Overnight Chocolate Baked Oatmeal (easy back-to-school breakfast)

Soaked overnight for easy digestion, this gluten-free chocolate baked oatmeal takes a few minutes to stir together in the morning, then bakes while you get the kids ready! The baked oatmeal recipe variations are endless, too… Add in some cinnamon or chocolate chips, dried fruit or crispy nuts.

Do you need inspiring breakfasts to get you going each fall and winter? Back to school got you down?

Me too!

Overnight Baked Chocolate Oatmeal is everything warm, chocolate-y and comforting! Just what we need to make the mornings cheerful! (And to get through the day!)

Why Should You Soak Baked Oatmeal?

When baked oatmeal is soaked in the traditional manner, the goal is to make oats easier to digest and more nutritious.

Unsprouted grains contain phytic acid, a mineral absorption blocker. Grains need to be soaked or fermented (with an acidic medium or by sourdough) before cooking to neutralize the phytic acid.

Some grains contain large quantities of phytase, an enzyme that aids this process. Oats, however, are very low in phytase.

I have added buckwheat groats to this breakfast casserole because they are high in phytase! When oats soak with buckwheat, the latter’s phytase helps to break down both of the grains’ phytic acid!

Buckwheat groats are also delicious! We often enjoy them alone as Instant Pot Buckwheat Porridge.

How To Soak Oats With Buckwheat

To soak oats, we need an acidic medium. I use whey or raw apple cider vinegar in the warm soaking water.

I also add the raw buckwheat groats (2 cups oats to 1 cup buckwheat). This makes a nutty, rich, nubby baked oatmeal.

The acid medium and warm soaking water activate the phytase in the buckwheat! After 12 to 24 hours, the grains’ phytic acid is significantly reduced.

I soak my grains overnight. In the morning, I rinse the grains and proceed with cooking.

Baked Chocolate Oatmeal comes together very quickly and bakes while we’re getting ready for our day.

Leftovers on the following mornings are extra fast! Baked Chocolate Oatmeal is great served warm or cold.

Is It Healthy To Eat Raw Oatmeal?

Actually, no. Oats need to be cooked as well as soaked.

So, yeah, all those thousands of soaked oatmeal recipes you see online with oats soaked overnight in the fridge and not cooked … no reduction in phytic acid happens.

The soaking process needs to be warm to activate the phytase. This soaking step significantly, but not completely, reduces phytic acid.

Cooking raw soaked oats further neutralizes anti-nutrients — not only phytic acid, but also lectins (plant compounds that contribute to leaky gut). So cooking oats is important.

What’s Your Favorite Way To Make Oatmeal?

Brown sugar, cream, berries? 🙂

I grew up eating oatmeal with these toppings, and loved every bowl! But you might be asking, “What are some other yummy ways of preparing oats?”

Baked … Chocolate!

This Baked Chocolate Oatmeal recipe elevates oatmeal to a whole new level of dreamy!

I love that this recipe is baked, because it means I can run around the house getting myself and the kids ready while the oven does the work (no stirring a pot!).

I also like that leftovers are in a casserole dish, ready in the fridge for busy mornings — just cut out a square, serve and go. Or pour warm milk over the top and serve with a spoon.

I love that this recipe is chocolate, because chocolate gets everyone excited and happy! 😉

And I love that this recipe takes an old favorite from my childhood and updates it in a new and special way, creating a new favorite.

Baked Oatmeal Variations

Once you’ve baked this recipe (and hopefully loved every bite of it!), feel free to make variations. Spiked with a few other special ingredients, this breakfast treat can take on a flare unique to your family:

• Add dried fruit for a more festive breakfast. Dried figs, dried cherries or dates all work well. Stir 3/4 cup chopped dried fruit in with the oats and buckwheat just before baking.
• For extra protein and crunch, stir 1 cup crispy walnuts or pecans into the oatmeal before baking.
• If gluten is tolerated, substitute rolled rye for the buckwheat.
• Increase the protein content by stirring 1/4 cup collagen powder in before baking.
• For an extra indulgent version of this recipe, fold 1/2 cup Fair Trade chocolate chips in with the oats before baking.
• Substitute Fair Trade cocoa powder with roasted carob powder, or use half cocoa and half carob.
• Or leave as-is. The basic recipe is already pretty awesome. 😉

