Posted Jan 19, 2022, Updated Feb 20, 2024 These baked oatmeal cups are a convenient and nutritious breakfast that is perfect any time of the year. In this recipe (adapted from our delicious baked oatmeal recipe) a handful of nutritious ingredients are flavored with cinnamon and vanilla for a delicious, hearty breakfast that will keep you full until lunch. Plus, these oatmeal cups can be made ahead and reheated in the morning, or popped in the freezer to enjoy for weeks or months to come. Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup for a warm and cozy breakfast. This is a basic oatmeal cups recipe that is a blank slate to create unique flavor combinations by using different flavors of Greek yogurt, mix-ins, etc.
Baked Oatmeal Cups: Ingredients and Substitutions
Old-fashioned oats. Quick-cooking oats also work well in this recipe, just decrease the amount by 1/4 cup (so use 2 1/4 cups quick-cooking oats). Note that the texture will be a little lighter and less chewy. Whole wheat flour. There are many possible substitutions for whole wheat flour, including: all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour, white whole wheat flour, spelt flour, etc. Butter. I love the buttery flavor of these baked oatmeal cups, however you can substitute coconut oil, ghee, vegan butter, etc. Greek yogurt. Use your favorite variety. I prefer full-fat plain Greek yogurt or icelandic vanilla bean yogurt. You can used flavored yogurts to make flavored oatmeal cups (e.g. blueberry, strawberry, etc.) Applesauce. If you don’t have applesauce on hand you can substitute 1 cup of mashed banana. You can also try pumpkin, sweet potato, etc. however you may need to increase the sugar if you use an ingredient that isn’t naturally sweet. Brown sugar. Any granulated sugar works well. I love the flavor of brown sugar but you can use white sugar, coconut sugar, etc. Whole milk. Any milk can be used in this recipe. We use whole milk or almond milk, but 2%, coconut milk, etc. also work great. Just remember the higher the fat content of your milk variety, the richer and creamier the oatmeal cups will taste.
How to Make Oatmeal Cups
This recipe is fairly simple to make, one note to emphasize in the beginning is that once the batter is mixed you need to let it sit and thicken for 5 minutes before baking. Otherwise this oatmeal cups recipe is straightforward! Don’t forget to watch the video and follow along with our step-by-step photos! Begin by combining the dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl, then set them aside. Next, whisk together the wet ingredients and brown sugar until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is smooth. Then, combine the wet and dry ingredients and stir until combined. Next, let the mixture sit until thickened slightly (about 5-10 minutes). This allows the oats to soak up some of the liquid and ensures that the oatmeal cups will be even in texture (e.g. one won’t be more liquidy than another). Once the mixture is slightly thickened, if desired, add mix-ins. Here are some suggestions:
Chocolate Chips Dried Fruit (cranberries, cherries, etc.) Nuts (pecans, walnuts, slivered almonds, etc.) Cinnamon chips A swirl of nut butter (peanut butter, almond butter, etc.) Unsweetened Coconut
Once the mixture has thickened, fill the wells of a greased muffin tin with ¼ cup batter. Then, bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, until the tops are slightly puffed and set, and spring back when lightly pressed. Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool for at least 15 minutes, then carefully remove the baked oatmeal cups from the muffin pan and set them on a wire rack to cool.
Serve
Serve the baked oatmeal cups warm with a drizzle of pure maple syrup and fresh berries! Other suggestions include:
Enjoy it with a dollop of homemade whipped cream for an extra special treat. Slather it with homemade peanut butter or vanilla almond butter for some extra protein and fat to keep you full even longer. Spread some homemade cinnamon honey butter over your slice.
Store
Store leftover oatmeal cups in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freeze
To freeze, let the oatmeal cups cool completely. Then arrange them in a single layer in an airtight container, or in two layers with wax paper in between. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheat
You can reheat these oatmeal cups in the microwave or in the oven set to 350 degrees F until the middle is warm. You can also thaw them overnight in the refrigerator. If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
