Baked PB2 and Banana Oatmeal

Baked PB2 Oatmeal with banana is a hearty and healthy breakfast with no added sugar that will keep you full and satisfied all morning. It's a must make for all peanut butter and banana lovers. You'll also want to try these No Bake Peanut Butter and Banana Oat Bars and Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia Seed Pudding that's sweetened with bananas.

I can tell fall is really kicking in when the requests for more oatmeal recipes start to roll in. Mornings are cooler and reaching for something warm and comforting can be just the thing to jump start the day. Plus everyone always wants more recipes with PB2 (a lower calorie powdered peanut butter). The lower calorie peanut butter powder is becoming more and more popular and for good reason. It tastes just like peanut butter when added to things like oatmeal or smoothies with 75% less calories and fat. 

When it comes to morning oats, the combinations are virtually endless, but lately I have been craving the classic combination of peanut butter and banana. As a kid, I loved banana and peanut butter sandwiches on white bread and I think this is my healthier"adult" version of that delicious sandwich. The oats are packed with whole grains and fiber while the banana adds a natural sweetness without needed any added refined sugar. It's just a combination that works.

This recipe is also for baked oatmeal, which lately has become a favorite. By baking oatmeal instead of cooking it in the microwave or on the stove, it takes on a more cake or bar like texture. In fact, you could easily pop it out of the ramekin and take it with you on the go. The oats also maintain more of their texture and it is like a delicious, portable oatmeal muffin. Trust me, you'll love it.

Recipe Ideas for Baked PB2 and Banana Oatmeal

• Add chocolate: No one would blame you for adding some chocolate chips to this recipe because chocolate and peanut butter is a dreamy combination. 
• Add fruit: You can pack even more flavor into this recipe by adding some additional fruit. I like to toss in some blueberries or raspberries when I have them in the house,
• Try pumpkin: If you love all things pumpkin, add about 1/4 cup pumpkin puree to this oatmeal and a touch of pumpkin pie spice.
• Seeds and nuts: If you want to kick up the nutrition, you could always add in some chia seeds, flax seeds (meal), coconut, or other chopped nuts and seeds. 

What is powdered peanut butter?

Powdered peanut butter is essentially peanuts that have been processed in such a way that most of the oil and fats have been removed. This usually involves dry roasting the peanuts and then pressing them to remove the oil aka fats. Once they have been pressed, they are ground into a peanut butter powder that can be used as a powder or reconstituted with water to create a spread.

The main appeal of peanut butter powder is that it has about 85% less fat than traditional peanut butter and only 45 calories versus the 191 calories in the same two tablespoons serving of real peanut butter. There are similar amounts of protein, fiber, and sugar in both. 

There are lots of different brands of powdered peanut butter on the market and any of them will work for this recipe. Since PB2 was one of the first companies to sell powdered peanut butter, many people simply call it PB2 regardless of the brand. They vary in the amount of sugar, so that is something to always pay attention to when buying a peanut butter powder.

How do you use powdered peanut butter?

There are two ways to use powdered peanut butter, using it as a powder or mixing it with water to create a peanut butter style spread. When used as a powder, it is a great peanut flavoring agent since it has a really peanut forward flavor. This is a great option for smoothies, oatmeal, chia seed pudding, baked goods, and other recipes that already incorporate liquid of some kind. If you want to use it as a more traditional spread on toast or fruit, you will need to mix the powder with water. Normally you need one tablespoon of water for every two tablespoons of the powder.

Is powdered peanut butter good for you?

This is the big debate and it really depends on what your goals are and what you need from your diet. Peanut butter powder has significantly less fat and fewer calories so it is a great option for anyone looking to lose weight or cut back. However, it is worth noting, that the fats in peanut butter are healthy unsaturated fats and they help keep you full in satisfied.  Powdered peanut butter will not keep you full in the same way since it is lacking those fats. 

Meal Prep

This PB2 Banana Oatmeal is great for meal prep. You can cook a larger batch in muffin tins, individual ramekins, or in a glass baking dish. Then just let them cool and store in the fridge for a quick, grab and go breakfast or snack. They can be eaten cold, at room temperature, or warmed up. You can also freeze these oatmeal cups. Just let them cool completely and then place them on a baking sheet in the freezer for 3-4 hours. Once they harden and freeze on the outside, you can place them in a freezer safe bag or container.