This cinnamon roll baked oatmeal recipe is a sweet, gooey, fluffy and ultra delicious healthy breakfast that tastes like dessert!
Healthy cinnamon roll baked oats
I blame Ikea.
It is impossible to walk out of that store not craving cinnamon rolls.
The aroma of their freshly baked rolls permeates the entire warehouse, as if they’ve sprayed cinnamon scented perfume in every room.
I spent yesterday afternoon happily shopping for furniture while dreaming of soft homemade cinnamon rolls.
Wanting a healthier option, I baked up this wholesome single serving cinnamon roll baked oatmeal for breakfast the next morning.
It gives you all the gooey comforting goodness of a classic cinnamon roll, with whole grains, fiber, and protein at the same time!
You may also like: Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Step by step recipe video
Key ingredients
Rolled oats – You need a half cup of old fashioned rolled oats or quick oats. For gluten free baked oatmeal, use certified gluten free oats or substitute rolled quinoa flakes.
Applesauce – I like applesauce (sweetened or unsweetened) because it compliments the cinnamon flavor. You can swap mashed banana, pumpkin puree, or Greek yogurt for a high protein boost.
Sweetener – Liquid sweeteners like honey or pure maple syrup work well. Or if you want a breakfast with no sugar added, use the equivalent sweetness amount of stevia.
Cinnamon – The star of the show. It wouldn’t be a cinnamon roll without ground cinnamon! Play around with complimentary spices if you wish, such as a pinch of ginger, nutmeg, allspice, or pumpkin pie spice.
Nut butter (optional) – A tablespoon of a neutral tasting nut butter (like cashew or almond butter) or melted coconut oil adds incredible richness and really makes it feel like you’re eating dessert.
Add ins of choice – Feel free to stir in a spoonful of raisins or dates, dried figs or cranberries, chopped walnuts, chia seeds, or finely diced apple.
Other ingredients – The dessert baked oatmeal recipe also calls for pure vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, and water or milk of choice.
While the cinnamon is out, make Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
How to make cinnamon roll baked oatmeal
- Start by preheating your oven to 375° Fahrenheit (190° Celsius). Alternatively, you can cook the recipe in a microwave or preheated toaster oven.
- Grease a one cup ramekin, mini loaf pan, or small heat-safe dish with oil or fat free spray. Want a double layer cinnamon roll oatmeal cake? Grease two half cup ramekins instead, or line the bottoms with parchment paper.
- In a small mixing bowl, stir the oats, cinnamon, salt, and any other dry ingredients.
- Whisk in the applesauce, water, sweetener, nut butter, vanilla extract, and all remaining ingredients.
- Spread the uncooked mixture into the prepared dish or pan.
- Bake on the center rack of your oven for fifteen minutes, or microwave until fully cooked. (Microwave time should take around one to three minutes and will vary depending on the wattage of your machine.)
- Let cool, then frost if desired and enjoy for breakfast, snack, or dessert.
- For optimal freshness, refrigerate leftovers in a covered container for up to five days. Or freeze in an airtight container for up to two months. Thaw or reheat frozen oatmeal before eating.
Prefer traditional cinnamon rolls? Try these Easy Cinnamon Rolls
Frosting the cinnamon oatmeal
Protein frosting: Top the oats with your favorite thick yogurt or dairy free alternative. Mix in a scoop of vanilla protein powder or sweetener to taste if desired.
Cream cheese frosting: Use store bought icing or whip up the quick homemade cream cheese frosting written out in my recipe for Carrot Cake Bars.
Powdered sugar glaze: Stir two tablespoons powdered sugar with a few drops water, milk, or lemon juice. If glaze is too thick, add more liquid.
Coconut butter frosting: This is one of my personal favorites. Spread your oatmeal with warmed buttery Coconut Butter. You may not even need additional sweetener.
