Struggle with getting dinner on the table? Grab our 5 easy family meal recipes!

These cherry chocolate muffin oatmeal cups are a fun new way to take oatmeal on the go, great for snacks, quick breakfasts and super for baby muffins and toddler muffins.  

this Post!

This post is sponsored by Egglands Best. All opinions are my own and I only partner with brands I 100% use on my own. 

I’m so excited to share my recent favorite snack with you today because they have received rave reviews in our house.

I obviously love anything oatmeal (blueberry baked oatmeal, baked steel cut oatmeal, high protein overnight oats), so oatmeal cups are a practical meal prep oatmeal snack option for me. 

I typically tend to snack on the same things – hard boiled eggs, yogurt, nuts, fruit and dried fruit, bars and muffins. Dried cherries are slowly becoming a huge pantry staple for me. Like raisins, they are so easy to add into everything, or just eat as a snack.

Dried fruit can be a great source of nutrients like iron, potassium, Vitamin C and fiber.

Plus, tart dried cherries are even known for their ability to enhance recovery after exercise. All great reasons to have them on hand. 

So, I wanted to include dried cherries in my recent baking creations. Aside from peanut butter and chocolate, peanut butter and banana, and chips and guacamole, I’d say cherry chocolate is right up there among my favorite flavor combinations.

In creating these cherry chocolate oatmeal cups, I knew I’d have a winner. 

Ingredients in Baked Cherry Oatmeal Muffin Cups

 Along with my almond flour banana muffins and strawberry chickpea flour muffins, these cherry chocolate muffins are great for toddler muffins. 

Muffins for kids are my favorite because they are also enjoyed by everyone in our house. 

These baked oatmeal cups are made with all wholesome ingredients, like:

• Rolled oats or old fashioned oats – Can use certified gluten free oats to keep these gluten free!
• Eggs – Important for binding and holding these together!
• Honey (or maple syrup)
• Milk of choice – Whole milk is great to use for babies and toddlers (Almond milk/soy milk/coconut milk also works)
• Dried cherries
• Flax Seeds
• Chocolate Chips– leave these out if you want to serve to little ones

These baked oatmeal cups can also be made gluten-free if you use certified gluten free oats and chocolate chips. Feel free to add a pinch of brown sugar if you like them sweeter, but I don’t think it’s completely necessary. 

Why You Need Cherry Chocolate Muffins

Do we need to talk about my love for snacks? Or even muffins and oatmeal?

I pretty much eat eggs and/or oatmeal every day for breakfast. Now don’t get me wrong, I love steel cut oatmeal and healthy baked oatmeal when I have time for them, but sometimes I just need oatmeal to go.

And these cherry and chocolate oatmeal cups to go really make that a possibility. 

Ready in under 40 Minutes

Just mix everything and throw it in the oven. Doesn’t get any easier! No chopping ingredients or thawing is necessary. Again, we’re all about good tasting efficiency over here!

Whether you’re a working mom, new mom, working professional, athlete or college student, I know you’re pressed for time. Easy recipes are key!

The Cherry Chocolate Flavor

I think you’ll agree with me on this one. The cherry chocolate is an amazing flavor combination and you can make so many fun desserts from it. Chocolate cherries? Yes please.

If you need more proof, see check out this chocolate cherry chia pudding made with fresh cherries.

You probably won’t want to share these with anyone but yourself. I can’t blame you. 

If you’re like me and a sucker for chocolate covered cherries or fruit, these chocolate cherry muffins are for YOU.

The Convenience in Oatmeal Cups To Go

Oatmeal to go can be tricky territory if you don’t prep in advance. And sometimes, we forget to make overnight oats and we don’t have time for steelcut oatmeal.

But, having some cherry chocolate muffins on hand can make for an easy and convenient breakfast! Just pair with fruit and a hard boiled egg (for extra protein) or yogurt and a tasty trail mix recipe and you’re all set.

Very portable, because we all need healthy quick breakfast options!

These baked oatmeal cups also make the best snacks on their own. Whether it’s before or after a workout, during the 3pm lull at work, or when your toddler or baby wants a healthy snack, here you go. This baked oatmeal cups recipe is great for busy parents and families on the go. 

I snack multiple times throughout the day, based on my hunger levels. Now I’m at the point where I’m always sharing my snacks with Camryn, so it’s important that they are nutritious and filling. 

Baked Oatmeal Cups are Great Bedtime Snacks

These portable little guys are full of all the macronutrients and make for a well-balanced food choice, especially for little ones. You can leave out the chocolate chips if you desire or substitute them for cocoa nibs. 

Plus, did you know tart dried cherries are anti-inflammatory and may help promote sleep? They have melatonin and tryptophan in them, so researchers think that combination can help promote sleep. So, have one of these with a glass of milk before you start your bedtime routine.

Additionally, these healthy oatmeal cups are great sources of fiber, Vitamin C, potassium and B-vitamins.

Oatmeal Cups Freeze Well For Future You

Are you big into meal prep? If so, these baked oatmeal cups will be your best friend! Make a bunch at once, set them and forget them. Just freeze them for later, when you don’t feel like doing meal prep, or life is just too crazy. You’ll thank yourself for thinking ahead and having these babies to heat up and enjoy.

This freezer-friendly meal roundup is one of the blog’s most popular post because it’s so practical!

I’ve been keeping batches of these cherry chocolate oatmeal cups available and ready to go. They have been the perfect snacks for fueling spring cleaning and other activities. 

How Nutritious Are These Cherry Chocolate Baked Oatmeal Cups?

Now that I’m a mom, I’m always trying to think of ways to add in more protein and nutrition for my meals and snacks. I’ve always been conscious of it, but things are different now that Camryn eats everything we do. One of my favorite ways to amplify nutrition content in recipes is by incorporating Egglands Best Eggs.

In my opinion, eggs are one of the most versatile ingredients you can keep on hand. Whether you want to make baked pasta, french toast, asparagus quiche or these oatmeal cups, they are important!

Plus, compared to traditional eggs, each Egglands Best egg has more than double the omega 3 content and DHA, 6 times the Vitamin D, more B-Vitamins and Vitamin E and less sodium and cholesterol. Because of these qualities, we always have Egglands Best eggs in our house.

Vitamin D is very important for babies and toddlers who are breastfed, and it is difficult enough to get in the diet, which is another reason these are perfect as baby muffins. They are such an easy way to add more Vitamin D in.

These cherry chocolate oatmeal cups are also full of complex carbohydrates and fiber. Depending on what milk you use, baked oatmeal cups can also provide additional Vitamin D and calcium. 

Other Variations

If you’re just not into the dried cherries and/or cherry chocolate combination, some other variations for these baked oatmeal cups include:

• raisins
• almonds, walnuts, shredded coconut
• sunflower butter, almond butter or peanut butter
• banana slices, blueberries or strawberries 

 

 How To Store Oatmeal Cups

They may not last long enough to need storage! You can store them in an airtight container or ziplock bag on the counter for a few days. If longer than that, move to the fridge or freezer. 

Can You Freeze Oatmeal Cups?

Yes, they make for a great make ahead breakfast idea!

Once they have cooled, freeze in a ziploc bag or glass tupperware containers.

When ready to eat, you can let them thaw in the fridge overnight, or toss them in the microwave or toaster oven to warm up. 

Pin it for Later

Do you meal prep?

What are your go-to snacks?