Bananas, chocolate, and nuts… oh my! This healthy chunky monkey breakfast bake combines the light and fluffy texture of a muffin with the hearty staying power of baked oatmeal. It’s vegan, easily made gluten-free, and absolutely perfect for anyone who loves eating dessert for breakfast!
You know you’re a food blogger when one of the biggest gripes you have with your peanut allergy is the fact that it prevents you from taking advantage of the recipe cash cow that is peanut butter.
Never mind the inconvenience that comes with trying to eat out or the fact that 90% of the snacks/desserts I want to buy “may contain traces of peanuts.” No… what bugs me the most about my peanut allergy [these days] is that I can’t use peanut butter in my recipes.
People love peanut butter!
Heck, I would probably love peanut butter if it wasn’t hellbent on killing me.
Actually, I’m not even 100% sure that it is anymore. I was a little under hip-height the last time I had an allergy test done, and the doctors who treated me like a pincushion said there was a small chance that I might outgrow my allergy when I was older.
Does 31 count as older? Because 10 didn’t. And 19 didn’t. And 23 didn’t. And as much as I’d love to slap some peanut butter on some unfortunate part of my body to see if I get a reaction, Mr. Doctor, I’ve made it my life’s mission to stay as far away from those loathsome legumes as possible, so I’m not sure how I feel about slathering myself in something that could potentially make me pretty sick.
And if you’re wondering what all that rambling has to do with today’s recipe… that makes two of us. Sometimes I go off on tangents. But look! A breakfast bake!
It’s been a hot minute since I posted my last breakfast bake recipe, and while I try not to play favourites, I will say that I’m very, very fond of this one. Can you guess why?
Three Four words: bananas, almond butter, and chocolate. Three foods I could happily live off for the rest of my life, and three flavours that are the stars of this chunky monkey breakfast bake.
For those who don’t know, a breakfast bake is kind of like baked oatmeal, but with some of the oats replaced with a couple spoonfuls of flour. This gives the finished product a lighter, fluffier, and doughier texture – almost like that of a muffin.
Actually, that’s basically what this feels like. A bowl-sized chocolate chip banana muffin that happens to be topped with some killer banana-nut sauce. It’s pretty much like eating dessert for breakfast. Only healthier. And if you think chocolate for breakfast can’t be healthy, this is how I feel about that ?
So if you’re a fan of [healthy] muffins the size of your face and the combination of bananas, almond (or peanut) butter, and chocolate, I think you’ll love this chunky monkey breakfast bake.
I’d love to know if you make this recipe! Leave a comment and rating down below to let me know what you think, and subscribe to our mailing list to receive new recipes in your inbox!
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Chunky Monkey Breakfast Bake
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
Ingredients
For the bake:
- ¼ cup (20 g) rolled oats
- 2 Tbsp (14 g) oat bran*
- 2 Tbsp (15 g) flour of choice**
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 medium ripe banana (50 g)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) unsweetened almond milk
- ½ Tbsp (8 ml) maple syrup
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 Tbsp (15 g) mini vegan chocolate chips
For the banana nut sauce:
- 1 Tbsp (16 g) nut butter***
- other half of the banana
- small splash of almond milk
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (176°C) and lightly spray an individual sized (~16oz./500 ml) ramekin with cooking spray or grease it with cooking oil. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine the oats, oat bran, flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a smaller bowl, roughly mash the banana (some chunks are okay) before adding in the almond milk, maple syrup, and vanilla, mixing until well combined.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until fully incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Transfer the dough to your greased ramekin and bake for 20 minutes, until the centre has set and the bake has reached your desired consistency.
- Meanwhile, make the sauce by mashing the other half of the banana in the same small bowl you used before before and adding a spoonful of nut butter. Mix until smooth, adding a splash of almond milk to reach your desired consistency. Pour over the bake once it comes out of the oven and sprinkle with additional chocolate chips, if desired.
