This plant-based baked oatmeal recipe has everything you could ever want without eggs, dairy, oil, added sugar or banana. It’s the perfect breakfast!
You know I love to meal prep on Sundays, and baked oatmeal bars are on the list often. I make a batch using any kind of fruit and nuts I have on hand. Then cut it into bars for an easy grab-and-go breakfast or snack throughout the week.
Perfect Baked Oatmeal without Banana
I don’t have anything against banana, but my husband has a banana intolerance. You definitely don’t have to put banana in these baked oatmeal bars. The recipe shown uses apple, peach and blueberries. That just happens to be the fruit I had on-hand that day.
Any fruit or berry will work! Feel free to use all one fruit or mix and match. Just make sure it adds up to 2 cups.
Apple is always safe, and it’s a crowd pleaser. I would love to try a strawberry baked oatmeal too. I’m writing a mental note to make that when fresh strawberries are in season. You can also use frozen fruit. Simply let it thaw and drain any excess liquid first.
Do you have to put Eggs in Baked Oatmeal?
Eggs are typically used in baked oatmeal as a binder to hold all the other ingredients together. A binder is necessary, but it doesn’t have to be eggs. It is simple to make a vegan baked oatmeal using flaxseed eggs instead.
Egg Substitute in Baked Oatmeal
Create flax eggs for your plant-based baked oatmeal bars using ground flax seeds and water. Mix them up first, so they have time to set up. The flax is sticky enough to keep all the oats, fruit and nuts in bar form without using chicken eggs. Everything stays moist, yet easy to pick up and eat.
Do you have to Soak Oats Before Baking?
The short answer is no. To make oatmeal bars, you want the oats to retain their shape and some crunch. This helps keep the bars together and creates a more satisfying bite. Soaking oats in advance of baking would give the bars a soft and creamy texture.
How to Make Fruit and Nut Baked Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 4 Flax Eggs (4 Tbsp ground flax seeds plus 12 Tbsp water)
- 1 cup Applesauce
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 cup Maple Syrup (Daste Paste works too.)
- 1 tsp Cinnamon (or Pumpkin Pie Spice)
- 2 cups Fruit (I use 1 Apple, 1 Peach and Blueberries)
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 3 1/2 cups Rolled Oats
- 1 cup Rice Milk
- 1/3 cup Nuts (optional. Choose your favorite – pecans, walnuts, almonds.)
- 2 Tbsp Pumpkin Seeds (optional. Hemp seeds also work.)
Step 1 – Preheat
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees.
Step 2 – Make Flax Eggs
Mix the grounds flax seeds and water to make flax eggs. Then move them aside, so they have time to set up.
Step 3 – Mix
In a large mixing bowl, add the applesauce, vanilla, salt, maple syrup and cinnamon.
Step 4 – Add Fruit
Next, prepare your fruit. Core, peel and dice the apple and peach. Berries can be left whole. The total fruit should equal 2 cups.
Step 5 – Combine
Now pour the flax eggs, that have hopefully set up, and baking soda. Give it all a good stir.
Step 6 – Add Oats
Add the oats and stir again.
Step 7 – Plant-Based Milk
Then add your rice milk or any plant-based milk you prefer. Stir the mixture once more, and let it rest while preparing the pan.
Step 8 – Prepare Pan
Grab a 9×13 pan. Non-stick pans can be used as-is. If food tends to stick to your pan, line it with parchment paper or spray with a small amount of cooking spray. Rub the spray around with a paper towel to remove excess while retaining the nonstick property.
Step 9 – Add Nuts and Seeds (Optional)
If using nuts and seeds, you can either stir them into the mixture at this point or sprinkle them on top after it is poured into the pan.
Step 10 – Bake
Pour the oatmeal mixture into the pan and bake for 45 minutes. It should be slightly brown. Allow to cool slightly before eating.
Storage
Oatmeal bars can be stored in the refrigerator in an air tight container. I like to cut them into a size for an easy grab-and-go snack or breakfast.
Fruit Options
Apples are perfect for this recipe. You can use them for the whole 2 cups if desired. I prefer to add more variety by combining apples with other fruit I have on hand. Blueberries are a favorite.
Frozen Fruit
You can use frozen fruit in oatmeal bars. Let it thaw and drain any excess liquid before using.
More Plant-Based Oatmeal Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, check out these other great ways to eat oatmeal:
- Oatmeal Cups
- Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
- Banana Nut Oatmeal (Instant Pot or Stove Top)
- Apple Oatmeal Muffins
Baked Oatmeal with Fruit

Mix and match fruit in this baked oatmeal. Then cut it into bars for a delicious and nutritious breakfast or snack.
Ingredients
- 4 Flax Eggs (4 Tbsp ground flax seeds plus 12 Tbsp water)
- 1 cup Applesauce
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 cup Maple Syrup (Daste Paste works too.)
- 1 tsp Cinnamon (or Pumpkin Pie Spice)
- 2 cups Fruit (I use 1 Apple, 1 Peach and Blueberries)
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 3 1/2 cups Rolled Oats
- 1 cup Rice Milk
- 1/3 cup Nuts (optional. Choose your favorite - pecans, walnuts, almonds.)
- 2 Tbsp Pumpkin Seeds (optional. Hemp seeds also work.)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix up your flax eggs and set them aside to give them time to set.
- Grab your favorite big mixing bowl and add applesauce, vanilla, salt, maple syrup and cinnamon.
- Core, peel and dice your fruit. If using a combination of fruit, the total fruit should equal 2 cups. Blueberries can be left whole.
- Pour in your flax eggs that have hopefully set up and your baking soda. Give it all a good stir.
- Add your oats and stir again.
- Add your rice milk or whatever kind of plant-based milk you prefer. Stir it all again and let it rest while you get your pan ready.
- Use a 9x13 pan.
- If your food tends to stick in your pan, you can use parchment paper or a small amount of cooking spray to rub it around. If your pan is nonstick, you don't have to do anything special.
- If using optional nuts and seeds, you can stir them in or sprinkle them on top after you pour it into the pan.
- Pour the oatmeal into your pan and smooth it out. Bake for 45 minutes. It should be slightly brown. You can cook an extra 5-10 minutes if needed. Allow to cool slightly before eating.
Notes
- Storage: Store in a refrigerator in an air tight container.
- Nuts & Seeds: Nuts and seeds are optional. You can substitute any type of nuts and seeds you like.
- Choosing Fruit: Apple is perfect in this. You can use it for the whole 2 cups if desired. We like to add more variety by combining apples with other fruit we already have. Blueberries are perfect too.
- Frozen Fruit: Frozen fruit can be used. I recommend letting it thaw and allow the extra liquid to drain a bit before using.
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