Easy Soaked Baked Oatmeal – Healthy Overnight Recipe

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This overnight soaked baked oatmeal recipe is one of our favorite breakfasts, and perfect for a busy morning. It’s simple to mix up the night before so that you can quickly put a hearty meal on the table the next day. I’ll show you some different ways to serve baked oatmeal for the perfect make-ahead breakfast.

Baked oatmeal is a great healthy breakfast option for busy families. As a large homeschooling family we spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and most days there is time to linger at the breakfast table. However, once a week on our town day we need something quick and easy. Enter baked oats. Of all the oatmeal recipes we’ve tried, this is our favorite way to make it, and I hope that you love it too.   

The Benefits of Oats

Old-fashioned oats are a staple ingredient all homesteaders should have in their pantry. This cereal grain is highly nutritious when prepared properly, and relatively inexpensive. It is a good source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. But not all oats are created equal, or in the spirit of Animal Farm, “Some oats are more equal than others.” 

Up until I got married and had children, the most exposure I had to oats was in the form of little instant oatmeal packets that you empty into a bowl, add water, and heat in the microwave.

Oh how things changed a few years into my journey as a homemaker! One of the most defining moments for me relating to meals and food preparation was when I read Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. Her knowledge of traditional methods and the conviction with which she writes completely changed the way I thought about food. She talks a lot about the benefits of soaking, sprouting, and fermenting in general. However, grains in particular benefit from these methods because they are high in phytic acid which prevents the absorption of minerals. By soaking grains overnight, the nutritional benefit is greatly improved and the break down of gluten occurs so that the grains are more digestible. You can soak grains in water with a small amount of acid added. I prefer to use yogurt for oats, but you could use lemon juice or vinegar as well.

The Different Types of Oats

There are a few different types of oats that you can get. They are all made from whole oat kernels, but are processed different ways.

Old-fashioned oats, also know as regular rolled oats, are the most common. They are probably what most people think of when they hear the word “oats.” This type is steamed then flattened or “rolled.” 

Instant oats are steamed longer until they are partially cooked, then dried, and finally rolled thinner than old-fashioned oats. This further processing allows them to cook much more quickly as well. 

Steel cut oats are made by cutting the kernel into 2 or 3 pieces which make them the least processed, but they also take much longer to cook. 

You can purchase any of these types as certified gluten-free oats which do not come into contact with wheat or other grains that contain gluten. They are also processed on different equipment, sometimes in different facilities, so there is no cross contamination. 

Where to Buy Oats 

You can find oats in the cereal or baking aisles of your local grocery store, health food store, or food co-op. I am a pantry prepper, so love to buy 50 pound bags of oats from Azure Standard. If you’re not familiar with Azure, it is a natural health food co-op located in Oregon. They partner with organic farms in the US and around the world in order to provide affordable quality food in bulk. They have community drop locations around the country where you can pick up ordered items once a month.

It is a great place for large families or those who like keeping a full pantry to shop and stock up. I started buying from them around 15 years ago after we moved out to the country. The nearest grocery store was 45 minutes away, and with a 2 year old and newborn I did not want to make that trip anymore often than I had to. We’ve been shopping with them ever since.

Ingredients for soaked baked oatmeal

oats– old-fashioned “rolled” oats or instant “quick” oats

yogurt– I like to use plain homemade yogurt, but any type of whole milk yogurt would be good

water

eggs– farm fresh eggs or any kind from the store

vanilla

baking powder

sea salt

cinnamon

Toppings

Overnight Soaked Baked Oatmeal is a wonderful base recipe that has many variations. You can use a variety of toppings or add-ins to suit your family’s tastes. My favorite addition is blueberries, the children love chocolate chips, and Ryan prefers it loaded with protein in the form of nuts and seeds.

After baking, we like to add kefir, yogurt, or fresh cream to our bowls on top of our baked oatmeal!

Sweeteners

For the sweetener, I like to use raw cane sugar. You could also use brown sugar, honey, coconut sugar, or pure maple syrup. This recipe is so versatile, and you can’t really go wrong regardless of what other things you add to it. 

Tools you need

large bowl or glass container 

large metal or wooden spoon

2 small bowls

fork 

rectangular or square baking dishes

How to make Overnight Soaked Baked Oatmeal

The oats need to be soaked for 12-24 hours before you plan on baking them. So the day or evening beforehand, measure 7 cups of oats into a large container with a lid. Add 3/4 cup of yogurt and 4 1/2 cups of warm water in with the oats, and stir until fully incorporated.

The oat mixture should be thick and creamy without too much liquid. If it is too dry, just add a bit more water. This step is really a matter of personal preference. I like the finished product to have a cake like consistency, but some people prefer a chunky granola texture which requires much less liquid. 

The next morning preheat the oven to 375 degrees, and grease 2- 9″x13″ baking pans with a little bit of coconut oil. 

In one of the smaller bowls, combine the sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon with a fork or whisk. (You could do this step at night while soaking the oats to save time in the morning.)

Next, break the eggs into the other bowl, beat, and combine eggs with the vanilla. 

Pour the egg mixture into the oatmeal mixture, and stir until fully incorporated.

Then, from the other bowl, add the dry ingredients half at a time.

Stir until thoroughly combined.

Pour the overnight oats into the prepared pans, dividing evenly.

Next, add some of your favorite things such as fresh blueberries, sunflower seeds, flaked coconut, walnuts, dried cranberries, chia seeds, pecans, fresh fruit, or chocolate chips. 

Gently press your toppings into the baked oatmeal.

Put the pans in the preheated oven, and bake for 30-35 minutes or until the baked oatmeal is golden brown.

We love to top this with kefir, yogurt, or fresh cream. Enjoy!

What about leftovers?

This Overnight Soaked Baked Oatmeal Recipe makes enough for our family to have for breakfast, and there is also plenty left over to snack on throughout the day. I usually put the pans back in the oven once it cools off, and everyone eats what they want later on. Sometimes we only eat one pan at breakfast, and I will refrigerate the rest to have on a different morning later in the week.

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Overnight Soaked Baked Oatmeal

Yield: 2- 9"x13" pans

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Easy and delicious baked oatmeal recipe - perfect for a busy morning. It’s simple to mix up the night before so that you can quickly put a hearty meal on the table the next day.

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Ingredients

• 7 cups regular or quick oats
• 3/4 cup yogurt
• 4 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
• your choice of toppings (optional)
• fresh or frozen blueberries
• dried cranberries or other dried fruit
• nuts
• coconut
• chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Measure oats into a large container with lid

2. Add yogurt, water, and thoroughly combine

3. Put the lid on and let sit for 12-24 hours, or overnight

4. The next morning preheat the oven to 375 degrees

5. Grease 2- 9"x13" baking dishes

6. In a small bowl, combine sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon

7. Whisk eggs and vanilla in another small bowl

8. Pour egg mixture into the container of oatmeal, and mix well

9. Add the dry ingredients 1/2 at a time to the oatmeal until fully incorporated

10. Pour oats into pans, dividing evenly

11. Add your choice of toppings, and gently press into the top of the oatmeal

12. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden

13. Top with kefir, yogurt, or fresh cream. Enjoy!

Notes

You can mix up the dry ingredients the night before in order to save time in the morning.

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