King Cake Baked Oats

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King cake baked oats are a great way to get your king cake fix without making a full-blown king cake! Enjoy the flavors of Mardi Gras for breakfast (or as a snack or even dessert) with this easy recipe filled with fiber and some protein!

A piece of king cake baked oats with a fork taking a bite out. The oats are topped with protein powder glaze and Mardi Gras sprinkles, as well as a traditional plastic baby.

Blended Baked Oats

Baked oats have been all the craze and I understand why. They're easy and a way to switch up your typical oatmeal. You simply blend oats, milk, a banana, baking powder, eggs, and nut butter in a blender or food processor. Then pour into a baking dish, bake, and out comes baked oats! The consistency is that of a dense cake so if you like cake, you'll love blended baked oats!

You can add any flavor(s) to the basic recipe, just like I did with these king cake baked oats. Adding spices like cinnamon and nutmeg and a little orange zest and almond extract gives these blended baked oats a traditional king cake flavor.

A piece of king cake baked oats topped with vanilla protein glaze, Mardi Gras sprinkles, and a traditional plastic baby. Another piece, beads, the baking dish, and a mug of coffee are in the background. A knife is in front of the plate.

Protein Powder Glaze

Traditional king cake is topped with a sweet vanilla icing or glaze and the staple green, yellow, and purple sprinkles. So of course I had to do the same! However, this icing is made with protein powder (and of course some powdered sugar) to give the recipe a little extra protein!

King cake baked oats in the baking dish, covered in a vanilla protein glaze, Mardi Gras sprinkles, and a traditional plastic baby.

Ingredient Highlights - King Cake Baked Oats

Oats - you can use quick or old-fashioned but I wouldn't use steel cut. They soak up liquid differently and may alter the texture of the finished product. Oats are rich in fiber to make this recipe filling and give you steady energy!
Milk - any type of milk can be used here. I usually use a low-fat or skim cow's milk to get extra protein but you can use whatever milk you prefer or have on hand!
Banana - since the recipe only calls for one banana, the "banana" flavor isn't strong but you could sub applesauce. It provides moisture to the cake to keep it soft!
Eggs + egg whites - these bind the batter together as well as add some protein and other nutrients from the egg yolks (vitamin D)!
Almond butter - cashew butter would also be delicious in this recipe because of the milder flavor. Peanut butter would work but you'd have more of a peanut flavor since it's a little stronger!
Sweetener - honey or maple syrup are great in this recipe!
Spices - cinnamon and nutmeg are king cake staples so of course they're in this recipe!
Orange zest - just a littttle bit of orange zest is used to add more of that king cake flavor.
Almond extract - vanilla extract would work just as well, but again, I'm going for the full-on king cake flavor!

Recipe FAQ

Why didn't my baked oats rise?

Using eggs and baking powder really help baked oats rice and give them that "cake-y" texture. You can sub flax eggs if you want to make this recipe vegan!

Can you reheat baked oats?

Absolutely! They're delicious fresh out of the oven but one of the reasons I love this recipe is because it's an easy meal prep recipe I can make ahead of time. Simply reheat in the microwave or oven until it reaches your desired temperature! Be careful with the glaze though - it make get runny as you heat it.

How do you make protein powder glaze?

Simply whisk protein powder (and I recommend vanilla for this recipe! And be sure it's third party tested), powdered sugar, milk or water, and vanilla extract!

How do you get a cinnamon swirl into these baked oats?

Pour ~⅔-3/4 of the original batter into the prepared baking dish. Blend in extra cinnamon to the remaining batter (I use 1 Tbsp but you could use more if you like). Then pour the cinnamon batter into the original batter and swirl with a toothpick or chop stick!

A piece of king cake baked oats with a fork slicing a piece off. The baked oats are topped with a vanilla protein glaze, Mardi Gras sprinkles, and a traditional baby.

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A piece of king cake baked oats topped with a vanilla protein glaze, Mardi Gras sprinkles, and a traditional plastic baby. Cups of sprinkles are placed around the piece of king cake baked oats and Mardi Gras beads are in the background.

Rate & Review

If you made my king cake baked oats, please rate and review my recipe below! I would love to hear your feedback. Also snap a photo and tag me on insta @theperfectpearr so I can see your creation!