This Fudgy Brownie Baked Oatmeal is chocolatey, fudgy, chewy and tastes just like a brownie, but healthy! This oatmeal recipe is perfect for a weekend brunch or premade for a quick weekday breakfast on busy mornings and you can easily customize with other flavors or toppings.
You can now have brownies for breakfast! This is a great addition to a plant-based diet, made with healthy ingredients that are packed with nutrients like peanut butter, oats, avocado, and flaxseed. While traditional brownies are often loaded with sugar and unhealthy fats, this baked oatmeal recipe is low in sugar, high in fiber, and contains healthy fats that are good for your body.
If you love oats, you will love my Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats , Peach Crisp Overnight Oats or Apple Pie Baked Oatmeal. Transform basic oats into amazing vegan banana oatmeal muffins!
Want some more brownie goodness? Try out my No-Bake Brownie Bites!
Jump to:
What are baked oats?
Baked oats are a breakfast dish made with oats, plant-milk, sweetener, and other flavors that are baked in a dish in the oven. The texture is similar to traditional oatmeal but firmer and a slight cake-like texture. I love baked oats because it is super easy to make for a breakfast ahead of time!
What makes these brownie baked oats "fudgy"?
To create that classic fudgy texture like in a brownie, you need to add a fat to the mixture. Instead of oil or butter like in regular brownies, we are using mashed avocado and peanut butter. Avocado is a healthy fat high in omega-3 fatty acids while peanut butter is high in omega-6 fatty acids.
Ingredients
- Rolled oats: Also known as old-fashioned oats. They will create the perfect chewy texture for our breakfast brownie.
- Cocoa powder: Use a sifted, unsweetened cocoa powder to give these baked oats a rich chocolate flavor
- Pure maple syrup: You only need ¼ cup of maple syrup to add some sweetness to these baked brownie oats. The chocolate chips will take care of the rest.
- Baking powder: To help these babies rise a little! Make sure yours is fresh (<6 months old is best)
- Almond milk: You can also use soy milk, oat milk, or any other plant-based milk you enjoy. I recommend unsweetened because we are already using sweetener in this recipe.
- Natural peanut butter: Adds to the texture of the brownie. It really doesn't add much "peanut butter" flavor
- Avocado: The secret ingredient! This adds to the fudgy-ness of the brownies and makes a huge difference in the recipe!
- Vegan chocolate chips: You can find dairy-free chocolate chips at most grocery stores including these brands: Enjoy Life, Guittard, Pascha, and Lily's Sweets.
- Salt: just a pinch is all you need to balance the flavors.
Substitutions & Variations
The beauty of this vegan brownie baked oatmeal is that you can easily customize!
Peanut butter →almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower butter for a nut-free option.
More protein→ Add a scoop of chocolate protein powder to the batter, which will not only provide extra protein but also give the oatmeal more chocolatey flavor.Alternatively, you could top the baked oatmeal with a dollop of plant-based yogurt or a sprinkle of hemp seeds for an additional protein boost.
Vanilla flavor →Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract for a little vanilla flavor.
More flavor → Just like a brownie, you can add in different nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc) or other flavors like pumpkin, mint, caramel and more! You get to be creative in your kitchen, which is what makes this recipe so fun.
Maple syrup → Brown sugar, agave or honey (if not vegan).
Equipment
- Two medium bowls
- 9x9 glass pan
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat oven to 375 F or 190 C. Whisk your dry ingredients in a medium bowl: combine oats, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
Step 2: In a separate bowl combine your wet ingredients: non-dairy milk, maple syrup, mashed avocado, peanut butter and flax egg.
Step 3: Add wet ingredients to the dry and mix brownie batter until combined. Fold in vegan chocolate chips.
Step 4: In a greased 9x9 pan (or parchment-lined) pour brownie batter into pan. Optional: Add a few more chocolate chips on top if you like it extra chocolatey. Bake for 20-22 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
Step 5: Let it cool for 5-10 minutes before cutting into 4 large squares. Enjoy!
Storage & Reheating
Store individual bars in airtight container for up to 5 days or simply cover the pan with plastic wrap. You can freeze this too for up to 3 months by storing in a freezer-safe container (glass works well).
