Chocolate Orange Baked Oats

If you’ve never tried baked oatmeal, this recipe is a great place to start. Chocolate orange baked oats are an easy-to-make pregnancy breakfast that will provide you with energy for the day. My instructions are both clear and easy to follow. The ingredients are wholesome and delicious.

Why you'll love this recipe!

First of all, this recipe is super convenient. You can prepare the batter in just 5 minutes, and while the oats are baking in the oven for 25 minutes, go take a shower, get yourself ready for the day, pack your lunch, get the kids dressed – go do basically whatever it is that your busy self needs to accomplish! And by the time you’re done, your baked oatmeal is ready for the family to eat!

Secondly, the chocolate orange flavor combination is a classic. Citrus blends with cocoa to convey a fresh, yet warm and comforting flavor combination. In the interest of time, we use prepared orange juice but if you have the time, freshly squeezed OJ would certainly elevate the flavors and aroma of this dish.

What are chocolate orange baked oats?

Chocolate orange baked oats are a delicious and hearty breakfast food. This recipe combines loose, rolled oats with protein-packed hazelnuts, eggs, milk, and orange juice. The batter is first spread into a ceramic dish, topped with a handful of chocolate chips, and then baked in the oven. Using two teaspoons of baking powder in this batter results in a chewy yet bread-like texture that is not too dense. The hazelnuts become soft during the bake time and actually lend an appealing crunchy texture to this dish.

This chocolate orange oatmeal only has a hint of sweetness that comes from the orange juice and the scattered handful of dark chocolate chips that melt on top. However, if you require a sweeter breakfast, you may want to add a bit of natural sweetener to your own serving, at your discretion. For example, try drizzling a tablespoon of pasteurized maple syrup on top of your chocolate orange oatmeal.

Are chocolate orange baked oats healthy?

Yes, chocolate orange baked oats are healthy! This recipe constitutes a super easy, healthy pregnancy breakfast. Let’s take a closer look at the nutritional highlights of the main ingredients used in this recipe and discuss how they would benefit a pregnancy.

Oats

Raw oats are an extremely nutrient dense food source. Whole grain oats contain a vast amount of valuable nutrients such as unsaturated fatty acids, dietary fiber, and protein. One cup of raw oats has nearly 11g of protein. Protein is important during pregnancy because it promotes the growth of fetal tissues, including baby’s brain. Additionally, protein also promotes the growth of maternal tissues, which require substantial amounts of protein.

Consuming fiber‐rich foods during pregnancy offers various health benefits during pregnancy including lowering the risks of preeclampsia and diabetes. Additionally, eating adequate fiber during pregnancy supports good digestion, which in turn helps a pregnant woman to maintain a healthy pregnancy weight.

Oranges

The well-known and popular orange fruit contains vitamin C which supports baby’s growth and improves iron absorption in a pregnant woman. Some sources recommend that pregnant women reach daily intakes of at least 400 mg of vitamin C through food. The 1/2 cup of OJ used in this recipe provides approximately 60 mg of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to keep a pregnant mama’s immune system strong and furthermore, supports wound healing which is important in the post-birth period.

Ingredients to make chocolate orange baked oats

Rolled Oats

Rolled oats are your best option here. This type of oats get their name from the process of rolling, in which steamed oats are essentially steamrolled between steel rollers into a flattened shape. This process allows the oats to cook faster than steel cut oats, for example, which are whole oat groats that have been chopped into pieces using a steel blade. Because steel cut oats are thicker in dimension, they take longer to cook.

Reduced Fat Milk

Choose whichever type of pasteurized milk you prefer: whole milk, skim milk, or 2% milk. Although all types of milk provide roughly the same amount of protein, whole milk will have higher fat content and thus more flavor than skim milk. I like to use reduced fat milk as a happy medium. Reduced fat milk and skim milk also lose some of their vitamin content during the fat removal process. However, vitamins, namely vitamins A and D, are added back in through fortification.

Orange Juice

Any kind of pasteurized OJ will work here. I actually prefer pulp-containing orange juice for the additional texture. Freshly-squeezed orange juice pulp also offers the added benefit of some fiber. Be sure there is no added sugar in the juice that you choose.

