Easy Gluten-Free Oat Bread with Seeds and Dried Fruit combines nutty pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, chewy apricots, and fresh orange zest. Vegan and fiber-rich, it comes together without yeast or kneading.
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Inspired by Mestemacher bread, this hearty loaf has a dense, chewy texture and slices beautifully once cooled. Enjoy it toasted with your favorite spread-a fruity twist that makes store-bought bread hard to go back to!
Jump to:
- 🔍 Quick Look: No-Yeast Oat Bread
- 👩🏽⚕️ Dietitian’s Note
- 👩🏼🌾 Ingredients
- 🌱 Substitutions
- 📝 How to Make Gluten-Free Oat Bread with Seeds & Dried Fruit
- 🌿 Variations
- ✔️ Storage & Meal Prep Tips
- 🍞 What To Eat with Gluten-Free Oat Bread
- 🙋🏽♀️ Recipe FAQs
- 🍽️ Related Recipes
- 👩🏽🍳 Made this recipe?
- ⚖️ Convert the Recipe to Metric (g & mL)
- Easy Oat Bread with Seeds & Fruit Recipe
- 🛍️ Shop Recipe Cookware and Ingredients
- 💬 Comments
🔍 Quick Look: No-Yeast Oat Bread
- ⏱️ Hands On Time: 10 minutes
- 💧Soak Time: 6 hours
- 🥣 Rest time: 25 minutes
- 🎛️ Cook Time: 75 minutes
- 👥 Servings: 10
- 📊 Calories: ~200 kcal (based on nutrition panel)
- 👩🏽🍳 Flavor Profile: Nutty, hearty, and lightly sweet, with chewy dried apricots, fresh orange zest, and optional warming cinnamon.
- 💪🏼 Nutrition: 8 grams of protein, 7 grams of fiber. Each slice provides approximately 28% of the Daily Value for magnesium, 17% for zinc, and 13% for iron.
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy. No yeast, kneading, or bread-making experience is required.
👩🏽⚕️ Dietitian’s Note
This No-Yeast Oat Bread with Seeds and Fruit, inspired by Mestemacher-style breads, combines several ingredients I particularly like for supporting heart and metabolic health.
Oats provide beta-glucan, a type of soluble fiber associated with lowering LDL cholesterol when consumed regularly in sufficient amounts as part of an overall heart-healthy diet.
Flaxseeds contribute fiber and ALA omega-3 fatty acids, while pumpkin seeds provide unsaturated fats, plant-based protein, and minerals. Teff flour and dried apricots also contribute iron.
Psyllium is another source of viscous soluble fiber. It forms a gel in the digestive tract that can help reduce cholesterol absorption and increase the excretion of bile acids. The liver then uses cholesterol to make additional bile acids, which can contribute to lower LDL cholesterol.
The combination of whole grains, seeds, and psyllium also makes this loaf substantially different nutritionally from many conventional breads made primarily from refined flour.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
This Gluten-Free Oat Bread is delicious and easy to slice. Plus, it’s:
- A no-yeast homemade bread recipe: This easy bread comes together without proofing or complicated bread-making techniques.
- Packed with seeds: Flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds add texture, unsaturated fats, plant-based protein, fiber, and minerals.
- Made with whole grains: Steel-cut oats and teff flour make this bread hearty and satisfying.
- Naturally sweetened with fruit: Dried apricots add chewy bites of sweetness, while orange zest brightens the loaf.
- Easy to make: Mix everything in one bowl, let it rest, press it into the pan, and bake.
- Gluten-free: Use certified gluten-free steel-cut oats and gluten-free teff flour.
- Freezer-friendly: The dense, hearty slices store and freeze well and are delicious toasted.
👩🏼🌾 Ingredients
Below, I share ingredient notes from both a nutrition expert’s and trained chef’s perspective.

- Steel-cut oats form the hearty whole-grain base of this oat bread. Soaking them for 6-7 hours, or overnight, softens the pieces enough for baking while maintaining their pleasantly chewy texture. Drain them very thoroughly before adding them to the bread mixture.
- Whole flaxseeds give this loaf its characteristic seed bread texture while adding fiber and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid.
- Raw pumpkin seeds add a delicious nutty flavor along with protein, magnesium, iron, and zinc. Use shelled pumpkin seeds, also called pepitas. There is no need to chop them.
- Teff flour (or use whole rolled oat or quinoa flakes) helps fill the spaces between the larger oats and seeds, giving the loaf a more cohesive texture. Teff contributes an earthy, nutty flavor and iron.
- Dried apricots add natural sweetness and chewy texture. Use kitchen shears to cut them into small pieces so they are evenly distributed throughout the loaf.
- Whole psyllium husks are essential for holding this no-yeast bread together. Once hydrated, they form a gel-like structure that binds the oats and seeds so the finished loaf can be sliced.
- Orange zest adds a fresh citrus flavor that pairs beautifully with the dried apricots. Finely grate only the orange outer peel, avoiding the bitter white pith.
- Ground cinnamon adds gentle warmth. It is optional.
- A small amount of fine sea salt enhances the nutty flavors and balances the sweetness of the apricots. You can reduce or omit it for a lower-sodium loaf.
- Water hydrates the psyllium, flaxseeds, and teff flour so the mixture becomes thick and cohesive.
