These delicious chocolate baked oats are an easy breakfast and ready in under an hour. Filling, full of protein thanks to peanut butter, rolled oats, and chocolate chips in every bite. A quick breakfast of brownie baked oatmeal!
Preheat your oven to 350 F and line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
Make a simple date paste by soaking the dates in just-boiled water for 5 minutes, pit and blend with ⅓ cup of water.
(optional) If you want a more cake like texture to this oatmeal bake, then process the DRY rolled oats in a blender or food processor for 15 to 30 seconds to break down the flakes.
Whether your process the rolled oats or not, RINSE the rolled oats briefly in a strainer to remove the dusty film which can interfere with digestion and give off a sour flavor. I pour a glass of filtered water over them in the strainer.
Make baked oats
To a microwave-safe container, add the chocolate and nut butter and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir until melted. Microwave another 10 seconds if needed to melt.
⅔ cup peanut butter (152g), ¼ cup chocolate chips (43g)
Add the melted mixture to a mixing bowl, along with the dates, applesauce, vanilla, and salt. Stir until combined with a spoon or spatula.
⅓ cup applesauce, unsweetened (83g), 2 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ cup dates
Fold in the rolled oats, cocoa, baking powder and chocolate chips. Sift the cocoa if it's clumpy. Hold back a few chips to sprinkle on top.
11/4 cups rolled oats (100g), ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (30g), ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ cup chocolate chips (170g)
Pour the mixture into a pan, and tap on the counter to level it off. Sprinkle the left over chips on top.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top has little cracks, and a tester comes out clean.
Cool the baked oats 15 minutes in the pan, then lift them out using the sides of the parchment paper, and cut into 16 squares or cut into 9 bigger squares.
Video
Notes
*Instead of dates, you can use sugar. Replace the dates with ⅓ cup of maple syrup or ⅓ cup of sugar.Use a metal pan, if possible, to heat batter more uniformly.Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper, don't grease it.Fold that batter quickly and get oats into the oven fast to get baking going as the window for lift is not wide.