4.15 from 7 votes

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Overnight Chocolate Baked Oatmeal (easy back-to-school breakfast)

Soaked overnight for easy digestion, this gluten-free chocolate baked oatmeal takes a few minutes to stir together in the morning, then bakes while you get the kids ready! The baked oatmeal recipe variations are endless, too... Add in some cinnamon or chocolate chips, dried fruit or crispy nuts.

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American, Traditional

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

Soaking Time 12 hours

Servings 9 people

Calories 416 kcal

Author Megan Stevens

Ingredients

• 4 cups pure water warm
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup buckwheat groats raw
• 1/4 cup raw apple cider vinegar or whey
• 1/4 cup grass-fed butter melted and still warm (or coconut oil)
• 3/4 cup maple syrup
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder or roasted carob powder
• 2 cups raw milk or creamy coconut milk or homemade creamy nut milk
• 2 large eggs lightly beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 cup chocolate chips fair trade (optional)

Instructions

The night before you intend to bake...

1. Place water, rolled oats, buckwheat groats, and raw apple cider vinegar in a large glass bowl.
2. Stir briefly.
3. Loosely cover.
4. Soak 12 to 24 hours.
   

The next day...

1. Pour soaked oat mixture into a large, fine-mesh colander.

2. Rinse well under running water and drain.
   
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Grease an 8x11" (or 9x9") rectangular baking dish.

5. In a large bowl, whisk together warm butter and maple syrup.
6. Add cocoa and whisk again until a kind of ganache is formed.
   
7. Whisk in oats, buckwheat, milk, eggs and sea salt.
8. Transfer to prepared baking dish.
9. Bake uncovered for 45 to 50 minutes, until dry and somewhat firm on the surface and darkened around the edges.

10. As an optional step, about 35 minutes through the baking time, briefly remove baked oatmeal from oven to sprinkle the surface with chocolate chips.

11. Allow to cool slightly, if desired.
12. Cut into 9 squares.
    
13. Serve warm.

Recipe Notes

Leftovers are good cold or reheated gently in a low temperature oven. Pour warm cream or milk over heated up leftovers.

Baked oatmeal lasts well in the fridge, covered, for up to 5 days.

Serving Suggestions:

• Baked Chocolate Oatmeal is pretty rich! So we love it with warm milk poured over the top, eaten with a spoon.
• Top baked oatmeal with whipped cream, berries, crispy walnuts/pecans, warm berry compote or Greek yogurt and Fermented Cranberry Sauce (yum!).
• Add to lunch boxes. (My husband brings Overnight Baked Chocolate Oatmeal in his lunch! I love the nubby texture when it's cold.)
• Enjoy with herbal coffee or your favorite hot beverage.
• Add some scrambled eggs, grass-fed hot dogs or sausage on the side for extra protein and to keep you going all morning!

Nutrition Facts

Overnight Chocolate Baked Oatmeal (easy back-to-school breakfast)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 416 Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Fat 15g23%

Saturated Fat 8g50%

Cholesterol 58mg19%

Sodium 236mg10%

Potassium 412mg12%

Carbohydrates 64g21%

Fiber 7g29%

Sugar 32g36%

Protein 10g20%

Vitamin A 343IU7%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 146mg15%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Do you have any suggestions for oatmeal flavorings or recipes?

It’s hard to go wrong with chocolate! Try adding 1 teaspoon cinnamon to the mix for a Mexican chocolate flare.

Put a dollop of nut butter on top for extra protein. Or serve with Instant Pot Pumpkin Butter for a fall twist!

Looking for more quick and easy breakfast recipes?

Here are a few of my favorites:

• Turkey, Apples and Onions Hash
• Sweet and Savory Breakfast Cookies
• Apple-Delicata Squash Instant Pot Breakfast Porridge
• Healthy Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies