Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal

You MUST try this healthy Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal if you (or your little one) is a cinnamon roll lover!

I’m obsessed with baked oatmeal because even kids who don’t *love* the texture of traditional microwave or stovetop oatmeal will eat it baked. The texture is much more like a typical baked good, like a muffin almost!

While I frequently make my Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal recipe, I absolutely needed something that would remind me of my personal favorite breakfast treat…cinnamon rolls.

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra charge to you.

Why I love this recipe

This Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal recipe is delicious without being TOO sweet. Using oatmeal instead of flour increases the nutrition, and includes more digestion-friendly fiber.

When I was looking for inspiration for this recipe, I saw a lot of very involved complicated recipes. This is not that! This is very easy to make. And if you line your baking dish with parchment paper or spray it well with cooking spray, it will be the easiest clean up!

I could totally see my family enjoying this on a slow Saturday morning or on a holiday morning! Personally, I feel like it’s nice to get in some extra nutrition at breakfast for your kids, particularly on days when you know there are going to be plenty of treats involved.

Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal

The double layer of the brown sugar +cinnamon butter you’ll stir together is key for packing every single bite with that cinnamon roll flavor.

And for all the banana haters – there is not a significant banana flavor at all! I used it in the recipe for some natural sweetness so I could cut down on added sugar. I originally used two bananas but the banana flavor was there so I reduced it to one. Because this is not a banana baked oatmeal recipe! (But if you do want a banana flavored breakfast, definitely try my banana chocolate chip pancakes here.)

Ingredients Needed

You will need:

Baked Oatmeal

• 2-1/2 Cups Quick Oats
• 1 Tsp Cinnamon
• 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
• 1/4 Tsp Salt
• 1 Cup Milk (2% or Whole)
• 1/4 Cup Finely Mashed Banana
• 1/4 Cup Unsweetened Applesauce
• 3 Tbsp Maple Syrup (NOT pancake syrup)
• 1 Large Egg
• 1/4 Cup Melted Butter
• 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

Filling/Topping

• 1/4 Cup Melted Butter
• 1/4 Cup Unpacked Light Brown Sugar
• 1 Tbsp Cinnamon

Icing (optional)

• Vanilla Greek Yogurt

How to make this recipe

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F then spray an 8×8″ baking pan with nonstick spray (or line with parchment) and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, add milk, mashed banana, applesauce, maple syrup, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine.
3. Add oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt to the mixture. Stir to combine, then set aside.
4. Prepare the filling/topping mixture: in a small microwave safe bowl, melt ¼ cup butter. Stir in the brown sugar and cinnamon and mix well. Set aside.
5. Add half the oatmeal mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread in an even layer. Then spoon on 3 tbsp of the brown sugar cinnamon butter mixture evenly over the dish.
6. Spoon on the rest of the oatmeal mixture, covering all of the filling. Drizzle the remainder of the brown sugar cinnamon butter over the top. You may want to use a knife to swirl it in a little bit to get it to more evenly cover the top.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the center is fully set.
8. Let cool for 10-15 minutes, then slice into squares and serve.
9. If desired, top with vanilla Greek yogurt as a frosting.

Recipe FAQs

1. Can you make it dairy-free?
   • I haven’t personally tried a non-dairy milk in this recipe, I’ve only tried it with lactose-free milk. I would suggest using vanilla oat milk, soy milk, or canned coconut milk if you want to try dairy-free.
2. Can you make it egg-free?
   • Yes, use a flax egg in place of the egg. Use 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed and mix with 3 Tbsp warm water; let it sit for several minutes to thicken then use in place of egg in the recipe.
3. Can I use regular oats?
   • You can, it will just change the texture a little bit. What you see in the pictures is regular oats. I prefer it with quick oats because it acts a little more like flour so the texture is more uniform. If that matters to you and you only have regular oats, you could pulse them in a food processor or blender to grind them up just a bit.

Expert Tips

If you’re a simplifier/streamliner like I am, you might be tempted to just dump all the batter in and add the brown sugar cinnamon butter on top. But it really is way better when you do half the filling, a layer of the butter mixture, and then repeat! Don’t skip that step.

Other recipes you might like

Healthy Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins with Oats

Pumpkin Pie Yogurt

Healthy Apple Crisp Recipe (Low added sugar)

For you

If you’re in the market for a new 8×8 baking dish, this Pyrex Easy Grab set is my favorite! I love that it comes with lids for easy storage.

Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal Recipe