Reheat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.
FAQ
Yes, brownie baked oatmeal can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to five days. It can also be frozen for up to three months.
There's lots of fun flavors you can try. Try adding nuts such as pecans or walnuts. Add more peanut butter or a different nut butter like almond butter for more flavor. Add espresso powder for a boost of caffeine in the morning.
My personal favorite is the addition of raspberries for a chocolate raspberry brownie (to DIE for!)
I have not tried swapping them in this recipe, but it will likely change the texture and possibly the liquid requirements and cook time. You can trial swapping with quick oats but I would not recommend steel cut because these require longer cook time.
Pro Tips
- Make sure your avocado is well mashed before adding it to your batter- you don't want chunks of avocado in your baked oatmeal!
- If you like it extra chocolatey, consider adding a few more chocolate chips on top before it bakes
- This vegan brownie baked oatmeal tastes amazing with a dollop of yogurt on top (kinda like brownie + ice cream combo)
- You can cut this into 9 squares if you prefer smaller sized bars.
▶︎Want more delicious oat-based recipes? Try out these no-bake pumpkin cookies that are super easy to make in less than 20 minutes or my apple pie overnight oats!
More delicious breakfast ideas!
▶︎Craving more brownie recipes? Check out this vegan-friendly recipe for delicious brownies without eggs!
♡ Did you love this recipe? ♡
Leave a ⭐️rating and ✏️comment below (I love to read them!) Tag us on Instagram with a photo or video of your dish 📸 @naturallieplantbased.
Subscribe for more delicious recipes!
Fudgy Brownie Baked Oatmeal (Healthy, Vegan)
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 3 tablespoon cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 flax egg 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 2 tablespoon water, mixed and let sit for 5 minutes.
- ¼ cup mashed avocado
- ½ cup almond milk or another plant-milk, unsweetened
- ¼ cup natural peanut butter
- ¼ cup vegan chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F or 190 C. Whisk your dry ingredients in a medium bowl: combine oats, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.1 cup old-fashioned oats, 3 tablespoon cocoa powder, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon salt
- In a separate bowl combine your wet ingredients: non-dairy milk, maple syrup, mashed avocado, peanut butter and flax egg.¼ cup maple syrup, 1 flax egg, ½ cup almond milk, ¼ cup natural peanut butter, ¼ cup mashed avocado
- Add wet ingredients to the dry and mix brownie batter until combined. Fold in vegan chocolate chips.¼ cup vegan chocolate chips
- In a greased 9x9 pan (or parchment-lined) pour brownie batter into pan. Optional: Add a few more chocolate chips on top if you like it extra chocolatey. Bake for 20-22 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool for 5-10 minutes before cutting into 4 large squares. Enjoy!
Notes
- Instead of peanut butter use almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower butter for a nut-free version.
- Instead of a flax egg you can use chia egg (just combine 1 tablespoon chia seeds with 2 tablespoon water)
- Use mashed banana instead of avocado.
-
- Make sure your avocado is well mashed with minimal lumps- you don't want avocado chunks in your brownie baked oats!
- If you like it extra chocolatey, consider adding a few more chocolate chips on top before it bakes
-
- This vegan brownie baked oatmeal tastes amazing with a dollop of yogurt on top (kinda like brownie + ice cream combo)
-
- You can cut this into 9 squares if you prefer smaller sized bars.
Jane says
I'm so glad I found this recipe! It's so easy to make, and it tastes like a decadent dessert but really it's all good-for-you ingredients.
Jessica says
This is one of my favorite ways to use up super ripe avocados! It's so convenient being able to make it ahead and just serve up a square with yogurt in the morning.
Ali says
AMAZING!! I can't believe these are healthy and vegan - what a treat! So rich and filling. Will definitely make again!! Thank you!
Jenn says
This is so good! I love how fudgy and decadent it is, and it is hard to belive it has avocado, or peanut butter in it! It freezes so well too, and I cant wait to serve some for my friends!
Sharina says
Kids love topping this brownie baked oatmeal with whipped cream! It is so rich, flavorful and decadent! I will be making this delightful recipe on repeat!