If you need baked oats without bananas, you’re in the right place. My quick peanut butter chocolate baked oats use applesauce for sweetness and comes together in one bowl! Super simple, just nutty oats, gooey peanut butter and melty chocolate. Enjoy baked or cold!
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✋🏼E aí, pessoal! Hey there, friends!
Today we’re sharing one of our favorite quick breakfast or healthy snack recipes: gooey chocolate and peanut butter baked oats without bananas! It’s rich, warm, and has a soft, melty center, thanks to a scoop of peanut butter and plenty of chocolate chips!
I’m so excited to share it with you. I love this recipe because it’s simple, kid-friendly, and something I developed with my boys. They always want to help in the kitchen, and this is one they can make on their own. It turns out every time, which makes it a great option when you need something quick and low-stress. My older son hates bananas, so peanut butter stepped in to bind everything without needing flour or a blender. I hope you love it as much as we do.
And if you're looking for more hands-off breakfast ideas, check out our gluten-free French toast casserole or our healthy bliss balls for kids (no-bake, one bowl, easy to make).
😍Why You'll Love Our Baked Oats
- Gooey and Cozy: Melty chocolate, warm peanut butter, soft center.
- Baked Oats Without Banana: For the banana haters (or the banana-less).
- Ridiculously Easy: One bowl, a few ingredients.
- Great for Meal Prep: Hands-off breakfast or healthy snack, ready when you are.
🍫Ingredient Notes
Our baked oats without bananas recipe keeps things super simple—no flour, no eggs, no blending. Just a few pantry staples mixed in one bowl to make a gooey, cozy baked oats without bananas that actually tastes like breakfast and dessert.
- Quick Cooking Oats: I use quick oats here because they bake up soft without needing to blend. You still get that creamy baked oatmeal texture, but it stays gooey in the center. If all you have is rolled oats, that’ll work too—it just won’t be quite as soft. Do not use steel-cut oats!
- Peanut Butter: I add peanut butter for richness and that soft, melty center. It’s also what helps bind the oat mixture without needing eggs or flour.
- Applesauce: This is our go-to swap for bananas. It keeps the batter moist and gives the right consistency without overpowering the flavor. It’s one of the best banana-free options for holding a mix like this together.
- Oat Milk: I usually use oat milk, but honestly, any type of milk works. We’ve tested it with soy milk and regular milk with good results. If you use coconut milk, it will be sweeter, so you may need to reduce the amount of maple syrup you use.
- Maple Syrup: Our main liquid sweetener here. It adds just enough sweetness and depth without making the oats too sugary.
- Dark Chocolate Chips: These melt into the center and make the whole thing feel like dessert. I use chocolate chips because they’re easy, but chopped dark chocolate works too.
- Salt: Just a pinch if your nut butter is unsalted. It elevates all the flavors.
📌 Exact amounts are in the recipe card below.
⚠️ Celiac Note: Many individuals with celiac react to oats. Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats and check your chocolate chips and peanut butter for cross-contamination.
🍒Variations and Add-Ins
Make your baked oats your own with a few easy swaps or flavor twists (with no banana 😁):
- Overnight Oats Version: Since there’s no egg, you can skip the baking and eat this cold. Just mix everything, refrigerate overnight, and enjoy it in the morning.
- Protein Version: Add 1 scoop of protein powder and 2 extra tablespoons of oat milk to keep the texture smooth.
- Berry Version: Fold in ¼ cup of chopped berries or soaked dried fruit for a fruity twist.
- Chocolate Lover’s Version: Add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder to the base and top with extra chocolate chips for a richer chocolate flavor.
👩🏽🍳How to Make Baked Oats Without Banana
Step 1: Prep Your Baking Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it with cooking spray so the oats don’t stick.
Step 2: Mix into a Bowl: In a large bowl, stir together the quick oats, salt, applesauce, peanut butter, oat milk, maple syrup, and a splash of vanilla extract. The batter should be thick and sticky—like wet cookie dough, not runny. If it looks too dry, add a bit more type of milk to loosen it slightly.
📍Chef Tip: Cold peanut butter doesn’t mix well. Microwave it for a few seconds until soft (but not hot).
Step 3: Add Your Toppings: Fold in the chocolate chips and any additional ingredients you'd like (we've had great results with chopped nuts, dried fruit, or a pinch of pumpkin spice).
Step 4: Bake Your Oats: Pour the batter into your pan and spread it evenly. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the top is golden and the edges feel set. Let it cool fully before slicing. Store in an airtight container—it keeps well for meal prep or grab-and-go snacks.
🔥How to Air Fry Baked Oats
Scoop the batter into small ramekins or silicone muffin cups—fill about ¾ full. Place them in the air fryer basket and cook at 325°F for 12–15 minutes. Check around the 12-minute mark; the tops should look set and slightly golden. Let them cool a bit to firm up before digging in.
📍Tip: Avoid paper liners—they’ll blow around. Go for silicone or oven-safe ramekins.
🥡How to Store and Meal Prep
- Room Temp: Fine for a few hours if you’re packing it for a snack or lunchbox.
- Fridge (1–3 days): Let it cool completely, then store in an airtight container. Eat cold or reheat in the microwave for 15–20 seconds.
- Freezer (longer storage): Slice and freeze individually. Reheat straight from frozen or let thaw overnight in the fridge.
- How to Meal Prep: Bake a full batch ahead and store as slices, or mix the batter and keep it unbaked in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
- No-Bake Option: Since there’s no egg or flour, you can eat this cold as overnight oats. Just mix and chill.
❔FAQ
To make this vegan baked oatmeal recipe nut-free, simply swap out the nut butter for sunflower seed butter or tahini. Both are great alternatives that keep the squares creamy and delicious without any nuts.
Yes! The primary ingredient, oats, is naturally gluten-free. However, ensure you're using certified gluten-free oats, as some oats might be processed in facilities that handle gluten-containing grains and could have cross-contamination.
Nope. Everything mixes in one bowl—no blender, no fancy tools.
Yes. Since there are no eggs or flour, it’s safe to eat as overnight oats. Just mix and chill.
Not in this recipe. Steel-cut oats don’t soften enough and will stay too hard
🥣Other Oat Recipes You Might Like
If you liked these baked oats without banana, or have leftover oats, here are a few more easy oat recipes we make on repeat.
👋🏼 Até logo, amigos! Hope you love this chocolate baked oats without bananas as much as we do! Até a próxima! 🎉
📖 Recipe
Peanut Butter Baked Oats without Bananas
Ingredients
- 4 cups quick cooking oats see notes
- 1 cup unsalted peanut butter
- ¾ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup oat milk
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 ½ cups dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper or lightly grease with cooking spray.
- Mix: In a large bowl, mix all ingredients except the chocolate chips. Stir until smooth and well combined. The batter should resemble wet cookie dough, not runny like a muffin batter.TIP: If your peanut butter or nut butter is too cold it may be hard to mix. You can slowly microwave it to bring it to room temperature. Just be sure to not over heat.
- Add Toppings: Fold in chocolate chips and any extra mix-ins (like berries or chopped nuts). Then pour into the prepared pan and spread evenly
- Bake: Bake your oats for 20–25 minutes or until edges are set and top is golden. Start checking at 20 minutes to avoid overbaking.
- Cool: Once baked, remove the baked oats from the oven and let them cool in the pan. Once cooled, slice into big squares.
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