Simple Overnight Oatmeal Bake for Kids

We have been making this simple overnight oatmeal bake for years. Even my “non-oatmeal” kids love this healthy breakfast! The best part is that it comes together quickly and is made the night before so your kitchen stays clean the next morning!

It is always my goal to make a hot breakfast 4 days per week. There’s something about waking to a hot breakfast that makes the day instantly feel special. I don’t always have the time or energy to prepare a big breakfast in the morning, nor do I always want to deal with a dirty kitchen upon waking, so having a few recipes that can be prepped the night before is so nice. This simple overnight oatmeal bake is perfect for that and a recipe that all of my kids love!

Not only is this great for weekly breakfasts, but it’s also a great recipe to keep in your recipe box for when you have company staying with you. I make this oatmeal bake and an egg casserole (both made the night before) every time we have overnight guests. All that is required the morning of is that I pop them in the oven. 🙂

What is Overnight Oatmeal Bake?

This dish is a simple oatmeal bake that you can make the night before and it chills in the refrigerator. The soaking of the oats overnight helps to break down the starch so it’s more digestible. This is the hot version of regular overnight oats, which you eat cold in the morning.

An overnight oatmeal bake has eggs in it that create an oatmeal that holds together. This recipe is completely adaptable to your family’s personal needs. I even love changing it up for my family!

Ingredients for a Baked Oats Recipe

All of these ingredients are regular pantry items. If I’m in a pinch as I’m preparing for breakfast the next day and I don’t have many groceries, this is the dish I make.

• Eggs– Eggs are what hold this baked oats recipe together. Without them, it would be crumbly, but still yummy!
• Maple Syrup– The maple syrup is what sweetens this dish and it has adds a nice underbelly to the flavor profile on this baked oats recipe. You may also use regular sugar, brown sugar, or honey!
• Baking powder– Baking powder helps to create a bit of a rise to the casserole so it will be light and fluffy.
• Vanilla– This is the secret ingredient in so many baked goods because you can’t really taste it, yet it adds so much depth of flavor.
• Cinnamon– A hint of spice is nice in every dish and this one gets it from cinnamon.
• Butter– Every good dish has butter in it, doesn’t it? You may substitute your preferred oil for this, but the butter has a creamy flavor that other oils don’t match.
• Apple Sauce– Apple sauce sometimes takes the place of fats in baking, but here, it just adds a mild, apple flavor and helps to break down the gluten in the oats as they soak.
• Milk– Breaking down the starch is a major digestion benefit for this baked oats recipe and the milk is the main ingredient that the oats soak in for this to happen.
• Old-fashioned oats– Feel free to use whatever oats you prefer, but the larger, old-fashion variety work best for this as they have some structure to them and they hold up with overnight soaking. Plus, their nutrition profile is better than other oats!

How to make Oatmeal Breakfast Bake in 4 Steps

Are you a busy momma who needs breakfast to be filling, but also ready when the kids wake up? This oatmeal breakfast bake is perfect for that. It comes together in simple steps and it waiting on you to pop it in the oven the next morning.

Are you sensing a pattern to the benefits of this recipe? It is simple. It is a make ahead recipe. It is delicious. All of the things a busy mom needs a breakfast recipe to be!

1. Whisk Milk and Eggs together in a large mixing bowl. Add all other wet ingredients to the bowl.
2. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well.
3. Pour the oatmeal ingredients in a buttered baking dish and cover with plastic wrap and pop it in the fridge.
4. The next morning, bake it for 30 minutes in a preheated 375°F oven.

Simple Adaptations for Overnight Oatmeal

One of the things I love about this recipe is how easy it is to adapt it to your needs. This is a wonderful base recipe that allows you a lot of wiggle room to make it your own! We have done several different adaptations to this simple overnight oatmeal bake. Let me share a few that we love:

• Add a crumble– 1 cup oats + 1/2 cup flour + 1/2 cup brown sugar + 1/2 cup melted butter or coconut oil Stir crumble toppings together and spread evenly on top of the oatmeal bake prior to baking.
• Cinnamon-Apple Oatmeal– Shred one apple and add to the oatmeal bake.
• Add Blueberries– Adding in a cup of fresh or frozen blueberries is an easy variation.
• Try a glaze– Mix 1 cup powdered sugar and 4-5 tablespoons of milk together and drizzle on the bake.
• Add shredded coconut– Coconut is an easy add in. Add 1/2 cup coconut to give this bake a bit of chew.
• Cinnamon-Sugar Oatmeal– My kids love when I sprinkle this oatmeal bake with cinnamon and sugar topping.
• Nuts– Nuts add a bit of texture to the oatmeal bake that is delicious. You can use walnuts or pecans, which I find taste the best in this dish.

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