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My kids LOVE cinnamon rolls, and I do too — who doesn’t?! But when it comes to oatmeal? My kids are usually a lot less excited. I’ve tried various forms of oatmeal — instant, old-fashioned, with peanut butter and chocolate chips, with brown sugar and cinnamon — and while one of my kids sometimes accepted it, the other one continued to be disinterested. That’s exactly why I created this cinnamon roll oatmeal bake.
I wanted something that felt special and cozy like a cinnamon roll, but with the wholesome goodness of oats — and without the fuss of yeast, rising dough, or rolling. The result? A soft, cake-like oatmeal bake that smells like fresh cinnamon rolls and tastes just as satisfying. Even my oatmeal skeptic asked for seconds!
This recipe has quickly become one of our family’s favorite breakfasts. It’s easy to make, great for busy mornings, and makes the kitchen smell like a bakery. Plus, that cream cheese icing? Absolute magic.
I’m sure your kids will love this simple, nutritious cinnamon roll oatmeal bake -– honestly, it could even be served as dessert! And as a dietitian mom, I’m so happy my kids are getting a nutritious start to their day. You can learn more about my experience as a dietitian and foster/adoptive mom here.
Why Your Family will Love This Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal Bake
Here are 4 reasons this breakfast will become a family favorite:
- This oatmeal bake combines the cozy flavors of cinnamon rolls with the heartiness of oatmeal. For the kids who don’t like the mushiness of oatmeal, this is your solution! It has a nice cake-like consistency. You will also see how this breakfast item could be a great option as a snack or a dessert.
- You will love how easy it is to make. Homemade cinnamon rolls are so satisfying to eat, but so much work to make! You have to use yeast, wait for the dough to rise, roll it out, slice it and wait for more rising before you can put it in the oven. The whole process typically takes 2-3 hours. But the whole process for this baked oatmeal will take a maximum of 45 minutes — start to finish!
- Parents will appreciate the nutritious twist to traditional cinnamon rolls with oats, eggs, and nut butter. As a pediatric dietitian and mom, I’m a big fan of oatmeal. It’s a great source of nutrients like fiber, magnesium, & iron.
- Lastly, this cinnamon roll oatmeal bake is freezer-friendly and perfect for meal prep so you and your kids can have a fiber-filled breakfast on those busy weekday mornings. The oatmeal bake is cut into bars which can easily fit in a lunch bag for an on-the-go option as well!
Ingredients Breakdown
The old fashioned oats bring the usual benefits of traditional oatmeal — essentially heart and gut health. The filling fiber helps you stay fuller a little longer than you would after a traditional cinnamon roll. It also helps slow down digestion aiding with blood sugar regulation. You could blend the oats into more of a flour type of consistency which would make this oatmeal bake taste more like a cinnamon roll breakfast cake.
The peanut butter flavor is very subtle but adds just a little extra fat and protein. In place of peanut butter, you could use any preferred nut butter.
Depending on your preference, you could easily substitute the cinnamon for pumpkin-pie spice, nutmeg, or another spice. My personal preference is to keep it as close to the aromas and flavors of traditional cinnamon rolls, so it’s just cinnamon for us!
You could forego the cream cheese icing if you need something completely mess free, but the cream cheese glaze is what really gives this baked oatmeal cinnamon roll vibes!
To make this oatmeal bake dairy-free you could easily substitute the milk for almond or coconut milk, coconut oil in place of butter, and a dairy-free cream cheese.
How to Make the Delicious Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal Bake
This recipe is super simple and comes together in just a few steps. The hardest part? Waiting for it to bake while your kitchen fills with the sweet scent of cinnamon!
Step 1: Preheat & Prep
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper. This makes it easy to lift out and slice later!
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together the oats, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and allspice. This ensures the spices are evenly distributed so every bite is packed with just the right amount of warm flavors.
Step 3: Combine the Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, peanut butter, and melted coconut oil. The peanut butter flavor is very subtle but helpful to bind the oats together.
Step 4: Bring It All Together
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until everything is well combined. The mixture should look thick but not dry—if it seems crumbly, add a splash more milk to bring it together.
Step 5: Bake to Perfection
Spread the oatmeal mixture evenly into a 9×9 or 8×8 square baking dish like this one, and pop it in the oven for 30-35 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the top is golden brown and set in the middle, and you can also use the toothpick method to see when the toothpick comes out clean.
Step 6: Make the Cream Cheese Icing
While the oatmeal bake is in the oven, whisk together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Then, mix in the powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and milk until creamy and pourable.
Step 7: Glaze & Serve
For a distinctly separate layer of icing, allow the oatmeal bake to cool for at least 20 minutes before adding the icing. Or if a glaze is preferred, spread the icing over the warm oatmeal bake right out of the oven, letting it soak into the oatmeal bake. Slice into squares and serve —pure breakfast bliss!
Tips for Success
Get the texture just right
The mixture should look like a thick batter, not too dry or too runny. If it feels crumbly before baking, just add a splash more milk until it comes together.
Customize it to your family’s taste
As I mentioned earlier, you can swap peanut butter for almond butter or sunflower seed butter for a nut-free option. No allspice? No problem! Pumpkin spice or nutmeg would also work. You could also easily add blueberries or nuts to diversify the flavors.
Make it ahead
This cinnamon roll oatmeal bake keeps well in the fridge for up to 4 days and is freezer-friendly. Just reheat individual slices in the microwave wrapped in a paper towel and drizzle with extra icing if you like.
Get the kids involved
My kids love helping with this recipe — measuring oats, whisking the icing, and of course, taste testing. It’s a simple way to bring connection and fun to the kitchen. The more kids are involved in food preparation, usually the more excited they will be to try it when it’s ready!
How this Recipe can Help a Picky Eater
If you know me, you may already know that I don’t like the term “picky eater” because it almost always reinforces picky eating. So for the sake of helping reduce picky eating, I call it “selective” eating. If you have a kiddo who is selective about what foods they accept, this is the perfect recipe to try!
This oatmeal bake is widely accepted because it doesn’t have that mushy texture of traditional oatmeal. And of course, because it has the familiar flavors of crowd-pleasing cinnamon rolls!
Kids need to be exposed to foods many times many ways, so this means instead of continuing to serve the same soft oatmeal, you need to mix it up and serve it in different ways using unique recipes!
It’s best to start with a recipe which produces a similar texture or flavor to their preferred foods. So in this case, if your child likes cake or cinnamon rolls, you are trying the right recipe!
And the best news is, parents can have peace of mind knowing this breakfast item is a much more nutritious way to start their day. This oatmeal bake has the added benefit of fiber, protein, and healthy fat for longer lasting energy.
What are you waiting for? Let’s get to baking! ⬇️
🍽 Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal Bake
Ingredients
- For the oatmeal bake:
- 3 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon allspice (or pumpkin spice or nutmeg)
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup peanut butter (or any nut or seed butter)
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil (or melted butter)
- For the icing:
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 1/4 cup milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and allspice.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, coconut oil, and peanut butter until smooth.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until combined. If the batter looks crumbly, add a splash more milk until it holds together like a thick batter.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until golden brown on top and set in the middle.
- While the bake cools slightly, prepare the icing by whisking the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and milk, and whisk again until creamy.
- Pour and spread the icing over the warm oatmeal bake. Cut into squares, serve, and enjoy!