This Strawberry Pop-Tart Protein Baked Oats recipe transforms your childhood favorite treat into a nutritious, protein-packed breakfast that’ll keep you energized all morning. With the perfect balance of nostalgic sweetness and wholesome ingredients, these baked oats deliver that delicious strawberry pop-tart experience without the guilt. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s an ideal breakfast option for busy mornings when you want something special but don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Nutritious Upgrade: These baked oats pack all the nostalgic flavor of strawberry pop-tarts but with added protein and fiber to keep you satisfied for hours.
Quick & Simple: Despite looking fancy, this breakfast comes together in just 30 minutes with basic pantry ingredients.
Meal Prep Champion: Make a batch on Sunday and enjoy a grab-and-go breakfast all week long – they store beautifully!
Customizable: Easy to adapt to your dietary preferences while still maintaining that delicious strawberry pop-tart experience.

Strawberry Pop-Tart Protein Baked Oats Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Baked Oats:

Oat flour: Creates the perfect cake-like texture. You can buy it pre-made or simply blend regular oats in a food processor until fine.
Vanilla casein protein powder: Adds staying power to your breakfast while enhancing the vanilla flavor. Any protein powder works, but casein gives the best texture.
Baking powder: The secret to getting that perfect rise and fluffy texture.
Salt: Just a pinch balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
Unsweetened vanilla almond milk: Keeps the batter moist without adding excess calories. Any milk works fine here!
Eggs: Provides structure and helps bind everything together.
Maple syrup: Adds natural sweetness that complements the strawberry filling perfectly.
Vanilla extract: Enhances that classic pop-tart flavor profile.
Strawberry preserves: The star of the show! Low-sugar preserves give you that classic pop-tart filling without overwhelming sweetness.

For the Frosting:

Powdered sugar: Creates that classic sweet pop-tart topping experience.
Greek yogurt: The secret ingredient that adds protein and creaminess to the frosting while keeping it lighter than traditional icing.

Variations

Want to customize your protein baked oats? Here are some delicious options:

Berry Bonanza: Swap strawberry preserves for raspberry, blueberry, or mixed berry jam for different fruit flavors.
Chocolate Lover’s Dream: Add mini chocolate chips to the batter and replace the strawberry preserves with chocolate hazelnut spread.
Peanut Butter Cup: Swirl peanut butter into the batter and use chocolate protein powder instead of vanilla.
Apple Cinnamon: Use apple butter as your filling and add cinnamon to the batter for a fall-inspired breakfast treat.

How to Make Strawberry Pop-Tart Protein Baked Oats

Step 1: Prepare Your Equipment

Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray three half-quart baking dishes with non-stick cooking spray. These ramekins create the perfect individual portions, but a single larger baking dish works too if you adjust the baking time.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the oat flour, protein powder, baking powder, and salt until well combined. This ensures your protein powder will be evenly distributed throughout.

Step 3: Combine Wet Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk the almond milk, eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until smooth. This step is crucial for achieving that perfect cakey texture.

Step 4: Create the Batter

Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix until completely incorporated with no dry flour visible. The batter should be thick and sticky – don’t worry if it seems dense, it’ll transform in the oven!

Step 5: Layer and Fill

Add half the batter to your prepared baking dishes, spreading it out to create an even base layer. Add a dollop of strawberry preserves in the center of each dish, being careful not to spread it all the way to the edges. Top with the remaining batter, ensuring the jam is completely covered.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Bake for 20-22 minutes until the oats puff up and begin to lightly brown on top. When done, they should spring back slightly when touched. Let them cool on a rack while you prepare the frosting.

Step 7: Create the Frosting

Whisk the Greek yogurt and powdered sugar together until smooth. For that authentic pop-tart look, add a touch of red food coloring if desired.

Step 8: Decorate and Enjoy

Once cooled, spread the frosting over your baked oats and add sprinkles if you’re feeling festive! Serve immediately for that fresh-baked experience.

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

Quick Oat Flour: Don’t have oat flour? Make your own by blending regular oats in a blender or food processor until fine and flour-like.
Protein Powder Matters: Different protein powders absorb liquid differently. If your batter seems too thick, add a splash more milk; if too thin, add a bit more oat flour.
Room Temperature Ingredients: Using room temperature eggs and milk helps everything mix more evenly.
The Jam Trick: To keep the jam from sinking to the bottom, make a small well in the first layer of batter before adding the preserves.

How to Serve

These protein-packed baked oats are quite filling on their own, but here are some delicious pairing ideas:

For Extra Protein:

Serve alongside Greek yogurt topped with fresh strawberries for a protein boost that complements the strawberry flavor.

For a Complete Breakfast:

Pair with a side of scrambled eggs or a protein shake for an extra filling morning meal.

For a Dessert-Like Treat:

Top with a scoop of vanilla Greek yogurt and fresh berries for a more decadent experience.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

These baked oats store beautifully in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For best results, store unfrosted and add the topping just before serving.

Freezing

You can freeze these baked oats for up to 3 months! Wrap individual portions tightly without frosting, then thaw overnight in the refrigerator when ready to enjoy.

Reheating

For that fresh-baked taste, reheat in the microwave for 30-45 seconds or in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes until warmed through. Add frosting after reheating.

FAQs

Can I use regular flour instead of oat flour?
While you technically can substitute all-purpose flour, I wouldn’t recommend it for this recipe. Oat flour gives these baked oats their signature texture and flavor that makes them taste like a real pop-tart while keeping them healthier. If you don’t have oat flour on hand, simply blend rolled oats in a blender until fine and flour-like.

What if I don’t have casein protein powder?
No worries! While casein protein gives the best texture, you can substitute any protein powder you have on hand. Whey protein works well but may make the texture slightly less cake-like. Plant-based proteins like pea or soy will work too, though you might need to adjust the liquid slightly as different proteins absorb moisture differently.

Can I make this recipe vegan?
Absolutely! Replace the eggs with flax eggs (2 tablespoons ground flaxseed mixed with 6 tablespoons water, let sit for 5 minutes), use plant-based protein powder, and choose a vegan-friendly Greek yogurt alternative for the frosting. The texture might be slightly different, but the flavor will still be delicious.

Why did my baked oats sink in the middle?
This usually happens if the preserves were spread too close to the edges or if the oats weren’t fully baked. Make sure to keep the jam centered and away from the sides of your baking dish, and don’t be afraid to give them an extra minute or two in the oven if they still seem too soft in the center.

These Strawberry Pop-Tart Protein Baked Oats bring all the joy of your favorite childhood breakfast treat with the nutrition your adult self needs. They’re quick enough for weekday mornings yet special enough for weekend brunches. The protein keeps you full, while the strawberry jam center and sweet topping make breakfast feel like a treat. Whether you’re meal prepping for busy workdays or looking to satisfy a pop-tart craving without the sugar crash, this recipe deserves a permanent spot in your breakfast rotation!

Strawberry Pop-Tart Protein Baked Oats Recipe