Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
264
Published Sep 14, 2023, Updated Sep 09, 2024
This post may include affiliate links. Thank you for your support.
This pumpkin baked oatmeal is made with oats, pumpkin, maple syrup and warm spices. It’s vegan, gluten-free, easy to make and the perfect cozy fall breakfast.
It’s pumpkin season!!! Who’s excited?! I am such a pumpkin fan I actually enjoy pumpkin recipes year round. Yes, grocery stores sell pumpkin puree all year long… not just in the fall. Perfect for those of us who don’t limit our pumpkin consumption to a few months a year.
Anyhow, I’m sure you’ve noticed, but there’s a baked oatmeal theme around here lately and each month I release a new seasonal baked oatmeal recipe. Last month was apple cinnamon baked oatmeal (which is delish, btw) and now it’s time to break out the pumpkin and make this pumpkin baked oatmeal!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect for fall: It’s loaded with fall flavors thanks to the pumpkin and warm spices making it the ultimate cozy fall breakfast.
- Healthy: It’s loaded with fiber, vitamins and protein and is low in sugar making it a healthy and filling option for breakfast. It’s also dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free and can easily be made nut-free.
- Easy to make: All you need is one bowl, one baking dish and about 10 minutes to prep!
- Perfect for meal prep: Baked oatmeal stores well in the fridge or freezer. Make a batch during your weekend meal prep and have breakfast ready to go for the week.
Ingredients Needed
- rolled oats โ the base of the oatmeal, providing fiber and a hearty texture. Oats are often cross-contaminated, so grab certified gluten-free oats if needed. My favorite brand is Bobโs Red Mill gluten-free oats.
- unsweetened almond milk โ I like using unsweetened almond milk, but any non-dairy milk will work. You can make your own following my homemade almond milk recipe.
- canned pumpkin โ the star of the show! You can use canned pumpkin or homemade pumpkin puree. If using store-bought, just make sure the ingredient list is only โpumpkinโ โ you donโt want to accidentally buy pumpkin pie filling, which has added sugars.
- pure maple syrup โ this is used to sweeten the oatmeal bake and for drizzling on top, if you’d like. Just be sure to use pure maple syrup, not the artificial kind labeled โpancake syrupโ and made from corn syrupโฆ NOT the same!
- ground flaxseed โ adds additional fiber and acts as a binding agent so no need for an egg.
- coconut oil โ to add moisture to the baked oatmeal. Iโve purchased several different brands of coconut oil before, but Nutiva organic extra virgin coconut oil is my favorite.
- baking powder โ helps the oatmeal rise and become fluffy during baking.
- pumpkin pie spice โ a must for this pumpkin baked oatmeal! You can easily make your own pumpkin pie spice at home with a combo of cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves and nutmeg or use a store-bought blend.
- cinnamon โ for more warm spice!
- salt โ just a pinch to bring all the flavors together.
- vanilla extract โ an excellent flavor enhancer for this baked oatmeal.
- pecans or walnuts โ the perfect way to add some healthy fats and a little crunch.
How to Make
If you’ve made a baked oatmeal before, you know how easy it is. There are 4 main steps: prep, mix, pour and bake!
1. Prep: Prep the baking dish. Spray with cooking spray or spread a light layer of coconut oil over the dish.
2. Mix: In a large mixing bowl, whisk the oats, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and salt. Add in the almond milk, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, flaxseeds, melted coconut oil and vanilla. Stir well to combine and then gently fold in the nuts.
3. Pour: Pour the oatmeal mixture into your prepared baking dish and scatter a few extra nuts on top.
4. Bake: Last step! Bake at 375ยบF for a total time of 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden and the center is set. Serve warm with a little extra maple syrup, almond milk or nut butter on top.
Substitutions & Notes
Rolled oats โ Rolled oats work best for baked oatmeal and I donโt recommend swapping them for quick oats or steel-cut oats as the liquid ratio and cook time will differ. If youโre looking for a baked oatmeal recipe thatโs made with steel-cut oats I suggest checking out this baked steel cut oatmeal recipe instead. You can easily customize this recipe and swap the banana with pumpkin instead.