Hazelnuts

Using hazelnuts adds beneficial protein to this recipe. However, any kind of nuts will totally work here. If you are allergic to nuts, then omit the nuts entirely.

Other Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Zest of 1 orange
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
• ½ teaspoon cacao powder (optional)

Tools needed for making chocolate orange baked oats

Whisk – An ergonomic balloon whisk is a staple in every kitchen. This inexpensive one features rainbow-colored wood!

Mixing Bowl – A heavyweight, quality mixing bowl is a versatile kitchen tool. Plus these ones come with colorful lids!

Ceramic Baking Dish – I love these retro dishes that come in four different colors.

Citrus Zester – Useful for zesting lemons, limes, or even finely grating parmesan cheese!

Instructions on how to make chocolate orange baked oats

Step 1: Prepare the batter

In a large mixing bowl, first combine the beaten eggs, milk, oats, orange juice, orange zest, vanilla extract, baking powder, salt, hazelnuts and optional cinnamon. Next, use a whisk to stir the ingredients together until well combined.

Step 2: Transfer to a baking dish

Pour the batter into a medium-sized ceramic dish and then smooth out the surface using the back of a spoon. Next, scatter ½ cup of chocolate chips on top.

Step 3: Bake in oven

Bake chocolate orange baked oats, uncovered, in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176 degrees Celsius) for 25 minutes.

Step 4: Serve and eat

Carefully remove the orange baked oatmeal from the oven and serve with freshly cut oranges. You will enjoy this chewy, moist, bread-like breakfast!

How to serve chocolate orange baked oats

Chocolate orange baked oats are so delicious on their own, but are also good with:

• Fresh citrus fruit salad (grapefruit tossed with oranges and lemon juice)
• A glass of cold skim milk
• A drizzle of maple syrup
• An extra spoonful of almond butter as a topping
• Greek yogurt
• A couple of scrambled eggs

Recipe variations

Some ideas on variations for orange baked chocolate oatmeal include:

• Using different nuts in place of the hazelnuts. Other options could include slivered almonds, pistachios, crushed peanuts, or maybe some cashew halves. I like to include nuts of some type, for the added protein.
• Allergic to nuts? Why not try replacing the nuts with some dried coconut flakes, dried cranberries or raisins instead?
• If you’re looking for additional protein, then try mixing in some protein powder. Be sure to discuss with your healthcare professional which types are acceptable to use during pregnancy first.
• Need these baked oats to be dairy free? Replace the milk with oat milk or almond milk in the same proportion.
• For a stronger cocoa flavor, you could also add a teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder into the batter. I prefer the neutral color of plain oatmeal in contrast with the chocolate chips, so have not included cocoa powder in this recipe.

How to store baked oatmeal

Refrigerator: Chocolate orange baked oats can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Once cooled, cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and then store in the fridge.

• Reheat: To reheat this chocolate orange oatmeal, simply scoop out a personal-sized portion into a microwave-safe dish, and reheat in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute until warm.

Freezer: Store any leftover oats in the freezer for up to 3 months. Extract the baked oats from the cooled baking dish and wrap tightly in aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and a freezer bag. I recommend slicing the oatmeal bake into personal-sized amounts prior to storage.

• Reheat: In a microwave-safe dish, reheat in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute until warm.

Frequently asked questions about chocolate orange baked oats (FAQ)

Are baked oats supposed to be gooey?

These orange chocolate baked oats are not supposed to be gooey. On the contrary, baked oatmeal should achieve more of a bread-like texture, which you can slice with a knife into personal wedges.

Can baked oats be eaten cold?

No, I don’t recommend eating these chocolate orange baked oats cold because the texture starts to border on the gummy side. Warming up this baked oatmeal makes it softer and more appealing to eat. If you're looking for cold oatmeal, then try my delicious pregnancy protein overnight oats instead!

Are baked oats gluten free?

Although oats are a naturally gluten free grain, they are almost always processed on equipment that is used to process wheat. Because the oats may make contact with traces of wheat, oats are not always deemed gluten free. However, it’s still worth it to double check the product label, because some brands may guarantee that the product is certified gluten free.

You'll also love these related pregnancy breakfast recipes

If you enjoyed this chocolate orange oatmeal recipe, you may also enjoy these other oats recipes:

• Oat Milk Pancakes
• Protein Overnight Oats

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