Irresistibly Easy Nutella Baked Oats (No Banana Needed!) – Your Viral Breakfast Treat

Discover the magic of Nutella baked oats – a truly delightful and healthy breakfast that requires absolutely no banana! This incredibly delicious recipe soared to viral fame on platforms like TikTok, and for good reason. If you’ve been searching for a breakfast that feels like a decadent dessert but is made with wholesome ingredients, your quest ends here.

*This post contains affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my disclosure for details*.

If you’re a fan of easy, comforting breakfast recipes like this, you’ll also adore my Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls, my Buttermilk Blueberry Muffins with Lemon Zest, and my Banana Bread French Toast!

Nutella Baked Oats: A Breakfast Game-Changer

When the trend of baked oats first swept across TikTok and Instagram reels, many of us initially thought we were seeing a variation of traditional baked oatmeal – a casserole-like dish where oats maintain their distinct texture, often baked in a creamy custard. While delicious in its own right, what emerged from the viral sensation was something far more innovative and exciting!

The secret to these sensational baked oats lies in a simple yet transformative step: blending the raw oats into a fine oat flour. This crucial process completely alters the texture of your breakfast, transforming it from a bowl of chewy grains into a soft, fluffy, and cake-like creation. Imagine waking up to a breakfast that tastes like a warm, moist dessert, yet is packed with wholesome ingredients. That’s precisely what Nutella baked oats deliver!

What truly sets this recipe apart is its incredible ease of preparation. With just a handful of everyday ingredients and minimal effort, you can create a single-serving breakfast that’s ready to satisfy your sweet cravings without any guilt. And the best part? No banana is needed, ensuring a consistently light and airy texture that won’t weigh you down. Plus, it’s remarkably versatile, allowing for easy customization to perfectly fit your dietary preferences and needs, whether you’re looking for a gluten-free or even a vegan option.

If you’re embracing the baked oats craze, don’t forget to explore other delightful variations like my Protein Baked Oats for One for an extra boost, or my Overnight Oats with Frozen Fruit for a chilled, grab-and-go option!

Are Nutella Baked Oats a Healthy Breakfast Option?

While I’m certainly no health professional, I can confidently say that these Nutella baked oats offer a wholesome and satisfying start to your day. The foundation of this recipe is old-fashioned rolled oats, a fantastic source of whole grains, fiber, and essential nutrients. Whole grains are known for their ability to promote digestive health, provide sustained energy, and contribute to overall well-being.

Furthermore, the sweetness in this recipe comes from natural sources like honey or maple syrup, allowing you to control the added sugars. This is a significant advantage over many store-bought breakfast options that are often laden with refined sugars and artificial ingredients. For those with specific dietary requirements, these baked oats are easily adaptable. You can effortlessly make them gluten-free by opting for certified gluten-free rolled oats, and rest assured that Nutella itself is considered gluten-free, as confirmed by the Ferrero Foodservice website. This makes it an inclusive recipe for many!

For individuals looking to further enhance the health profile or manage calorie intake, there are simple adjustments you can make. Using unsweetened almond milk or skim dairy milk can reduce calories, and controlling the amount of Nutella added – perhaps using a little less in the batter and just a dollop on top for that classic “lava” effect – can also make a difference without sacrificing flavor. Ultimately, these Nutella baked oats strike a wonderful balance between indulgence and nutrition, making them a smart and delicious choice for breakfast.

Key Ingredients for Your Easy Nutella Baked Oats

Creating these delightful baked oats requires just a few basic ingredients, many of which you likely already have in your pantry. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that perfect cake-like texture and rich, comforting flavor:

• Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: These are the star of our recipe. When blended, they transform into a fine oat flour that gives our baked oats their signature soft and fluffy, cake-like consistency. You can also use quick oats for a similar result, or opt for certified gluten-free oats if you need to make this recipe suitable for a gluten-free diet.
• Milk: The liquid base that brings everything together. Feel free to use any type of milk you prefer – dairy milk works beautifully, but plant-based options like almond milk (which I used for the oats pictured), oat milk, or soy milk are excellent alternatives and can easily make this recipe dairy-free.
• Nutella: This creamy hazelnut spread is what makes these oats truly special. We’ll incorporate it into the oat mixture for a consistent flavor, and then add an extra dollop on top before baking to create a glorious “lava” effect that oozes out when you dig in. For a vegan version, see our tips below!
• Egg: The egg is crucial for both structure and richness. It acts as a binder, helping the oats hold their shape as they bake, and contributes to the higher lift and more luxurious texture that makes these baked oats feel like a true treat.
• Honey or Maple Syrup: These natural sweeteners provide the perfect amount of sweetness while complementing the hazelnut and cocoa flavors. You can choose whichever you prefer or have on hand. Agave nectar is another suitable alternative if you’re looking for different options.
• Baking Powder: Our leavening agent! A touch of baking powder is essential for creating that desired fluffy and airy texture, ensuring your baked oats rise beautifully and aren’t too dense.
• Salt: Often overlooked, a pinch of salt is vital for balancing the sweetness and enhancing the deep cocoa and hazelnut flavors of the Nutella, making them truly pop.
• Chopped Hazelnuts: (Optional, but highly recommended!) A sprinkle of chopped hazelnuts on top before baking adds a wonderful textural contrast with a delightful crunch and reinforces the delicious hazelnut notes from the Nutella. It also makes for a beautiful presentation.

Essential Equipment for Your Baked Oats

To achieve the signature cake-like texture of these Nutella baked oats, a couple of key pieces of equipment are essential. First and foremost, you’ll definitely need a blender or a food processor. This is critical for transforming the rolled oats into a fine, flour-like consistency, which is the secret to getting that soft, fluffy, and smooth texture we’re aiming for. Without this step, your baked oats will retain a more traditional oatmeal consistency, rather than the cake-like experience.

Next, for baking, you’ll want an oven-safe ramekin with an 8-ounce capacity. This size is perfect for a single serving and ensures even baking. If you don’t have a ramekin, an oven-safe mug can also work as a substitute, but keep in mind that the shape and thickness of your mug might slightly alter the baking time. Thicker mugs or those with irregular shapes may require a few extra minutes in the oven to cook through completely. You’ll also benefit from basic kitchen tools like measuring cups and spoons for accurate ingredient proportions.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Your Nutella Baked Oats

Get ready to whip up this incredible breakfast in just a few simple steps. The entire process is quick and easy, perfect for busy mornings or a relaxed weekend treat.

1. Prepare for Baking: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). While the oven heats up, lightly spray your 8-ounce ramekin (or oven-safe mug) with cooking spray. This crucial step prevents sticking and ensures your baked oats slide out beautifully.
2. Blend the Oats: Pour your old-fashioned rolled oats into your blender or food processor. Blend them for about 30 seconds, or until they achieve a very fine, flour-like powder consistency. This is the key to the cake-like texture, so don’t skip this step!
3. Combine All Ingredients: Add the rest of your liquid and wet ingredients to the blender with the oat flour: the milk, a generous portion of Nutella (reserving some for topping), egg, honey (or maple syrup), baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Blend for another 30 seconds, or until the mixture is completely smooth and well combined. There should be no lumps.
4. Assemble and Bake: Carefully pour the smooth oat mixture into your prepared ramekin. Now, take a small spoonful of additional Nutella and dollop it onto the center of the mixture. This will create that delightful “lava” center when baked. Finally, sprinkle a generous amount of chopped hazelnuts over the top for added crunch and flavor.
5. Bake to Perfection: Place the ramekin into your preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the edges pull away from the sides of the ramekin and the top is lightly golden. Serve warm and enjoy your delicious, cake-like breakfast!

Expert Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

To help you master your Nutella baked oats and address common queries, here are some helpful tips and answers to frequently asked questions:

More Small Batch Recipes You’ll Love

Sometimes you just want a perfect, single-serving treat without the hassle of making a huge batch. If you enjoyed the convenience of these baked oats for one, you’ll love these other small-batch recipes:

• Apple Mug Cake
• Mini Chocolate Cake
• Mini Basque Cheesecake
• Mango Kale Smoothie with Collagen
• Mini Carrot Cake
• Butterscotch Milkshake

📖 Recipe

PIN this baked oats recipe for later!