Cake for breakfast? Probably not something you would have thought you could have whilst following a healthy, well-balanced plant-based diet. But this is no ordinary cake – protein, complex carbs, vitamins and minerals, all whilst being low in sugars and saturated fat.

With a base of just 6 key ingredients, baked oats can be taken to new heights with the addition of superfoods. Here are the key ingredients you’ll need:  

1. Oats

2. Banana

3. Chia egg / plant-based milk

4. Baking powder

5. Salt

6. Maple syrup (liquid sweetener)

The simple way to make baked oats

Simply place the key ingredients listed above into a blender and blend on high-speed until smooth. Alternatively, you could add the oats first and blend them into a fine powder before incorporating the rest of the ingredients – this will help achieve that fluffy cakey texture.

Next, pour your mixture into an oven suitable ramekin and place in a preheated oven (180 degrees C) and bake for around 15-20 minutes.

4 of our favourite recipes

Lotus Chocolate Baked Oats

Chocolate, caramel, and banana unite in these Biscoff-infused baked oats that are perfect for breakfast or with such a gooey cakey texture, even dessert. With a relatively simple vanilla protein base, the magic of this recipe lies in the Biscoff centre, chocolate drizzle and vegan chocolate chip topping.

Ingredients

• 1/2 banana
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 scoop Funktional Foods Vanilla Protein Blend or Chocolate Protein Blend
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp Lotus Biscoff Spread
• Handful Vegan Chocolate Chips
• Vegan Chocolate sauce

Extra superfood additions: Maca Powder, Cacao Powder

Strawberry Chocolate Baked Oats

Double chocolate with cacao and our chocolate protein blend. Fresh strawberries for the taste of summer.  

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1 banana
• 1 tbsp Cacao powder
• 1/4 cup Funktional Foods Chocolate Protein Blend
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp flax seeds
• 1/3 cup strawberries

Extra superfood additions: Maca Powder, Hemp Protein Powder

Lemon Blueberry Baked Oats

A simple zesty and fruity twist on baked oats with the addition of lemon juice and lemon zest. They are refreshing, healthy and packed with protein. Our vanilla or berry protein blend both work equally as good in this one!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/2 banana (mashed)
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1 tbsp Funktional Foods Vanilla Protein Blend
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• Zest of 1/2 lemon
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/4 cup blueberries
• Optional Toppings: coconut yoghurt, extra blueberries, hemp seeds

Extra superfood additions: Hemp Protein Powder

Chocolate Vanilla Cheesecake Baked Oats

Simply by combining plain almond yoghurt with vanilla protein you achieve a delicious cheesecake flavour and texture. Pop this filling in the middle of your cacao baked oats mixture and enjoy a deliciously creamy, high protein centre.

Ingredients

Cacao Oats:

• 50g gluten-free oats
• 40g gluten-free ground oats
• 30g Funktional Foods Cacao Powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 250-300ml plant milk

Cheesecake filling:

• 5 tbsp plain almond yogurt
• 1 tbsp Funktional Foods Vanilla Protein Blend
• 5 drops vanilla flavouring (optional)

Toppings:

• @gatoandco choc vanilla cookie
• Peanut Butter
• 1 banana
• Sprinkle of cacao nibs

Extra superfood additions: Maca Powder

Tips for making the best baked oats

Blend your mixture for long enough – make sure to blend your mixture for long enough to achieve a cake-like texture. If you prefer using oat flour rather than whole oats, try blending the rolled oats yourself, we’re all about that no frills lifestyle and if you can save a buck here and there, why not?

Don’t keep it too simple – there’s so much goodness you can add to baked oats. Add a tablespoon of maca or hemp protein for a boost of iron, magnesium and b vitamins. When these superfoods hardly change the taste yet add such incredible nutrients to your dish, why on earth not add them?!

Know the difference between cocoa and cacao – if you’re a chocolate lover and going for a chocolate baked oats be sure to use cacao powder rather than cocoa. Cocoa has been heated to extremely high temperatures destroying the nutrient profile. Cacao powder retains the nutrients that made the food fit for kings way back in the day.

Use a flax/chia egg – non-vegan baked oats recipes will usually call for eggs. Although it’s not necessary (you could use a dash of plant milk), adding a chia/flax egg to the mix will not only improve its texture, but give you a boost of omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fibre, manganese and protein.

Don’t forget your protein – whilst oats might be high in protein compared to other grains, they still need a little help to provide a truly high-protein meal. That’s where protein blends are so useful. Just 20g will give your baked oats an extra 13g of protein.

Use a microwave – short on time? Whack the mixture into the microwave for around 90 seconds.