Warm, natural, and healthy, this baked blackberry oatmeal is a no-brainer when it comes to filling morning meals. If you love the hearty yet nutritious taste of fresh oats, there are dozens of other mouthwatering recipes to try. Steel Cut Overnight Oats and Overnight Yogurt Oats make mornings a breeze with exceptionally creamy flavor, while Muesli offers countless ways to customize your breakfast with sweet and savory flavors.
Ingredients You’ll Need
When you make blackberry breakfast recipes like this, there’s no need to spend hundreds at the grocery store. This simple oatmeal bake only uses natural, pantry-ready ingredients to start your morning.
- Coconut oil: I use coconut oil to coat my oatmeal baking dish, though oil spray would also work. If you feel luxurious and want to give your oatmeal rich, sumptuous undertones, you may also prepare this recipe with melted butter.
- Old-fashioned oats: Old-fashioned oats (also known as rolled oats) are my go-to for this blackberry-baked oatmeal, as their flat, round flakes are perfect for absorbing excess liquid and withstand the baking process. However, if you’re unsure about the difference between Rolled Oats vs. Quick Oats or Steel-Cut Oats vs. Rolled Oats, these simple guides explain everything you need to know. Furthermore, you may also make this dish with gluten-free oats to accommodate a gluten-free diet.
- Ground cinnamon
- Unsweetened shredded coconut: I prefer my coconut-baked oatmeal to get a mild sweetness from natural ingredients, such as maple syrup and fresh berries. However, you can also use sweetened shredded coconut to add sweetness to your breakfast.
- Nuts: I used sliced almonds, but you can also use chopped almonds or other nuts like walnuts or pecans.
- Chia seeds
- Baking powder
- Salt: You only need a pinch of salt to bring out the other nuanced flavors of this recipe.
- Large eggs
- Milk: Though I usually use unsweetened almond milk in this dish, any kind of milk will work, from oat milk to soy milk, cow milk, coconut milk, and beyond. If you prefer making your own milk, my Homemade Almond Milk recipe is the one I recommend.
- Vanilla extract
- Maple syrup
- Lemon zest
- Frozen or fresh blackberries: I love making this blackberry breakfast with the luscious, tart flavor of fresh blackberries. However, you may also use frozen blackberries as long as you reduce the almond milk to 1⅔ cups. This reduction will help balance the added moisture in frozen berries, keeping your oatmeal from becoming watery.
Optional Add-Ins and Substitutions
- Spices: This original recipe calls for ground cinnamon to give it its signature woody warmth. However, feel free to experiment with other spices, like nutmeg for a nuttier profile or cardamom for a slightly peppery dish.
- Fruit: Any berry would work in this easy-baked oatmeal recipe, so you can mix and match according to your personal preference. If desired, you can even take this dish to the next level by transforming it into a triple-berry oatmeal bake using a mixture of juicy blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and/or blueberries.
- Other superfoods: Want to pack this simple recipe with even more nutrients? Add a tablespoon of healthy superfoods, like hemp seeds, ground flaxseeds, and oat bran, and your breakfast will contain countless vitamins and minerals, like magnesium, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids. Not only do these simple ingredients promote digestive and heart health, but they also add deliciously nutty undertones to this easy breakfast.
- Other sweeteners: Don’t have any maple syrup on hand? No problem! You can also sweeten it using other natural sweeteners, like honey, coconut sugar, or brown sugar. However, if you use these sugars in your recipe, I recommend using ⅓ cup less liquid to avoid watery oatmeal.
- Protein powders: If you want your oatmeal to boost your metabolism while promoting muscle gain and reducing late-morning cravings, add 2-3 tablespoons of your favorite protein powder.
- Make it vegan: To make this dish vegan, simply substitute the eggs with flax eggs. You can make flax eggs at home by mixing two tablespoons of ground flaxseed with five tablespoons of water until combined. Set the mixture aside for 10 minutes before adding it to your oatmeal recipe.
How to Make It
This baked oatmeal with berries recipe is a cinch to make and makes waking up a delight. In just nine steps and ten minutes of prep time, a delectable dish will be ready on your table.
- Prep the oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F., and coat an 8×8-inch baking dish with coconut oil. Set the coated dish aside.
- Mix the dry ingredients: Stir the oats, cinnamon, shredded coconut, sliced almonds, chia seeds, baking powder, and Kosher salt in a large mixing bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Whisk the wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, almond milk, vanilla extract, maple syrup, and lemon zest until fully integrated.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Pour the milk mixture into the large bowl of dry ingredients and stir until combined.
