Amish baked oatmeal is a hearty, delicious breakfast option that is sure to make all taste buds do a happy dance. Made with a handful of ingredients, it’s a hearty meal that can be enjoyed for breakfast or dinner. The dish is easy to make and has a classic old-fashioned feel that most people appreciate and the whole family will devour.

If you’ve never had baked oatmeal, it’s a little bit like an old-fashioned bread pudding, except with oatmeal. It’s especially good when served warm, either right out of the oven or heated up in the microwave!  

A traditional Lancaster County Amish baked oatmeal recipe will not be the healthiest option but it will be a very comforting breakfast that is made with simple ingredients and soooo much flavor.

Why you should make this oatmeal

• It’s the perfect breakfast that can be ready in only 40 minutes
• It is just what you need for a prep ahead breakfast, the delicious way. Make it the night before and bake the next morning
• It’s like a cross between bread pudding and a warm oatmeal cookie
• Wonderful on a lazy Sunday morning

Ingredients Needed

More info on these basic pantry staple ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• coconut oil (melted) or vegetable oil
• unsweetened applesauce
• brown sugar
• large eggs or egg whites
• uncooked old fashioned rolled oats
• cinnamon
• baking powder
• vanilla extract
• milk

How to Make Amish Baked Oatmeal

1. In a large bowl, combine the oil, applesauce, brown sugar, vanilla, and eggs until blended.
2. Add the dry ingredients and milk to the mixing bowl and combine.
3. Spray a 9 x 9″ baking pan with cooking spray.
4. Spoon the oatmeal mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or the topping is a beautiful golden brown in color.
5. Remove from oven and let cool before serving and enjoying.

Storage

Amish baked oatmeal can be stored in an airtight container and should be kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 to 5 days. If the oatmeal is still slightly warm, let it cool down before putting the lid on and storing it.

For longer storage, it can also be frozen for up to 3 months. The best way to freeze this easy breakfast recipe is to let the oatmeal cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe container or resealable bag and placing it in the freezer.

When ready to eat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave or oven until warm.

Can I make this ahead of time?

This recipe can be prepared the night before and stored in your refrigerator. Then bake in the morning following the recipe instructions.

This makes those days when you need one of those quick breakfasts really easy and delicious!

Is this a traditional Amish Baked Oatmeal recipe?

As with most Amish recipes that are undeniably delicious, the traditional Amish recipe for baked oatmeal has a LOT of butter and a LOT of sugar!  The recipe I’m sharing today is still delicious, but is a healthier version that I like to make!  

This version substitutes unsweetened applesauce for the butter and uses a smaller amount of brown sugar in place of white sugar. I also add a bit of cinnamon and vanilla for more yummy flavor.

How to Serve Amish Oatmeal

You can serve baked oatmeal warm or cold. It’s most commonly served with milk, but I like it without. 

You can add seasonal fresh fruit or a cup of chocolate chips to this basic recipe for even more goodness! 

I like to add fresh berries to my recipe in the spring and summer months. Peaches are sooo good in baked oatmeal and is my absolute favorite fruit to add!  

Apples with raisins are a good combination for fall. If you are adding fruit to this recipe, just add it right into the batter before baking.

You could also add a drizzle of maple syrup or honey to this healthy baked oatmeal recipe as you are getting ready to serve individual portions if desired.

What’s the difference between quick oats and old fashioned oats?

Quick oats are cut into small pieces and rolled thin so that they cook faster than old fashioned oats. The thinness of the quick oats also makes them more tender, whereas old fashioned oats are left thick and chewy.

Quick oats tend to absorb more liquid, which makes them softer and easier to eat.

However, old fashioned oats have a heartier texture due to their thickness and chewiness. That’s why we prefer to use them in our baked oatmeal recipe.

If you really wanted, you could use quick oats in this great recipe, it may just change the overall final texture of the dish.

Can I double this recipe to make more at one time?

Certainly! If you would like to make more oatmeal at one time, it’s a great thing to do.

To do this, I would double the recipe and instead of using a 9×9-inch baking dish, this time, use a 13×9-inch baking dish.

When you increase the baking dish size, you’ll need to also increase the baking time. I would start adding time in increments and check on the baking dish as each increment finishes until it is the perfect golden brown color.

Tips and Variations

• You can make this into individual servings by making baked oatmeal bars in your prepared dish. Once you’ve baked this, then instead of adding to a bowl, use a knife to cut it into bars. It’s a great way to prep some breakfast on the go bars for the week ahead if you’re into meal prepping and meal planning.
• Make this even more rich and creamy by using heavy cream in place of the milk of your choice.
• You can make this a dairy free baked oatmilk recipe by using almon milk, coconut milk, oat milk, or your other favorite non-dairy milk if you need to make this a dairy free baked oatmeal breakfast.
• It may seem a little odd to make your oatmeal with less liquid than normal, but this hearty breakfast isn’t going to be the porridge-like consistency that you may be used to. It’s a filling breakfast that is more like a dessert or breakfast bar than a warm cereal. To make these even more delicious, add in some nuts and dried fruit for added flavor. Enjoy your easy-to-make breakfast!
• You can store this breakfast in the fridge for up to five days, or freeze it up to three months. If you plan ahead, you’ll have a delicious and healthy breakfast all week long!
• I do not recommend trying to use steel cut oats in this recipe in place of the traditional uncooked old fashioned rolled oats. The baked oatmeal will not turn out correctly if you try to use steel cut oats.

This baked oatmeal recipe is my “go to” breakfast in the fall and winter months!  Because, there’s nothing better than a warm breakfast on a cold day!  

If you love traditional oatmeal, you’ll love this breakfast of champions! With so much extra flavor and warm spices, it’s perfect to fill your belly with and satisfy any sweet tooth.

Yield: 8 servings

Baked Oatmeal

Print

A healthier version than the typical Lancaster County Amish recipe!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 TBS coconut oil (melted) or vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs or 4 egg whites
• 3 cups uncooked old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup milk of choice

Instructions

In a bowl, combine the oil, applesauce, brown sugar, vanilla, and eggs until blended. Add the dry ingredients and milk and combine. Spray a 9 x 9" baking pan with cooking spray. Spoon the mixture into the pan. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. This recipe can be prepared the night before and stored in your refrigerator. Then bake in the morning.

Notes

Add fruit or chocolate chips to batter if desired.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 204Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 0.7gTrans Fat: 1.9gUnsaturated Fat: 1.4gCholesterol: 0.5mgSodium: 105mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 4gProtein: 8g

I’d love to hear if you’ve ever had this Lancaster County specialty?   And, please let me know if you try it!  

Here are a few more recipes that are perfect for Fall!

Easy Pennsylvania Dutch Apple Dumplings

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Sea Salt Buttercream

Baked Potato Soup

And, don’t forget to check out my friends’ cozy-living posts for October!  Here are the links!

Duke Manor Farm / Creative Cain Cabin / Sincerely Marie Designs / Town and Country Living

Vinyet Etc. / Finding Silver Pennies / Hymns and Verses / It All Started with Paint