Milk โ I like using unsweetened almond milk because itโs low in calories, but you can use any milk you like, such as cowโs milk, soy milk, oat milk, coconut milk or coconut milk.
Maple syrup โ Any liquid sweetener like honey, agave or monk fruit maple syrup will work instead of maple syrup.
Coconut oil โ Any neutral oil like avocado oil or olive oil will work as a substitute. Iโve also made baked oatmeal without coconut oil and it turned out just fine!
Ground flaxseed โ If you donโt have flaxseed on hand, chia seeds can serve as an alternative binding agent or you can use 1 egg if you donโt need this recipe to be vegan.
Pumpkin โ Pumpkin is the star ingredient in this baked oatmeal, but you could also use sweet potato puree or butternut squash puree instead of the pumpkin puree if youโd like. I also have this sweet potato baked oatmeal recipe that you could try instead.
Nuts โ Feel free to swap the pecans or walnuts with another nut of choice like almonds. Or if you need this recipe to be nut-free skip them all together or use a different mix-in like chocolate chips, dried cranberries, pepitas or raisins.
Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice
Pumpkin pie spice is a main ingredient in this baked pumpkin oatmeal and super easy to make at home with just a handful of spices you probably already have in your pantry.
I have a full blog post with how to make homemade pumpkin pie spice, but you basically just need to stir together 2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 1 teaspoon ground cloves and 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg in a small bowl.
Some pumpkin pie spice blends have allspice and ground cardamom as well. If you want to add these to this recipe, simply add 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice and 1/8 teaspoon cardamom to the mixture.
Can You Make Baked Oatmeal Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can make baked oatmeal ahead of time. There are a couple options that work really well:
Option 1: Bake and Then Reheat Before Serving
- Prepare baked oatmeal as the recipe suggests. Once baked, let the oatmeal cool, cover the baking dish and place in the fridge. You can do this 1-2 days in advance.
- When ready to serve, take oatmeal dish from fridge, cover with foil and reheat in a 350ยฐF oven for about 20 minutes. For individual portions, set toaster oven to 350ยฐF and bake for 5-10 minutes or reheat in the microwave for 1 minute.
Option 2: Prep as Much as You Can Without Baking
- Mix together your dry ingredients in a bowl, cover and let sit out on the counter until morning.
- Mix together all the wet ingredients in another bowl, cover and store in the fridge until morning.
- In the morning, simply mix the wet and dry ingredients together, pour oatmeal mixture into your prepared baking dish and bake as recipe suggests.
How to Serve Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
- Enjoy a delicious breakfast with some nut butter (my fave is almond butter and peanut butter) and maple syrup drizzled on top. Paired with a glass of pumpkin cream cold brew and youโve got the perfect fall morning.
- Pair a slice with 2 hard boiled eggs or a dollop of Greek yogurt for a protein boost.
- Enjoy this baked oatmeal with a protein shake or protein smoothie for a more filling breakfast.
- Serve it up for a holiday brunch alongside my spinach quiche, fruit salad and apple cider mimosas.
- Serve it for dessert and make it a tad more indulgent with a scoop of whip cream or ice cream. Or make a simple glaze with powdered sugar, almond milk and vanilla extract and drizzle it on top.
Storing & Reheating
This baked pumpkin oatmeal recipe is perfect for meal prep because it stores beautifully. I like to make a baked oatmeal on Sunday to enjoy for breakfasts throughout the week. Every morning I can just open the fridge, pop the baked oatmeal in the microwave or toaster oven to reheat and boom! I’ve got a breakfast that I’m excited about. Hereโs how to store and reheat leftover baked oatmeal:
- In the fridge: Allow the baked oatmeal to cool, then cover the baking dish with a lid or plastic wrap or transfer individual portions to an airtight container. Itโll stay fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- In the freezer: You can also freeze baked oatmeal for up to 3 months. To do this, let the oatmeal cool completely, then cut into portions and store in freezer-safe containers or bags.