Notes
* If you don’t have any oat bran on hand, just use an additional 2 Tbsp. of oats. ** I usually use an all-purpose or whole wheat, but this recipe works fine with most flours, including gluten-free and grain-free ones. *** I used a natural almond butter, but feel free to use whichever nut or seed butter is your favourite.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
Looking for more breakfast bake recipes? Try one of these!
Oatmeal Cookie Dough Breakfast Bake
Brownie Batter Breakfast Bake
Blueberry Muffin Breakfast Bake
Cinnamon Bun Breakfast Bake
Chocolate Chunky Monkey Breakfast Bake
How do you come up with so much awesome stuff?!
So I haven’t made one of your breakfast bakes yet, but I think you’ve convinced me with this one. Looks so yummy.
Also, I would keep testing the effects of cheese on my body daily if it didn’t make me so sick. Cuz I actually KNOW that I love it lol. Plus, it’s another big recipe ‘cash cow’ that I can’t actually use :/ So I kinda feel your pain.
Aww yeah cheese is kind of a big one too. But maybe that’s just a sign that you should take advantage of the vegan market! Lots of people looking for plant-based recipes 😀
As a HUGE lover of peanut butter, I can understand why you feel the way you do but honestly, you don’t even need it. Your recipes are so amazing, they kick peanut butter’s ass! 😉
Seriously, when I saw this on your Snap, I about died. It looks so good! Who knew adding a few tablespoons of flour would make it so fluffy like that. YUM!
Well, I know what I’m eating for breakfast tomorrow! This looks delicious.
Thanks Courtney! I hope you like it 😀
I saw that first picture and “Oh My” is what popped into my head too! I am one of those annoying people that love peanut butter – but I love almond butter, cashew butter and pecan butter equally! 🙂
This is a scrumptious bake Amanda – I wish I had seen this this morn!
I feel like I say this about all of your recipes, but this looks absolutely delicious! Especially that sauce on top!
That’s definitely what makes this recipe! Then again, it’s hard to go wrong with bananas and nut butter 😀
I feel your food allergy pain. My daughter has been allergic to dairy since birth, so no ice cream, cheese, baked goods, yogurt. The list goes on. We were told she may grow out of it by 5 then 8… she’s now 16 and no sign of letting up. We make do but like you, I still wish somehow it will change. Sorry for the ramble that’s not PB or oatmeal related. LOL. On the upside, she loves oatmeal and bananas so we will give this a whirl!
Ramble away! I totally know how frustrating food allergies can be, and it’s always nice to chat with someone who can relate 🙂 Thankfully there are more allergy-friendly alternatives these days. The awareness wasn’t as great even a handful of years back!
Yum! I think I’ll make this during the weekend. We’re supposed to have a snow storm this seemslike a good snow storm breakfast to me! So sorry about your peanut allergy 🙁 I love peanut butter! Thank you for sharing the deliciousness!
Definitely a good snow storm breakfast! Is it weird that I actually find snow storms nice and comforting? As long as I’m inside, anyways… 😆
I do believe you would love peanut butter if you weren’t allergic 🙂 But seriously, you were the reason I gave almond butter a second chance a couple years ago, causing me to fall in love with that nut butter as well (obvs not as much as peanut butter though).
Holy moly this is making my stomach growl as I sit in my dorm at 9pm.
Yesssss! I’ll call that a success. Now to work on your chocolate aversion 😉
Three foods I need to live: bananas, peanut butter and…yup that’s it. 😉
Swap PB for AB and I’m right there with ya, lady!
Yum! Any excuse for chocolate in the morning. 😉
Gotta get those antioxidants in 😉
Peanut butter aint got NOTHIN on this breakfast bake!! YUM!
I know you feel me on the peanut butter woes <3
This looks and sounds so delicious. I will be making this!
Woohoo! Love hearing that 😀
I think we need a an egg free, peanut free, gluten free, dairy free party. Okay that might be lames but I am pretty sure you could pull it off with all your creations. <3 chunky munky and YOU. but you first.
