy this oatmeal is to throw together. As I mentioned, less than 10 minutes of prep time. You also really only need one bowl to mix it altogether.
- To save on time, you can toss all the ingredients together in one bowl. It really is that easy! Preheat the oven to 375
- Do start by whisking the eggs, milk, apple sauce, melted butter, and syrups in a large bowl.
- Toss in the dry ingredients, then fold in the apples and pecans.
- Pour inside a 9×9 baking dish that is lightly greased. Transfer to the oven and bake for about 35 minutes. This will depend on your oven, it may take an additional 5 – 7 minutes. My oven does tend to bake faster.
- Let sit for at least 10 minutes before slicing into squares.
Making ahead and storing:
This recipe is fabulous to make on a weekend, or really any day, and enjoy throughout the week! It does stay fresh in the fridge for about 5 days. You can also freeze, but I recommend cutting into squares before transferring to the freezer.
If you would like to make this recipe for guests or to enjoy for a special occasion, you can definitely make the night before. Bake the entire way, then store in the fridge. Next morning, cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes at 350, or until oatmeal is warmed all the way.
Serving
I do love to drizzle a little extra maple syrup on top, but it’s not even necessary—my son is perfectly happy grabbing one straight from the fridge. For a more complete breakfast, these pair so well with something savory on the side. Try them with Homemade Sausage Patties or even a batch of 4-Ingredient Egg Muffins to round out the meal.
If you’re making this Gingerbread Baked Oatmeal for your holiday breakfast, be sure to grab my Free Holiday Guide. It’s packed with more cozy morning recipes, sweet treats, and festive appetizers that are perfect for the season!
Gingerbread Baked Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 2 cups Milk*
- 2 large Eggs
- 1/4 cup Molasses
- 1/4 cup Real maple syrup
- 1/2 cup Applesauce
- 2 tbsp Melted butter
- 2.5 cups Rolled Old Fashioned Oats
- 1 tsp Baking powder
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp Ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp Ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp Sea salt
- 1 large Apple, , diced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Prepare a 9×9 or 8×8 baking dish by lightly greasing.
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and milk, molasses, syrup, applesauce, and melted butter.
- Now add in the dry ingredients: rolled oats, baking powder, spices, and salt.
- Stir to combine, then fold in apples and pecans. Pour the mixture in the prepared baking dish. You can also add additional sliced apples on top.
- Bake for 35 minutes, or until top is golden and oatmeal feels firm. Remove from oven and let sit for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
Can you sub 1 cup of cottage cheese for the milk to up the protein?
Yes!
This is delicious! It definitely has a great gingerbread flavor, and I love the addition of the apples. I do think it needs a bit more time to cook, but I am new to baked oatmeal so I’m not great at knowing when its done.
This is delicious! It definitely has a great gingerbread flavor, and I love the addition of the apples. I do think it needs a bit more time to cook, but I am new to baked oatmeal so I’m not great at knowing when its done.