Cozy autumn spices and rich velvety pumpkin make this Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal a delicious and satisfying breakfast packed with fiber, vitamins and flavor!

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal

Sometimes kids will eat a food prepared in a specific way, but not another even though it has the same ingredients! Texture, flavor and visual presentation all have a big impact on kids acceptance of a food. This baked pumpkin oatmeal is similar to pumpkin oatmeal, but just ‘packaged’ differently.. as a bar that is familiar for kids to eat and taste delicious!

I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the health differences of bake oatmeal vs oatmeal. And the truth is, they are essentially the same. Boiling oats or baking them doesn’t change the nutrition profile very much at all and so it comes down to taste preferences, and then what you are adding to the oats.

Ingredients to Make Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal

• Rolled oats – Rolled oats have the perfect texture for this recipe. Quick oats may make the baked oatmeal too mushy.
• Pumpkin pie spice – I made pumpkin pie spice with 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1/2 teaspoon allspice.
• Baking powder
• Salt – I always use sea salt in my recipes.
• Pumpkin Puree – I used Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin Puree. Make sure you are using pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling.
• Brown sugar
• Eggs – Room temperature is ideal so all of the ingredients are at the same temperature when they are baking.
• Vanilla extract
• Pure Maple syrup
• Milk– I used 2% milk.
• Chopped pecans – optional but adds some nice crunchy texture on top.

Ingredient Substitutions

• Use 1-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice instead of pumpkin pie spice.
• You can use honey instead of maple syrup.
• Dark brown sugar can be used instead of light brown sugar.
• You can use almond milk or oatmeal in place of regular milk and it turns out just great!

Baking Tips

• For a less crumbly baked oatmeal that sticks together easier, use 2 cups of rolled oats and 1/2 cup of quick oats.
• You’ll want the baked oatmeal to cool for 20-30 minutes so it’s easier to slice.
• You can top these with pecans, walnuts, or pumpkin seeds, and serve with whipped cream, ice cream, or plain Greek yogurt.

Storage Instructions

• Refrigerator: Store the baked oatmeal in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave before serving.
• Freezer: Cover the baked oatmeal with both plastic wrap and foil to prevent freezer burn, and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge then reheat it in the microwave or oven at 350°F for 20 minutes.

Health Benefits of Pumpkin

Pumpkin is a deep orange color which tells us it is rich in nutrients and a great thing for kids to eat to get nutrition packed in a small amount of food.

1. Vision-  Pumpkin is a really good source of beta-carotene which converts to Vitamin A and is really important for good eye health and vision.
2. Immunity-  Because there is a large shot of Vitamin A in pumpkin, it can help boost your kids’ immune system and ability to fight infections and viruses.
3. Skin-  Vitamin A and C really help give you a boost in skin health.  Carotenoids which pumpkin is high in have been shown to help prevent cell damage, premature skin aging and other skin diseases.
4.  Besides Vitamin A, pumpkin is also a great source of Vitamin C.  Vitamin C helps form and repair red blood cells, bones, and tissues. It helps your child’s gums stay healthy and strengthens your child’s blood vessels, minimizing bruising from falls and scrapes. In addition, vitamin C helps cuts and wounds heal, boosts the immune system, and can help your child’s body get an infection . It also can help your child absorb iron.

Breakfast on the Go

These pumpkin bars make a great grab and go breakfast and can be made ahead and stored for an even quicker option!  We love the chewy texture of baked oats, and combined with nutrient packed pumpkin they are soft and easy to chew even for little toddlers who don’t have a lot of teeth!   The oats and pumpkin both provide a really nutrient dense bar that is a great portable breakfast option when you have those mornings where you are in a big hurry. There are only a few ingredients which make it a great option if you have food allergies in your home.  

Give these a try for breakfast or even to pack in a lunch or an after school snack!  You can also include other add-ins like dried fruit, coconut, or chopped nuts.  Yum!

More of Our Favorite Pumpkin Recipes