Healthy Chocolate Pumpkin Oatmeal Bake

Fall season is here and so is pumpkin spice season. Whether you love it or hate it, it’s here to stay. As a gardener, I now know that pumpkin season truly begins at the end of August/beginning of September – because that’s when your first batch of pumpkins are ready! We always cure ours because – why not? But also, it provides us with more options due to it’s longer shelf-life. Check out our squash curing article here.

I’ve been making something similar to this for a long time and finally landed on this super easy pumpkin oatmeal bake. It’s healthy, with lots of protein and other vital nutrients to kick start your morning.

I’m not a breakfast person, so having an easy, ready oatmeal bake leftover in the fridge from baking Sunday morning, has been a game changer for busy school and work mornings. I just knew I had to share the recipe.

Why Is Everyone Obsessed with Pumpkin?

Pumpkin is a fun vegetable to grow if you have the space for it. The vines grow over 10ft long and each plant provides a few pumpkins. While it might seem like it, pumpkin is also very versatile and has many uses. Also remember – not everything in the garden needs to have a specific use, sometimes it’s just fun to grow things! If you’re looking to grow pumpkins in your gardens, here’s a easy how-to guide!

But if you are looking for some quick reasons to grow pumpkins, here’s a few:

Pumpkin Purees

For this article I’m using a pumpkin puree we baked, peeled, blended and froze into our silicon muffin pan as pucks. Purees can be used and added in so many different culinary dishes.

We’ve added them to our healthy peanut butter cookie recipe as some added nutrients, you can add it to many other deserts or for casseroles, you can use it in soups. The list is endless.

Fun fact – pumpkin is good for constipation as well. We used it for our constipated cat a few years ago and it worked great. It’s also great for babies as a pureed snack when introducing solids!

Pumpkin Seeds

Besides saving seeds, you can also eat pumpkin seeds! They are absolutely delicious! They’re full of nutrients and are an easy healthy snack to have on hand. Children and adults love our tasty recipe – if my picky 3-year-old likes it, then you know it has to be good. Our roasted pumpkin seed recipe.

You don’t need to have the fancy specific green pumpkin seeds found at the grocery store – you can use the kind found in your own pumpkins you grew! No pesticides or harmful toxins used here!

Jack O’Lanterns

Pumpkins are known for being Halloween decor and that includes the tradition of carving them into jack o’lanterns. While it doesn’t cost much to get pumpkins from the store, it does tend to cost a bit more money when you go to a pumpkin patch.

Growing your own (and maybe more to give away or sell), is so much more satisfying. Children can get really into the growing and curing process of the pumpkins all season long, and saves you from going to the expensive pumpkin patch for the day.

Chicken Food (pumpkin carving)

Chickens will eat anything, including pumpkin squash. Growing some for chicken food is another way to cut down the expense of chicken feed.

Additionally, chickens can even ‘carve’ pumpkins for you! Peel of the harder rind of where you want to ‘carve’ and the chickens will peek at the easily accessible/already carved into rind and ‘carve’ the jack o’lantern’s face out for you!

Does Adding Seeds Really Make it Healthier?

Yes! We always try to incorporate flax seeds and hemp hearts into as many dishes as possible. It’s a simple and easy way to add nutrients to your food – and the best part is that you can’t even taste them.

Hemp seeds are:

• high in protein
• healthy fats and fibre
• good source of calcium, iron, potassium, zinc and magnesium.

Flax seeds are:

• high in omega-3 fatty acids,
• high in fibre
• aid in heart and digestive health
• can improve blood sugar control.

It’s for these reasons and more that we add these super useful seeds into our baking!

Ingredient Substitutions & Variations

The beautiful thing about this dish is the ability to be creative and expand once you’ve tried it. Here are some quick subsitutions:

• Pumpkin -> swap with butternut squash or sweet potato
• Honey -> swap with maple syrup
• Eggs -> swap with flax eggs
• Milk -> swap with a dairy-free alternative

As for variations – the sky is the limit. I added more pumpkin spice and some ground almond the last time. Just be weary of the wet to dry ingredient ratio – you want the mixture to be wet but thick.

Serving Ideas for Chocolate Pumpkin Oatmeal Bake

One of the best things about this recipe is how versatile it is. You can enjoy it straight out of the oven or dress it up with a few simple toppings to make it feel new every time. Here are a few delicious ways to serve it:

• Top with yogurt and fruit – Add a dollop of Greek yogurt and a handful of fresh berries or sliced banana. The creaminess balances the rich chocolate and pumpkin flavors while giving you an extra boost of protein.
• Drizzle with nut butter – Warm almond butter, peanut butter, or even sunflower seed butter turns a simple square into a decadent, filling snack. The healthy fats help keep you satisfied longer.
• Add a splash of cream or milk – Pour a little cream, oat milk, or almond milk over a warm slice for a cozy, bread-pudding style breakfast.
• Make it dessert-worthy – Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or coconut whipped cream for a healthier take on pumpkin pie.
• Grab-and-go bars – Cut into squares, wrap individually, and take them along for a quick snack or lunchbox treat (my go to breakfast option for a quick bite!).

Whether you keep it simple or get creative with toppings, this oatmeal bake is a recipe you can enjoy in more than one way.

Chocolate Doesn’t Automatically Mean ‘Bad’

I feel like chocolate has been given such a bad rap – yes it’s not the best food to eat, but it’s also not the worst. Eating a homemade oatmeal bake with no sugar added but it includes chocolate chips is much healthier than eating a muffin from the coffee shop.

The chocolate is the sweetness kick the recipe needs, you can add as much or as little as you like – but when you realize the recipe calls for oatmeal, milk, honey, eggs, pumpkin puree, hemp hearts, flax seeds and chocolate chips, you realize there’s more whole foods in there than any quick breakfast meal you can find at the store or a coffee shop.

Can You Freeze The Pumpkin Oatmeal Bake?

Yes! I doubled the recipe and realized I made too much for us to eat in a few days – plans changed! I froze a few pieces and let it thaw out overnight in the fridge and just reheated it in the microwave the next morning. A quick and easy breakfast!

Why You’ll Love Making This Oatmeal Bake Again and Again

If you’re looking for a cozy fall breakfast that’s as nourishing as it is delicious, this healthy chocolate pumpkin oatmeal bake really hits the mark. It’s simple to whip up, full of wholesome ingredients, and perfect for busy mornings when you want something ready to go. Whether you enjoy it warm from the oven, packed up for meal prep, or even as a snack with your afternoon coffee, it’s a recipe that brings comfort and nutrition together in every bite. Give it a try and let me know how your family likes it – I’d love to hear if you add your own twist!

We also have plenty of medicinal herbal guides, growing guides, seed saving guides and our recipes. We are growing our website with more articles all the time, and we invite you to grow with us. If you have any questions about fire cider or would like to share some of your knowledge with us please leave a comment below. Happy Gardening!

Healthy Pumpkin Oatmeal Casserole FAQ