- Add the blackberries: Gently fold the blackberries into the oat mixture.
- Transfer the oatmeal: Pour the oatmeal recipe into the oiled oven-safe pan and spread it evenly with a spatula.
- Bake: Cook for 35-40 minutes or until the oatmeal turns golden brown.
- Cool: Remove the baking dish from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes.
- Serve: Once cooled, divide the berry oatmeal bake among several bowls, garnish them with extra berries, and drizzle with maple syrup.
How to Store, Reheat, and Freeze?
Out of all the blackberry recipes for breakfast, this is one of the most meal prep-friendly. These simple tips will show you how to make baked oatmeal to enjoy throughout the week or freeze it for future use.
- Storage: To store your baked blackberry oatmeal, first let it reach room temperature. Then, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. If preferred, you can also slice it and store it in single-serving portions for extra easy morning meal prep.
- Reheat: You can reheat it in a 325-degree F. oven for 10-15 minutes or in the microwave in 30-second increments.
- Freeze: When freezing this recipe, let it reach room temperature first. Then, cover it tightly with several layers of plastic wrap to avoid freezer burn and store it in the freezer for up to 1-2 months.
- Thaw: To thaw your frozen blackberry oatmeal bake, place it in the fridge overnight. Then, reheat it in the oven for 15 minutes at 325 degrees F.
How to Serve?
Making blackberry recipes for breakfast is a great way to add creativity to the kitchen. Serve it any way you want, from a grab-and-go morning meal to a healthy dessert guaranteed to make your mouth water.
- A cup of coffee or juice: If you’re used to busy mornings, nothing is as satisfying as serving up a piece of this oatmeal bake alongside a hot cup of coffee or fresh juice.
- Greek Yogurt: One of my favorite ways to serve this dish is with a sweet dollop of Honey Vanilla Yogurt. If you prefer a plant-based yogurt, you may also add a spoonful of coconut yogurt or almond milk yogurt for an equally creamy addition.
- Milk: Do you prefer your oatmeal bake to be a little creamier? Adding a splash of milk to your baked dish will add a rich taste and an extra helping of calcium to your breakfast.
- Nut butters: An easy way to make this simple recipe more filling and add protein is to spread a spoonful of peanut, almond, or cashew butter over your oatmeal bake slice.
- Sweeteners: When prepared as-is, this blackberry baked oatmeal has a mildly sweet flavor—perfect for those who don’t like their breakfasts to taste too sugary. However, if you prefer more sweetness in your morning meal, add a drizzle of honey, maple syrup, or more blackberries.
- Sauce: If you’re like me, you know that a dash of sauce is all that’s needed to bring a recipe to life. Add a dollop of Date Caramel, Applesauce, or Homemade Blueberry Sauce to give this oatmeal bake extra rich, gooey flavor.
- Ice cream: If you want to transform this tasty breakfast recipe into an irresistible dessert, try serving it with a scoop of your favorite ice cream! Honey Vanilla Ice Cream exquisitely balances the warm, woody undertones of oatmeal, while Chocolate Honey Ice Cream is a great addition for those who love the rich taste of cocoa powder.
Expert Tips
Want to prepare a healthy breakfast worthy of a five-star dinner? These pro tips will ensure you have zero hassle making this blackberry oatmeal breakfast loaded with tart, hearty, and sweet flavors.
- Baking dish: I prefer to bake this dish in an 8×8-inch baking dish to get the best post-baking consistency, though you may also use the same cooking instructions for a 9×9-inch dish. To make baked oatmeal in ramekins, reduce the cooking time by 10-15 minutes. Or, if you’re serving a crowd, you may double the recipe and bake it in a 9×13-inch baking dish at 350 degrees F. for 40 minutes.
- Serving: The beauty of this oatmeal bake recipe is that you can serve it at whatever temperature you prefer—warm, room temperature, or cold.
- Play with the add-ins: Endlessly customizable, this oatmeal recipe allows you to experiment with whatever add-ins you like. By extension, don’t worry if you’re missing one or two of the listed add-ons or want to add more or less. This dish is perfect for accommodating personal preferences when designing the oat mixture.
FAQs
Blackberries are easily my favorite baked oatmeal berry. Baked blackberries have a delectably sweet yet tart flavor, perfectly balancing the mild notes of oatmeal. Even better, these low-calorie berries are also packed with nutrients, including Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and fiber, while also preventing heart disease.
