Peanut Butter Baked Oatmeal

This peanut butter baked oatmeal is so easy to make that all you have to do is mix all the ingredients and pop it in the oven for 30 minutes! It’s delicious, hearty, and perfect for busy mornings!

This baked oatmeal is moist, chewy, and has the perfect amount of peanut butter flavor without being too overpoweringly sweet. It’s a bit like having dessert for breakfast, but it’s packed with wholesome ingredients to start your day off right.

If you’re a fan of easy breakfast recipes, then I highly recommend trying my super easy quiche recipe, homemade pop tarts, and these freezer-friendly breakfast burritos.

Why I Love This Recipe

• Comfort Food: There’s nothing quite like a warm, hearty dish to lift your spirits. This baked oatmeal is the ultimate comfort food.
• Family Favorite: This peanut butter baked oatmeal is a hit with the whole family. It’s warm, comforting, and has just the right amount of sweetness.
• Budget-Friendly: With simple, everyday ingredients, this recipe is easy on the wallet. It’s a great way to use pantry staples.
• Time-Saving: It takes just 5 minutes to mix the ingredients together, then pop it in the oven. It’s a quick and easy breakfast or snack option.

Key Ingredients

• Quick Oats: These will form the base of our baked oatmeal, giving it a hearty and chewy texture.
• Salt: Just a touch of salt will help to enhance all the flavors in the recipe, making the dish more delicious.
• Eggs: They will act as a binder in the recipe, holding all the ingredients together.
• Warm Milk: This will help to make the oatmeal moist and also activate the baking powder, giving the dish a light and fluffy texture.
• Dark Brown Sugar: It will add a rich, caramel-like sweetness to the oatmeal, complement the peanut butter, and also help with browning.
• Butter: This will add a buttery flavor and a moist, tender crumb to the baked oatmeal.
• Creamy Peanut Butter: It will not only add a delicious peanut flavor but also a fudge-like texture to the oatmeal. I recommend using natural peanut butter without sugar, but if your peanut butter has added sugar, you may want to decrease your brown sugar to 3/4 cup.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: It will enhance the overall flavor of the oatmeal, giving it a more rounded and balanced profile.

Equipment

• Large Bowl – You’ll need this to mix together the quick oats, baking powder, and salt.
• Smaller Bowl – This is for whisk together the eggs, warm milk, dark brown sugar, melted butter, creamy peanut butter, and vanilla extract.
• 8×8 Pan – This is where you’ll pour the batter and bake the oatmeal. Make sure to grease it well so the oatmeal doesn’t stick.

How to Make Peanut Butter Baked Oatmeal

Preparation

To start, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. This is the temperature at which your peanut butter baked oatmeal will bake, so it’s important to have your oven ready.

Step 1 – Combine the Dry Ingredients

Step 2 – Combine the Wet Ingredients

In a smaller bowl, whisk together the eggs, warm milk, dark brown sugar, melted butter, creamy peanut butter, and vanilla extract. This is where all the flavor and moisture for your baked oatmeal comes from.

In a large bowl, mix together your quick oats, baking powder, and salt. This will be the base of your baked oatmeal and the dry ingredients that will give it structure.

Step 3 – Mix the Wet and Dry Ingredients

Combine your peanut butter mixture with your oat mixture and stir well. This is the step where your baked oatmeal batter comes together.

Step 4 – Let the Batter Rest and Then Bake

Allow the batter to sit in the bowl for 5 minutes. Then, pour the batter into a greased 8×8 pan and bake it in the preheated oven.

Step 5 – Bake the Oatmeal

The batter will bake for 30-35 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when an inserted toothpick comes out barely clean, and the edges are deep golden brown.

Step 6 – Serve and Enjoy

Once baked, serve your peanut butter baked oatmeal warm. You can enjoy it plain, or with cream, powdered sugar, or maple syrup for a little extra sweetness.

Recipe Variations

• Extra Peanut Butter: If you’re a peanut butter lover, feel free to add an extra 1/4 cup of creamy peanut butter to the batter. This will give your baked oatmeal a stronger peanut butter flavor.
• Chocolate Chips: For a touch of sweetness, stir a cup of chocolate chips into the batter. The combination of peanut butter and chocolate is always a winner.
• Nuts: Add a crunchy texture to your baked oatmeal by mixing in a half cup of chopped peanuts or walnuts. This is a great way to add some extra protein to your breakfast.

What to Serve With

• For a hearty breakfast, serve your peanut butter baked oatmeal hot out of the oven with a side of crispy bacon or sausage and fresh fruit. The savory and sweet flavors complement each other, giving you a complete meal to kick-start your day.
• If you have a sweet tooth, top your baked oatmeal with a dollop of whipped cream, a sprinkle of powdered sugar, or a drizzle of maple syrup. These extra touches are great, especially during the Christmas season.

Recipe FAQs

Storing and Reheating

• Reheating: You can reheat the oatmeal in the microwave. However, it has the best texture and flavor on the first day.
• Storing: Once you’ve enjoyed this peanut butter baked oatmeal, you can store any leftovers in the refrigerator. Simply place the cooled oatmeal in an airtight container. It will keep well for up to 5 days.
• Freezing: I don’t recommend freezing baked oatmeal as it’ll change the texture and consistency of the oatmeal once thawed.

Serving Size

• What to Expect: This peanut butter baked oatmeal recipe yields a delicious breakfast or snack for about 12 people.
• How to Scale: If you’re expecting a larger crowd or just want to have leftovers, you can easily double the recipe. Just make sure to use a larger baking dish to accommodate the increased quantity. Follow the rest of the instructions as directed.