- This recipe captures the comforting flavors of banana bread in a breakfast that tastes like dessert.
- These baked oats are loaded with fiber and protein for a filling, satisfying meal.
- Choose the ripest bananas, with plenty of brown spots, as their natural sugars will sweeten the oats.
Chocolate–Banana Bread Baked Oats provide all the nutrition of plain oatmeal—and then some. Fiber-filled oats team up with antioxidant-rich bananas for a delectable, nutritious spin on traditional banana bread. The oats become chewy and tender while soaking up the whole milk during baking. Very ripe bananas and maple syrup add just the right amount of sweetness, while vanilla and cinnamon contribute a subtle, earthy warmth. Cocoa, chocolate chips and almonds add the final flair to these baked oats. Keep reading for our expert tips, including how to choose the sweetest bananas.
Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen
These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!
- The riper the bananas, the better, as its natural sugars sweeten the oats. Look for bananas with plenty of spots.
- We suggest letting the oats stand for 10 minutes to hydrate slightly and thicken a bit before adding the chocolate chips, so they don’t sink to the bottom of the pan.
- We added a little butter to the oatmeal mixture to add richness and a tender texture.
- Substitute the almonds with your favorite nut. Hazelnuts, walnuts and peanuts would be tasty.
Nutrition Notes
- Oats are an excellent source of energy-boosting complex carbohydrates. Their fiber has been linked to lower cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar. Oats are naturally gluten-free but may be contaminated with gluten during processing. If you’re following a gluten-free routine, be sure to purchase oats specifically labeled as gluten-free.
- Bananas also contribute carbohydrates and fiber to these baked oats. The potassium in bananas helps manage blood pressure, and their antioxidants may help reduce inflammation.
- Chocolate adds more antioxidants, plus magnesium, to these baked oats, and has been associated with a healthy heart and brain. These benefits apply to dark chocolate, though, not milk or white chocolate—and the darker the chocolate, the greater the benefits.
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Pheobe Hausser, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf.