There are a few reasons your baked oatmeal might come out soggy. First off, you might have too much liquid in your mixture, either from how much milk you added or if you used frozen blackberries instead of fresh. It’s also possible you didn’t bake the recipe for enough time or that the size of your baking dish is too small. It’s also important to let your baked oats rest after baking to allow them to reabsorb their liquids. Finally, you should also consider the type of oats you use in your recipe. Instant oats and quick-cooking oats don’t have as hearty of a texture as old-fashioned oats, so they might be unable to soak up as much liquid during baking.
Other Oatmeal Recipes You Might Like
There are few better ways to start your morning with a filling, heart-healthy taste than with a bowl of warm oatmeal. These tasty recipes will ensure you never endure another bland breakfast again.
If you try this Blackberry Oatmeal Bake recipe or any other recipe on Foolproof Living, please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It is a great help to others who are thinking of making the recipe. And if you took some pictures, be sure to share them on Instagram using #foolproofeats so I can share them on my stories.
Blackberry Oatmeal Bake Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil, avocado oil, or oil spray would also work
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats, aka rolled oats*
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup unsweetened toasted shredded coconut, optional
- ½ cup sliced almonds, optional
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds, optional
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- 2 large eggs, or flax eggs for a vegan option
- 2 cups unsweetened almond milk, or any milk you prefer
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup maple syrup, plus more for drizzle
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest, optional
- 2 cups fresh blackberries, divided (reserving ½ cup for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat an 8×8 inch square baking dish with the coconut oil and set aside.
- In a large bowl, stir the rolled oats, cinnamon, shredded coconut, sliced almonds, chia seeds, baking powder, and Kosher salt until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, almond milk, vanilla extract, maple syrup, and lemon zest, ensuring that everything is fully combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the oat mixture and stir to combine.
- Gently fold in the blackberries.
- Pour the mixture into the baking dish and spread it evenly using a spatula.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes.
- When ready to serve, divide it amongst several bowls, garnish with blackberries, and drizzle with maple syrup.
Notes
- Yield: This recipe yields 9 slices of baked oatmeal. The nutritional values below are per slice.
- Gluten-free rolled oats: If you are following a gluten-free diet, be sure to purchase gluten-free oats.
- Size of your casserole dish: You can use both an 8×8 or a 9×9 baking dish to make this recipe. If you prefer to use a 9×13, we recommend doubling the recipe and baking it for 40 minutes.
- Sweetness: This recipe is mildly sweet. You may add an additional ¼ cup of maple syrup to the mixture if you prefer it to be sweeter.
- Other sweeteners: Don’t have any maple syrup on hand? No problem! You can also sweeten it using other natural sweeteners, like honey, coconut sugar, or brown sugar. However, if you use these sugars in your recipe, I recommend using ⅓ cup less liquid to avoid watery oatmeal.
- Fresh vs. Frozen Berries: We tested this recipe using both fresh and frozen berries. We found that frozen blackberries can be used in place of fresh. However, if you decide to do so, please reduce the almond milk to 1 ⅔ cup due to the extra moisture in the frozen berries.
- Make it vegan*: This is a gluten-free and dairy-free recipe. However, if you also want it to be vegan, you can substitute the eggs with “flax eggs.” To make flax eggs, mix 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds with 5 tablespoons of water, stirring to combine. Set aside for 10 minutes, then use it in place of the eggs.
- Make Ahead: You can bake this baked oatmeal in advance and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just be sure to bring it to room temperature before storing it in an airtight container. You can reheat it in the oven at 325 degrees F for 15 minutes or microwave it (in 30-second increments) until warmed through.
- Storage: It is best to bring leftovers to room temperature before storing them in an airtight container. We recommend storing them in individual portions so you can easily reheat (if preferred) and grab and go. If stored properly in the fridge, they should be fresh for up to 3-4 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
OMGEEE, I feel like I am going to try everything on your blog. Like tonight I am going to spend a gazillion dollars on ingredients. 🙂 (no, not really but in my mind I will try)
YAY!!! I am so glad you found me. Let me know if I can help you in any way.
Cheers!
Beautiful post and recipe! And yes, the berries lately have been amazing 🙂
This looks so lovely, I hope that you keep finding gorgeous, reasonably priced blueberries!!!
This is such a wonderful recipe–I just finished a yummy oatmeal bar tonight and have been craving some of my own. Thank you so much for sharing these!
All those seeds and nuts would add the perfect crunch! And I love that it is dairy free. I feel ya on the high price tags…even in the summer, a basket of berries costs around $8 in Zurich! I just have to tell myself, since we don’t go out to dinner often, I don’t care what groceries cost. Some things I still can’t bring myself to buy though…