Chocolate-Strawberry Baked Oats

Bring dessert vibes to your breakfast table with these Chocolate-Strawberry Baked Oats. Juicy, sweet strawberries meet rich chocolate flavors in a warm, cozy oat bake that fuels your morning like a champ. The secret ingredient? Creamy cottage cheese, which works seamlessly into the oats, adding a boost of protein. For even more staying power, stir in a scoop of your favorite protein powder and enjoy a meal that will keep you energized well past your coffee break. This is the kind of breakfast that makes rolling out of bed totally worth it. Ready to see for yourself? Read on for our expert tips and tricks for making this delicious (and nutritious!) oat bake yourself.

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! 

• You can use plant- or animal-based protein powder for this recipe, although note that the nutrition will vary. For a more confectionary taste, try using vanilla-flavored protein powder or use a chocolate flavor to enhance the chocolate flavor in the recipe. 
• You can make your own plant-based protein powder at home for a more budget-friendly option. Start with 1 cup chia seeds, 1 cup hemp seeds and ¼ cup pepitas. Place ¼ cup each chia seeds, hemp seeds and pepitas in a spice grinder; pulse just until finely ground, about 10 pulses. Transfer to a bowl or jar; stir to combine. Repeat with 3 more batches to grind the remaining ¾ cup chia seeds and ¾ cup hemp seeds.
• Be sure to stick with old-fashioned rolled oats for this recipe. Quick oats or instant oats are thinner than old-fashioned oats and will break down as they bake, affecting the texture. Old-fashioned oats hold their shape better, giving you a hearty bite every time.

Nutrition Notes

• Oats are a good source of a soluble fiber known as beta-glucan. This type of fiber can help you stay satisfied for longer, which can help support your weight-loss goals. Oats have also been shown to help lower high blood pressure and stabilize blood sugar levels. 
• Cottage cheese is an easy way to add protein to these baked oats. Eating enough protein is important, as the nutrient plays a vital role in all bodily functions, including digestion. The cheese also offers some calcium to support healthy bones. 
• Soy milk helps keep these baked oats moist, and it offers even more protein and calcium. Soy milk is also fortified with vitamin B12, a vitamin that is necessary for the development of red blood cells. Look for unsweetened soy milk to reduce added sugars, as regularly eating a high amount of added sugar may lead to weight gain and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes over time. 
• Strawberries contain anthocyanins, a plant compound that has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits. The antioxidants in strawberries may also benefit overall heart health, as they work to lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels and reduce inflammation.