Introduction

This Gingerbread Baked Oatmeal with Walnut Streusel is a warm, comforting breakfast perfect for cozy mornings. Packed with warming spices and a crunchy walnut topping, it’s a delicious way to start your day with a hint of holiday flavor all year round.

The image shows a baked oatmeal bar in a rectangular silver baking pan lined with parchment paper. The bar has one visible layer made of oats mixed with a golden-brown crumbly topping that looks slightly sticky and caramelized. The texture is rough and chunky with different sized oat pieces throughout. The edges are darker brown and crispier with visible oat flakes around the sides. The middle parts have a moist, dense look with clumps of crumbly oat mixture unevenly spread across the surface. The photo was taken on a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 medium ripe banana
2 cups unsweetened, non-dairy milk
¼ cup maple syrup
1 tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp unsulphured molasses
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp black pepper (or a pinch)
¼ tsp salt

Walnut Streusel

½ cup whole walnuts
⅓ cup brown sugar
¼ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ cup melted coconut oil

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8 inch baking dish unless it is non-stick.
Step 2: In a large bowl, mash the banana until mostly smooth with a few small lumps remaining. Whisk in the non-dairy milk, maple syrup, brown sugar, molasses, and vanilla extract until well combined.
Step 3: Add the oats, ground ginger, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, black pepper, and salt to the wet ingredients. Gently fold everything together until evenly mixed. Pour this mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly.
Step 4: For the walnut streusel, place the walnuts and oats into a food processor and pulse a few times until the texture resembles coarse flour. Add brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and melted coconut oil, then pulse a few more times until the mixture looks like wet sand.
Step 5: Sprinkle the walnut streusel evenly over the oat mixture in the baking dish.
Step 6: Bake for 28 to 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the oatmeal feels firm and no longer jiggles when you gently shake the pan.
Step 7: Allow the baked oatmeal to cool for about 5 minutes before serving. For extra sweetness, drizzle with a simple powdered sugar icing or yogurt thinned with a splash of milk, if desired. Enjoy!

Tips & Variations

Use pecans or almonds instead of walnuts for a different nutty flavor in the streusel.
For a dairy version, swap non-dairy milk with regular milk or cream for a richer taste.
Add a handful of dried cranberries or raisins into the oat mixture for extra texture and sweetness.
Leftover baked oatmeal can be sliced and quickly toasted for a crispy breakfast treat.

Storage

Store any leftovers covered tightly in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave for about 30-60 seconds or until warmed through. This baked oatmeal also freezes well—wrap portions in plastic wrap and place in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

How to Serve

A close-up view of a baked oat dessert cut into square pieces inside a metal baking pan lined with parchment paper. The dessert has a thick, dense texture with a golden brown, slightly glossy top layer that looks crumbly and uneven with visible oats and a caramelized surface. The exposed side of one piece shows a uniform, soft, and moist interior with a darker brown color. A silver serving spatula with decorative cutout patterns is partially visible under one piece in the bottom corner of the pan. The pan is placed on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes, ensure you use certified gluten-free rolled oats and substitute the all-purpose flour in the streusel with a gluten-free flour blend.

Can I prepare this baked oatmeal the night before?

Absolutely. You can assemble the oatmeal and streusel mixture the night before, cover the dish, and refrigerate it. In the morning, bake it fresh for best texture and flavor.