Other options: Eat the cinnamon roll baked oatmeal plain, topped with mashed banana, or spread with almond, apple or pumpkin butter.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if IKEA bottled their cinnamon scent and sold it as perfume?
Or maybe I am the only one who wants to smell like a giant cinnamon bun…
Just thinking out loud here…
The recipe was inspired by my Vegan Cinnamon Rolls.
Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (45g)
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/16 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup applesauce (60g) (or pumpkin, yogurt, or mashed banana)
- 1/4 cup water (60g)
- 1 1/2 tbsp pure maple syrup (22g) or stevia to taste
- 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp almond butter or coconut oil, optional (15g)
- 1 spoonful raisins or chopped walnuts, optional
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 375° Fahrenheit (190° Celsius). Alternatively, you can bake the recipe in a microwave or preheated toaster oven.
- 2. Grease a one cup ramekin, heat-safe dish, or mini loaf pan with oil, or line the bottom with parchment paper.
- 3. Stir together all dry ingredients. Whisk in wet to form a batter.
- 4. Spread into the prepared ramekin, then bake on the center rack of the oven for fifteen minutes. (If using a microwave, cook 1-3 minutes or until fluffy. Time will vary based on wattage of your machine.)
- 5. Let cool, then serve and enjoy. Frosting ideas are included above if you want to ice your cinnamon roll baked oatmeal.
Video
Notes
More delicious oatmeal recipes
That sounds lovely. In England Ikea is famous for the swedish meatballs with cranberry sauce, so it does not smell lovely like cinnamon buns. It does do dime bar cake which is scrumptious!
I have all these ingredients and absolutely love anything with oats, so I will definitely try this. It looks sooo good. I bet it would be great for breakfast, especially during winter.
I received the new IKEA catalouge yesterday 🙂 So many things I like, but what I dislike about IKEA is that so many people shop there and I am more into individual things (though, when I take a look around in my room, I have plenty of IKEA items ;)). Furniture shopping is way more fun with a big budget!
Are you moving into your own flat?
hi. i’ve been stealing recipes off your blog for a few months now… thanks!
just wanted to tell you, that while eating this for breakfast this morning ,(pumpkin version b/c i’m trying to get fall to come sooner!) my 7 year old ask for this to be her birthday breakfast!
oh… and from reading an early comment on this i wanted to tell you to check out 100% Pure (all natural all vegan beauty products – i swear they must be edible) chocolate mocha body scrub! i wanted to stick my finger in and have a taste when i opened it! they also have white chocolate scrub, dark chocolate body wash and body cream… i’m sure there’s more! perhaps you’ve tried them…
Wow, Sarah, I don’t think I’ve ever felt more honored!
I’d stay and leave a longer comment… but I MUST rush off and google this chocolate body cream!!! 😉
Mmmm….it certainly looks like a cinnamon roll! Can’t wait to make this! Maybe I’ll make it for school one of these days, I wonder if they freeze okay? I can’t wait for the other cinnamon roll recipe-you can never have too much cinnamon (And chocolate!) 😀
I haven’t done it, but a lot of other commenters have said the oatmeal cakes freeze well! 🙂
I’ve never actually bought an IKEA cinnamon roll, but I ALWAYS want one when I go. And this looks like a yummy alternative! One questions–what is the texture like on this baked oatmeal? Is it mushy in the middle or more chewy?
It depends on whether you use applesauce or oil/nut butter, and how long you bake it! With applesauce (and no oil), it’s more soft… but it also depends on what type of ramekin or mini loaf pan you use to cook it.
When i was little, I hated ANY kind of shopping that didn’t involve books- now it’s one of my favorite hobbies!
I love how easy this is to make! No wack-o ingredients, simple yet delicious! 🙂
yum yummy YUM I love baked oatmeal!! I am planning an Ikea trip tomorrow… but now i’m a little scared! Maybe I should make these to take with me!!!
Katie, you are a freakin GENIUS.
You should open your own shop.