Coconut Baked Oatmeal (3 Ingredients, V, GF)

Fuel your day with these satisfying and nutritious 3 ingredient coconut baked oatmeal squares! They are vegan, oil-free, and gluten-free, making them the reliable guilt-free breakfast or snack option.

Hello, everyone!

Mornings are busy and rushed. You need something ready to heat and eat in an instant. Better yet, make that something satisfying, nourishing, and especially-plain to prepare ahead of time.

Consider my straightforward3 IngredientCoconut Baked Oatmeal.

Recipe Benefits

• Vegan (egg-free, dairy-free)
• Made with only 3 ingredients
• Gluten-free
• Oil-free (no olive oil, avocado oil, or vegan butter)
• Nut-free
• No binders (e.g., no starches, chia seeds, or flaxseed)
• High in fiber
• No leavening (e.g., no baking soda , baking powder, or yeast)
• No refined sugar (see recipe notes for other options, such as maple syrup, agave nectar, or honey, if you are not following a vegan diet )

Ingredients

The exact amounts of each ingredient are indicated in the recipe card at the end of the post.Toggle betweenUS Customary(volume) andMetric(weights) for preferred measurement option.

• Rolled oats (certified gluten-free, as needed)
• Lite coconut milk
• Coconut sugar

Confession: the recipe calls for water and salt, too. But IMHO, thee do not count towards total number of ingredients :).

Baked Oatmeal, Made Especially-Plain

I wanted to make another especially-plain, make-ahead, nourishing, handheld, breakfast-on-the-go option.

What about a new version of baked oatmeal? I knew I could make a batch without eggs; flax eggs and chia eggs work beautifully for baked oatmeal. But did I need either? Oats have plenty of sticking power without any additional support. If you have ever witnessed a half-eaten bowl of oatmeal in the sink, you know this is true.

So, out with the flax and chia.

Oil-Free Baked Oatmeal

I’ve made baked oatmeal without any fat; it was passable, both as baked oatmeal and rubber eraser. I could add milk and some coconut oil, but why not make it one step and add milk that has the coconut oil (as well as tropical flavor) built in? Specifically, a can of coconut milk. Done.

Coconut Sugar for Natural Sweetness

Last up, sweetener. Coconut palm sugar, to complement the coconut milk, sounded right to me (although, you can use any sweetener you like). Also, the aforementioned water and salt.

Sometimes you get lucky on the first go. This is one of those times!

Step by Step Directions

Note that the complete instructions are also in the recipe card below.

• Preheat the oven to 350F (180C). Line a 9-inch (22.5 cm) square baking dish with foil.
• In a blender or food processor, blend 1 cup of the oats with the coconut milk, water, sugar and salt until smooth.
• Arrange the remaining oats in an even layer in the prepared pan; slowly pour in the wet ingredients (coconut milk-oat mixture). Use a spatula to gently combine and evenly distribute the batter in the pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 43 to 45 minutes until set at the center, crispy at the edges and golden brown. For extra crispy edges/golden color, turn the oven to broil (high) and broil for 1-2 minutes.
• Transfer to a wire rack and cool for at least 10 minutes before removing from pan and cutting into 9 squares.
• Serve warm (plain or with any toppings you like, such as nut butter, jam, fruit, or in a bowl with milk) or cool completely!

Variations

Although I took the minimalist route for the basic baked oats recipe, add-ons and add-ins are always a great idea. Here are some options to add to the oats mixture before baking::

• Dried fruit:e.g., raisins, dried cranberries, chopped dried apricots or chopped dried apples
• Fresh fruit:e.g., chopped pineapple, fresh berries (e.g., raspberries, blueberries, blackberries), diced banana, or chopped fresh apples
• Chocolate:e.g., chocolate chips, cacao nibs, chopped chocolate, or 1 to 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder.
• Shredded coconut:unsweetened shredded coconut, flake coconut or desiccated coconut
• Nuts or seeds:e.g., chopped walnuts, pecans, almonds, chia seeds, green pumpkin seeds (pepitas) or sunflower seeds kernels
• Extracts or zests:e.g., vanilla extract, almond extract, lime zest, lemon zest or orange zest
• Protein powder:Stir in a generous scoop of your go-to protein powder
• Spices:e.g., a teaspoon of ground cinnamon, ginger, pumpkin pie spice, or 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
• Nut or seed butter:swirl in or stir in some peanut butter,almond butter,pumpkin seed butterorsunflower seed butterbefore baking.

For add-ons, I cannot say enough good things about some peanut butter & jam on top. We all need to keep up our strength, so slather away like you are frosting a cake!

Stay warm, eat well, and let me know if you give this recipe a try (especially if you like it!). Cheers!

FAQ

• How should I store the Straightforward 3 Ingredient Coconut Baked Oatmeal Square?Store the completely cooled bake oatmeal squares in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or the freezer for up to six months. Re-warm for 30 to 45 seconds in the microwave or enjoy cold!
• Can I use quick oats in the recipe?Yes. I prefer the toothsome texture of the bars when made with old-fashioned rolled oats, but quick-cooking oats will work well too.
• Is there a substitute for the coconut milk?Yes. Other varieties of milk can be used in place of the lite coconut milk. For example, almond milk, hemp milk, soy milk, or oat milk. However, if the milk is low in fat, you may want to add about 2 tablespoons or more of the fat of your choice (e.g., coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil) to the blender in step 2 to make up for the missing fat.
• What can I use in place of the coconut sugar?An equal amount of brown sugar, maple syrup or agave nectra can be used in place of the coconut sugar. If you do not follow a vegan diet, you can also use 1/4 cup honey as a substitute.
• What can I use in place of oats in the recipe?An equal volume of quinoa flakes or millet flakes can be used in place of the oats. Look for both options from online retail sources. Millet flakes can also be found in Indian and Middle Eastern grocery stores.
• Can I use steel cut oats in place of rolled oats?No, steel cut oats are very thick and will not work in place of rolled oats.

More Vegan Baked Oatmeal Recipes to Try:

• Zucchini Bread Baked Oatmeal {vegan, oil-free, GF}
• Vegan Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Cups {oil-free, gluten-free}
• Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal {vegan, oil-free, GF}
• Vegan Baked Oatmeal Cups {oil-free, GF)
• Overnight Oatmeal Cookies {vegan, gluten-free, oil-free}
• Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Protein Cakes {oil-free, gluten-free}
• Banana Chia Overnight Oats (vegan, gluten-free)