With the two of us in charge? I’m pretty sure we’d have the best tasting party out there <3 xo
I gotta tell you I love your timing. I was looking for a banana breakfast bake recipe on your site yesterday! So glad you posted it in time for breakfast this morning. 🙂 Instead of making the sauce I sprinkled chopped peanuts over the top before baking. Also, in the interest of getting the sugar monkey off my back from Christmas excess, I skipped the chocolate chips. <3
I had a feeling today would be a good day for a banana bake 😉 I’m so glad you made it and liked it!
If there’s oats, I will eat it. No matter what. Lucky me that it has all of my other favorites rolled in. Nut butter, banana, chocolate chips? Nothing better!
A woman after my own heart! 😆 Oats are probably my most favourite food there is. So versatile, tasty, and comforting.
Eh, grab the tahini, almond butter, and cashew butter <— just as wonderful 😉
And I could life off of japanese sweet potatoes, cashews, and apples….forever!
I don’t play around with tahini enough, but that stuff’s seriously awesome combined with something sweet.
You know you’re a blogger when you cringe at spending 40 € on a dress but your weekly grocery bills easily add up to that. Occasionally including a 16 € spent on a jar of almond butter.
While I’m tempted to say you’re missing out on the banana + chocolate + peanut butter action that is the traditional chunky monkey business: your recipe wouldn’t make me miss it at all. It sounds beyond delicious in its own way. If anything I’d say your allergy fuelled your creativity.
YES to the clothes vs. food thing! Granted I’ve never been huge on fashion, but I’d rather splurge on food and save on clothes. Unless it comes to purses. That’s my one weakness 😆
I’m completely horrible at cooking things in the microwave so I’m really not sure, but I’d love to know if you tried it!
LOVE LOVE LOVEEEEEEE this one!! Although I do feel slightly guilty, seeing as how I will most definietly be using peanut butter. Sorry, my friend, but peanut butter completes me [probably about the same as almond butter for you!] Even though I had oatmeal for breakfast, there is just something so much more delectable and satisfying about an oat bake. I just love them!
PB?! Blasphemy! 😛 But you’re totally right — there’s something so much more satisfying about baked oats! Maybe it’s just a texture thing.
Ok, real talk, this looks DELICIOUS. I could see myself eating this for breakfast AND dessert, which frankly is every girl’s dream, am I right?
Will absolutely be trying this asap, already salivating haha!
-Dana
theflexroutine.com
I can’t speak for every girl, but it’s definitely one of my dreams 😉 Hope you like it, Dana!
Looks amazing, per usual. My friend was very allergic to peanuts and then a couple years ago she found out she wasn’t and now she eats peanut butter a lot! Crazy but I am with you in that I’m not sure it would be worth the risk…especially since there are plenty of other nut butters to eat.
I honestly have no idea what I’d do with that kind of freedom. It literally boggles my mind 😆
Why isn’t this in front of me right now! Good thing I actually have bananas right now!! This looks amazing already pinned this baby for later!
Thanks Sam! Hope you like it 😀
Agreed! Food intolerances and allergies = super annoying. Speaking of which, I think I’m gonna try one of your breakfast bake recipes with quinoa flakes in place of the oats. We’ll see how it goes. : S
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you, Joyce!
I could eat potatoes every day and be happy – bake it, fry it, shred it into hash browns, boil it and make a salad, dehydrate it and make a chip. Whatever you do to potatoes, I’m happy.
A few years ago, my friends did a quiz on my behalf that said my ideal home would be somewhere in Poland – I love cold weather, chunky sweaters and potatoes 🙂
http://runwright.net
A woman after my own heart! Potatoes are seriously one of my top foods as well, and I hate that they always seem to get overshadowed by sweet potatoes. Also… my family is Polish 😀 I was the first one born over on this side of the pond, but we still keep all our Polish traditions.
Yessss. Don’t worry, I love almond butter so much more than peanut butter. I have to make it once a week bc I go a little overboard.
