Blueberry-Coconut-Walnut Baked Oatmeal

This Blueberry-Coconut-Walnut Baked Oatmeal is the ultimate breakfast. Naturally sweetened with ripe mashed banana and dates, it’s bursting with juicy blueberries and crunchy walnuts. It’s like dessert meets breakfast—but packed with nutrients to power your day. Oats are packed with fiber to keep you feeling full and energized, while walnuts offer omega-3 fatty acids. Perfect for meal prep, this baked oatmeal is as versatile as it gets. Bake it over the weekend and pop the leftover slices to warm in the microwave to enjoy throughout the week. Keep reading for our top baking tips to make this breakfast a staple part of your weekly lineup!

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Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!

• The dates will blend more smoothly if they’re softened in hot water before they hit the food processor. Even though we call for pitted dates, it’s a good idea to check for pits or pit fragments before you blend them.
• Be sure to use a ripe, soft banana here to maximize the sweetness. The perfect banana should feel soft when you squeeze it (but not be totally mushy), and the skin should have plenty of brown spots throughout.
• We recommend using old-fashioned rolled oats for the best texture. Quick or instant oats are too thin and do not offer the same consistency when baked.
• To toast shredded coconut, cook in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring often, until golden, about 5 minutes. 

Nutrition Notes

• Oats are a good source of fiber, specifically a type of soluble fiber known as beta-glucan. Eating enough fiber can lead to feeling full for longer periods of time, better digestive health, improved blood sugar and cholesterol levels and can help support weight-management efforts. 
• Blueberries are loaded with anti-inflammatory compounds called polyphenols. Too much inflammation in the body can lead to chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart disease, so incorporating anti-inflammatory foods like blueberries into your diet may help decrease your risk. 
• Walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids, which can help improve memory and overall cognitive health. These anti-inflammatory nuts also support heart health because they’re low in sodium and saturated fat.
• Unsweetened coconut milk adds moisture to these oats, but that’s not all it brings. Coconut milk contains lauric acid, which has been shown to help decrease inflammation, although more research is needed. It is also a good source of potassium, a nutrient that helps manage blood pressure.