This Pumpkin Chocolate Pecan Baked Oatmeal is for basically everyone - it's vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and oil-free! An easy crowd pleaser, it's like dessert for breakfast yet power-packed with whole food, fiber-rich ingredients!
Place the pumpkin puree in a food processor that can hold up to 8 cups.* Using a spatula, make an indent in the pumpkin to place the spices in. In the order provided, add all of the remaining pumpkin filling ingredients and blend until smooth. *Important: If you don't have a big enough food processor, make the filling in two batches with a food processor or blender.
30 oz pumpkin, 2 tablespoons cinnamon, 2 teaspoons nutmeg, ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, 2 teaspoons vanilla, ½ cup maple syrup, 1 ½ cups plant-based milk
In a large bowl, stir together the oat mixture ingredients except for the dates. Add the pumpkin filling to the oat mixture, stirring well with a spatula, then add the dates, bananas, and pecans (if using), sprinkling them evenly around the mix before folding them in. Pour the mixture into a 9x13 pan (no oiling needed for the pan).
2 tablespoons cinnamon, 2 teaspoons nutmeg, ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, 4 cups rolled oats, ½ cup ground flaxseed, 2 tablespoons tapioca starch, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ cup dates, 2 bananas, 1 cup chopped pecans
Make the chocolate swirl by stirring together the cacao powder and maple syrup. Starting on one end of the 9x13, drizzle the chocolate sauce across in rows all the way to the other end. Every couple inches across the shot edge, drag a knife from the top chocolate row to the bottom to create a swirl. Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
¼ cup cacao powder, ¼ cup maple syrup
If adding maple pecan sauce, stir together the pecan butter and maple syrup while the oatmeal is baking. Let the baked oatmeal cool for at least 5 minutes, then drizzle the maple pecan sauce evenly over the baked oatmeal and top with the pinch of salt flakes if using. Serve and enjoy. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
¼ cup pecan butter, ¼ cup maple syrup, 1 pinch salt
Notes
Note: If you're missing the optional ingredients, make this recipe anyway! Don't let yourself miss out on this delicious, easy treat. The bake time allows for a gooey, bread pudding-like texture. For a firmer texture, bake a few minutes longer.