I really need to get better about making my own. I die a little inside when I see the price of AB these days 😯
I love that you put chocolate chips in there. My kind of girl. My kids love these smoothies I make called funky monkeys, where I mix milk, chocolate, peanut butter, banana and ice cubes into a blender. This recipe sounds like a good warm breakfast for the winter!
Whaaaaat? Ok that sounds pretty incredible. All my parents ever gave me when I was little was blueberry banana smoothies. Still good, but definitely not a funky monkey.
This has all my favourite things combined into one dish for a delicious breakfast. I am making this on the weekend for sure.
Woohoo! Hope you like it, Jen 😀
I love trying new variations of oatmeal 🙂 This will surely be a recipe to try this week!
Always nice to spice things up a little. Hope you like it, Lindsey!
This is how I feel about my tree nut allergy. I can eat all the peanut butter I want, but every food blogger ever is in love with using almond butter these days!
I feel that pain. Up until a handful of years ago, I thought I was allergic to ALL nuts… so this feels like a blessing!
I would be so sad if I couldn’t peanut butter.Luckily, almond is a close second! You always manage to post things that immediately make me want second breakfast. I don’t think I could pick just 3 things to live off of, but if I had to pick just one meal I would pick breakfast.
Breakfast is totally the best! Which is why things like second breakfast, third breakfast, fourth breakfast, etc., need to be a thing 😉
I’ve been wanting to make your chunky monkey pancakes, but unfortunately my blender is a little loud and my husband is still asleep when I make breakfast. This, however, is a perfect solution!
I mostly feel sad that you have to purchase almond butter all the time. That stuff is like gold. Sunflower seed butter is a little better, at least here! Anyways, don’t worry about the recipes- I always switch pb in anyways 😉
“I always switch pb in anyways” <-- blasphemy! 😛 You're totally right about the almond butter, though. I die a little inside when I see how much a little jar costs :Cry:
This looks SO amazing! I love that it’s one serving, as well. I purposely haven’t had chocolate chips in the house for a bit, but now I obviously have to go get some. Oh, darn.
Don’t you just hate it when that happens? 😉
HAHA, the you know you’re a food blogger is hilarious…This looks really good Amanda…nice and simple!
My younger self would be laughing big time at my current self. My allergy used to drive my crazy for way different reasons 😆
I would be in so much trouble if I couldn’t have peanut butter, I don’t even know how you do it! But I love almond butter and some of the no nut butters as well, just way more expensive or I might choose almond butter over peanut butter! But three foods, I’m with ya on the almond butter, but I’d totally go with eggs and oats!
The prices of almond butter are killing me lately 🙁 I try to sub with some of the others (sunflower, soy nut) when I can, but it’s just not the same.
Chunky monkey is the best! Starving now. You know you’re a food blogger when you grocery shop for recipes in addition to actual meals, when you have a tripod in your kitchen, and when you eat the same frittata 3 days in a row for every meal.
Omg my shopping trips are nuts! Make sure to save those receipts for taxes!
You know you are food blogger then you lick your screen because you love your Bloglovin’s foodie ☺️
Ain’t that the truth! I can only read blogs when I’m actually eating something 😆
You know you’re a food blogger when you’ve had three different variations of the same recipe three days in a row. Recipe testing can be hard sometimes 🙂
Hahaha! #truth Or when you eat the different variations of the same recipe for breakfast, lunch, and dinner…
YUM! Nut butter and banana is always a winning combination…whether peanut or almond butter! 😉
I’m just gonna have to take your word on the peanut butter part 😉
So I loved that you used the other half of the banana in the sauce. Waste not, want not or something like that.
This might turn me over to the dark side; the oat side. I know my Hubby would love it because he eats oatmeal for breakfast a few times a week and he also loves chocolate.
!!! I still can’t believe you’re not on the oat bandwagon – I only forgive you because you have smoothies instead 😛
This is an amazing breakfast meal. It is hard for me to eat breakfast because I work graveyard. But these dish is so easy and quick and delicious. Even my fiance, who doesnt like oatmeal, finds it to be pretty good. I use almond butter from trader joes and what a delight that is. Thank you!