Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Bites {Healthy + Kid-Friendly}
Get ready to fall in love with breakfast all over again! These Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal bites are the ultimate morning treat, combining the cozy flavors of autumn with a wholesome twist. Packed with pumpkin spice goodness and perfect for on-the-go munching, these bites will have you waking up with a smile all season long!
Even if you’re not a huge fan of ordinary oatmeal, these slightly sweet and spiced bites will totally win you over. They’re just the right size for small hands or a smaller appetite. Grab a couple and you’ll be satisfied for hours. Because they’re so easy to make (and also awesome for meal prep), you may find that this mini muffin become your favorite fall treat.
Let’s get this pumpkin bites party started!
Table of contents
Why You’ll Fall In Love With This Baked Oatmeal Bites Recipe
Give these pumpkin oatmeal bites just one nibble, and you’ll be noshing on them every free moment you have. The balanced blend of spicy and sweet is delightful and oh-so-delicious. If those reasons aren’t quite enough, here are even more:
- Simple and Easy. In just 10 minutes, you’ll have a batch of these little nuggets in the oven, filling your kitchen with spices and the scent of fall. All you have to do is mix, pour, and bake.
- Delicious and Nutritious. Packed with omega 3s, B-vitamins, minerals, fiber, and heart-healthy ingredients, these mini muffins have the very best flavor and texture. It’s amazing how tasty they are any time of day!
- Satisfying Snack or Breakfast. With a healthy dose of fiber (and also a dash of sweetness), your tummy will be tamed and satiated.
- Great for On-the-Go. Prepare a batch ahead of time and these brilliant bites can be an excellent addition to lunches, busy morning breakfast grab, or a thoughtful baked gift for family and friends.
- Kid-Friendly. If you’ve been having trouble introducing your kids to oatmeal, you have your answer! These pumpkin bites taste just like warmly sweet and spiced chocolate chip muffins. Kids fall head over heels for these “treats.”
Key Ingredients
These little bites of heaven start with hearty rolled oats, which provide a delightful chewiness. Then, we spice things up with the warm notes of cinnamon, pumpkin spice and, of course, pumpkin puree for that quintessential fall flavor burst. So, let’s dive into the pantry and uncover the stars of this delectable recipe!
- Oats: Rolled oats work the best in this recipe. They are the main base that keeps the rest of the recipe ingredients together. Plus, they’re heart-healthy, full of fiber, and plant-based protein.
- Chia Seeds: These miraculous little seeds add fiber, omega 3s, and extra protein. You can substitute them for ground flaxseeds, if needed. But, the chia seeds do add a tiny bit of lovely crunch to these bites.
- Pumpkin Puree: This bright orange ingredient brings in extra vitamin A, C, and E, without any extra fat, cholesterol or sodium. Canned pumpkin is the easiest to use and any extra can be added to make a delicious pumpkin milkshake—yum!
- Non-Dairy Milk: Plant-based milks high in protein (such as soy or oat) boosts the creaminess and protein level of these sweetly spiced snacks. For a special burst of flavor, choose a seasonal milk such as Califia Farms’ Pumpkin Spice Oat Milk or Silk Pumpkin Spice Almond Creamer.
- Maple Syrup: This ingredient sweetens the oatmeal bites just enough without making them sickly sweet like candy. This lovely syrup is also high in antioxidants and adds calcium, magnesium, potassium, riboflavin, and zinc to your daily nutrition.
- Spices: Cinnamon is both sweet and warm, while the other flavors are spicy and a little more pungent. An alternative to pumpkin spice is apple pie spice (which contains cardamom, but no clove) or simply just use cinnamon. If neither appeals to you, leave out the cinnamon and pumpkin pie spices and add extra vanilla, dried orange peel, and/or cocoa powder instead.
How To Make These Oatmeal Bites
Step One: Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a muffin pan with oil or line it with 9 cupcake liners.
Step Two: In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, chia seeds, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, soymilk, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips. Thoroughly mix the ingredients.
Step Three: Spoon the batter into the muffin tin, distributing it evenly to make 9 oatmeal bites. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips on top.
Step Four: Bake for 11 minutes, then carefully remove from the oven and allow them to cool before serving.
How To Serve Up Healthy Oatmeal Bites
Want to impress your taste buds while staying on the healthy track? Whip up a batch of these delectable oatmeal bite snacks so that your cravings and health will be in perfect harmony. These tips and suggestions will give you even more ideas to spice up this already incredible recipe.
- Not Pleased with Pumpkin?: No problem! If pumpkin isn’t your favorite flavor, feel free to swap out the pumpkin puree for equal amounts of applesauce or mashed sweet potato. Both flavors will taste great with the same spices used in the recipe, too.
- Level Up with Fancy Frosting: For a healthier dessert option, use this recipe as the cupcake base and then add a layer of your favorite flavored frosting. Our Vegan Frosting Guide has everything you need to know about choosing pre-made frosting or making your own.
- Plant-Based Picnic Plans: Picnics are fun any time of year, even if you have to have them indoors due to dire weather conditions. These pumpkin oatmeal bites are perfect for packing into a picnic basket because they’re light, easy to make ahead of time, and are full of fiber and healthy fats. Choose muffin liners to suit the season and you’ll have an appealing addition to your mouthwatering menu.
More Easy Pumpkin Recipes to Try
Here are even more pumpkin-packed recipes that are tempting all year round (and not just during the holiday season). If you have a favorite pumpkin recipe, please let us know in the comments below!
- Looking for a thrilling treat that’s crunchy and sweet? If so, make a batch of these Sweet Spiced Roasted Pumpkin Seeds the next time you carve a pumpkin. Remember not to throw out the seeds!
- If appealing autumn beverages are what you crave, you must try this creamy Pumpkin Milkshake or cozy Pumpkin Spiced Latte.
- Baked goods right out of the oven are hard to resist. That’s why you should add these velvety Vegan Pumpkin Pie and plump Pumpkin Muffins with Chocolate Chips to your repertoire!
- When you’ve gone through all of these ravishing pumpkin recipes, we have even more in our 25 Best Vegan Pumpkin Recipes roundup!
Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Bites
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ cup rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 2 teaspoon pumpkin spice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup soymilk, or other plant-based milk
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons vegan chocolate chips, mini if available, divided (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Gently grease a muffin pan with oil or line it with 9 cupcake liners.
- In a large bowl, add the oats, chia seeds, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, soymilk, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons of the chocolate chips. Mix to combine.
- Spoon batter into the muffin tin, evenly dividing it into 9 muffins bites. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips.
- Bake for 11 minutes, and then remove from the oven and allow to cool.
Notes
- Enjoy warm from the oven, room temperature, or freeze for later.
- These are fantastic for the fall season, Halloween parties, an easy grab-and-go breakfast, and kids lunchboxes and after school snacks.
- Want a protein boost? Add one scoop of plant-based protein into the batter. No other recipe or cooking time adjustments need to be made. We tested this and couldn’t taste a difference!
Nutrition
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Leave a Comment
Love recipes like this that are healthy AND delicious!
These pumpkin baked oatmeal bites are so tasty! I want pumpkin everything now and these hit the spot.
So cute and so tasty!
I adore these little nuggets of fall! They’re so delicious and satisfying. You’ve got to try them!
Delicious seasonal little bites!!!