- To reheat the entire pan of baked oatmeal: Cover with foil and reheat in the oven at 350ยบF for about 20 minutes or until warm.
- To reheat individual portions: Set oven or toaster oven to 350ยบF and bake for 5-10 minutes. You can also reheat in the microwave for 1 minute. Once warm, add your toppings and enjoy!
More Baked Oatmeal Recipes
- Maple Pecan Baked Oatmeal
- Strawberry Banana Baked Oatmeal
- Baked Blueberry Oatmeal
- Pear Baked Oatmeal
- Chai Baked Oatmeal
- Almond Joy Baked Oatmeal
- Cinnamon Raisin Baked Oatmeal
More Pumpkin Recipes
- Healthy Pumpkin Cake
- Pumpkin Spice Donuts
- Pumpkin Protein Balls
- Healthy Pumpkin Bars
- Healthy Pumpkin Bread
- Pumpkin Smoothie Bowl
- Pumpkin Banana Bread
- Healthy Pumpkin Pie
Be sure to check out all of my full collection of baked oatmeal recipes here on EBF.
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a โญ star rating and let me know how it went in the ๐ comments below.
Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ยฝ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- ยฝ teaspoon cinnamon
- ยฝ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 ยฝ cups unsweetened almond milk
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- ยผ cup pure maple syrup, plus more for serving
- 1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed
- 1 Tablespoon coconut oil, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ยฝ cup pecans or walnuts, chopped and divided
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375ยฐF and spray an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, mix together the oats, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and salt. Stir to combine.
- Add in the milk, pumpkin, maple syrup, flaxseed, coconut oil and vanilla. Stir well to combine and gently add in 1/4 cup pecans or walnuts.ย
- Carefully pour oatmeal mixture into the prepared baking dish. Scatter the remaining pecans/walnuts across the top.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top golden and center is set. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Portion and serve. Drizzle each portion with maple syrup if you want it a bit sweeter.
- Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat the whole baked oatmeal, cover with foil and reheat in a 350ยฐF oven for about 20 minutes. For individual portions, set oven (or toaster oven) to 350ยฐF and bake for 5-10 minutes or reheat in the microwave for 1 minute.
Video
Notes
- Rolled oatsย โ Rolled oats work best for baked oatmeal and I donโt recommend swapping them for quick oats or steel-cut oats as the liquid ratio and cook time will differ. If youโre looking for a baked oatmeal recipe thatโs made with steel-cut oats I suggest checking out this baked steel cut oatmeal recipe instead. You can easily customize this recipe and swap the banana with pumpkin instead.
- Milkย โ I like using unsweetened almond milk because itโs low in calories, but you can use any milk you like, such as cowโs milk, soy milk, oat milk, coconut milk or coconut milk.
- Maple syrupย โ Any liquid sweetener like honey, agave orย monk fruit maple syrupย will work instead of maple syrup.
- Coconut oilย โ Any neutral oil like avocado oil or olive oil will work as a substitute. Iโve also made baked oatmeal without coconut oil and it turned out just fine!
- Ground flaxseedย โย If you donโt have flaxseed on hand, chia seeds can serve as an alternative binding agent or you can use 1 egg if you donโt need this recipe to be vegan.
- Pumpkin โ Pumpkin is the star ingredient in this baked oatmeal, but you could also useย sweet potato pureeย orย butternut squash pureeย instead of the pumpkin puree if youโd like. I also have this sweet potato baked oatmeal recipe that you could try instead.
- Nuts โ Feel free to swap the pecans or walnuts with another nut of choice like almonds. Or if you need this recipe to be nut-free skip them all together or use a different mix-in like chocolate chips, dried cranberries, pepitas or raisins.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Equipment
- 8-inch Baking Dish (my favorite for baked oatmeal)
So yummy! I did chocolate chips and walnuts, and i used whole milk which has 13 grams of protein per one cup so added a good amount of protein in there too. Perfect to meal prep for breakfast ๐
Yay! So glad you loved this recipe, Jazmyne. Chocolate chips and walnuts sound like such a delicious combo. ๐ Thanks so much for leaving a review, I really appreciate it!
I was obsessed with this last fall! Itโs in the oven now for meal prep, I like to freeze pre cut squares & heat in microwave. Then I eat with some vanilla Greek yogurt and ๐คค Thanks for the great recipe! 5 stars!!
YUM! I am so glad you are loving this baked oatmeal, Jen. Thank you for sharing your review & star rating, I really appreciate it!
Made this today – itโs fabulous! I had a wee bit less than a full cup of pumpkin so I topped it up with some homemade applesauce. I also added some golden raisins and put pepitas on the top. In my oven it took 40 minutes to bake. Delicious ๐
Perfection! I am excited to hear this recipe turned out amazing for you, Sabrina. Thank you for taking the time to share your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!
About to try this out – it looks delicious! Do you have a recommendation for how long to cook a double batch?
Hi! I would probably start with an extra 10 minutes and check it from there adding 5 minutes at a time until it is ready. Sorry, I wish I had an exact time, but I haven’t doubled this recipe so I am not exactly sure. Hope you enjoy it!
Recipe sounds wonderful, but can homemade oat flour and eggs be used to make this more cake-like?
Hi Catherine – I haven’t tested this recipe with oat flour and eggs, so I cannot say for sure how the recipe would turn out. I would recommend my Pumpkin Protein Bars for a little more cake like texture (and some added protein too)! Let me know if you give these a try and enjoy!
Could you add protein powder?
Hi Shannon – You totally can, but typically when you add protein powder to recipes such as baked oatmeal, you’re going to need to also adjust the liquid measurements or the oatmeal will turn out too dry. So make sure you take that into consideration when adding protein powder to this recipe. Let me know how it turns out for you!
This recipe has been in my breakfast rotation for a few years, and I still love it! Fall or Spring, warm or cold, this is SUCH a great, easy recipe. Perfect for busy mornings.
YUM! One of my favorites too! So excited to hear you are loving this recipe, Sarah. Thank you for sharing your review & star rating, I really appreciate it!
I often order baked oatmeal out, plus have made at least 6 different recipes for it, but this is the best of the best! Love it!!
Ahh yay! I am so glad you’re loving this recipe and it is a hit for you, Shelly. Thank you for your review & star rating, I truly appreciate it!
Disappointing Glob! A waste of ingredients and time! Takes longer than 10 mins to prepare and longer than 30 mins to bake. I did everything as instructed. The result was a tasteless blob of soggy oats. I may throw it out for the birds. No one would eat it.
So sorry to hear this recipe didn’t turn out, Rosa. What type of oats did you use? Sounds like something definitely went wrong because this recipe is packed full of flavor.
My iPad lags terribly on this site due to all your pop up ads, so Iโm not sure how many reviews Iโll be leaving for you, but I persisted this time just because of how delicious this Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal was. We had some as a dessert last night and the rest for breakfast this morning. Soooo good. I look forward to trying some of your other recipes!
So sorry to hear the ad’s are a problem, Rennie. Thanks for letting me know. I am so glad you enjoyed this baked oatmeal and it was a hit for you. I appreciate you taking the time to share your review + star rating, it means so much to me!
Getting ready to make my third batch! Greta for breakfast for the entire week!! I use an entire can of lite coconut milk, add an egg, and bake a few minutes longer. So good.
Amazing! This makes me so happy to hear, Jessica. I am glad you are loving this baked oatmeal and it turns out great for you every time. Thank you for sharing your review & star rating, I really appreciate it!
What size can of pumpkin purรฉe?
You need 1 cup. ๐ Enjoy!