- Apple cider vinegar adds subtle acidity and balances the hearty flavor of the oats and seeds.
See the printable recipe card below for quantities.
🌱 Substitutions
This recipe is versatile and easy to adapt. Below are some simple ingredient substitutions.
- Teff flour: Replace it with ½ cup rolled oats or quinoa flakes. For a finer texture, briefly pulse the rolled oats in a blender before adding them. For gluten-free bread, use certified gluten-free oats.
- Pumpkin seeds: Replace them with sunflower seeds.
- Dried apricots: Try an equal amount of raisins or chopped dried figs. The sweetness and texture will vary.
- Orange zest: Use lemon zest for a different citrus flavor, or omit it.
- Ground cinnamon: Leave it out if you prefer the apricot and orange flavors on their own.
- Apple cider vinegar: Use an equal amount of another mild vinegar, such as white wine vinegar.
- Steel-cut oats: I do not recommend replacing the steel-cut oats with whole oat groats in this recipe. Their larger size can overwhelm the loaf and make it harder to slice cleanly.
- Psyllium husks: I do not recommend omitting the psyllium. It is a structural ingredient that helps bind this no-yeast bread.
The complete recipe with exact amounts is below. These additional tips will help you get the best results.
🌿 Variations
Replace some of the sunflower or pumpkin seeds with additional whole flaxseeds for an even more seed-forward loaf.
Gluten-Free Porridge Bread
Use certified gluten-free steel-cut oats and certified gluten-free oat flakes, or use quinoa flakes. Oats are naturally gluten-free but can be cross-contaminated during growing and processing, so certification is important for people who need to strictly avoid gluten.
Lower-Sodium Bread
Reduce the salt or leave it out entirely. The toasted seeds still provide plenty of nutty flavor.
Toasted Seed Bread
For a deeper, nuttier flavor, lightly toast the pumpkin and sunflower seeds before mixing them into the dough. Let them cool before using.
✔️ Storage & Meal Prep Tips
Let the Gluten-Free Oat & Seed Bread cool completely before storing. Store the loaf in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Because this homemade bread contains no preservatives and is naturally moist, refrigeration is preferable to leaving it at room temperature for several days.
For the best texture, toast refrigerated slices before serving.
Meal Prep
This no-yeast bread is ideal for meal prep because you can bake one loaf, slice it, and keep individual portions ready to toast throughout the week.
For longer storage, slice the completely cooled loaf and freeze the slices with parchment between them. This makes it easy to remove only what you need. Toast individual slices directly from frozen or thaw them first.
🍞 What To Eat with Gluten-Free Oat Bread
This Psyllium Jelly is hard to beat. It takes just a few minutes to make and transforms psyllium husks into a lightly sweet, spoonable jelly.
Make this delicious and healthy Chia Seed Jam recipe using ground chia seeds for maximum health benefits.
Creamy, tangy, and dairy-free, this nut-free Protein Cream Cheese is made with protein-packed super-firm tofu, miso, lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs.
Boost plant-based protein with this Lentil Bean Dip, combining creamy beans and lentils with bold flavors.
5-minute Protein Guacamole with plant-based protein and spinach! This healthy protein-packed dip tastes incredible!
🙋🏽♀️ Recipe FAQs
What is oat bread with seeds and dried fruit?
This is a hearty bread made with soaked steel-cut oats, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, teff flour, and dried apricots. Psyllium binds the ingredients into a dense, rustic loaf without yeast or kneading.
Is this oat bread gluten-free?
Yes, when made with certified gluten-free steel-cut oats and gluten-free teff flour. If replacing the teff with rolled oats, use certified gluten-free oats. While oats themselves do not naturally contain gluten, regular oats may be contaminated with gluten-containing grains during processing.
Can I replace the teff flour?
Yes. Use ½ cup rolled oats or quinoa flakes instead of the ½ cup teff flour. You can briefly pulse the rolled oats in a blender for a finer texture. Check the consistency after resting, as the amount of water needed may vary slightly.
Does homemade bread need to be refrigerated?
This moist, flourless-style seed bread is best stored in the refrigerator once completely cooled. Refrigeration helps maintain freshness, and individual slices are excellent reheated in the toaster.
Do I need to grind the flaxseeds?
No. This recipe uses whole flaxseeds intentionally for texture. The psyllium husk is responsible for much of the binding, so there is no need to grind the flaxseeds for the loaf to hold together.

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⚖️ Convert the Recipe to Metric (g & mL)
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Easy Oat Bread with Seeds & Fruit Recipe
Gluten-Free Oat Bread with Seeds and Dried Fruit is delcious, nutty, and naturally sweetened with dried fruit. An easy, healthy homemade bread with no yeast or kneading required.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Soaking time: 6 hours
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Course Breakfast, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine Vegan
Servings 12 servings
Calories 217 kcal
- 1 ½ cups dry steel cut oats
- ¾ cup dried apricots or dried fruit
- ½ cup whole flax seeds
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds pepitas
- ½ cup teff flour or quinoa flakes, or rolled oats (see notes)
- 3 tablespoons whole psyllium husks
- 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest (about 1 orange) optional
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
- 1 ½ cups water
- 4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt optional
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1 Loaf pan 8½ x 4½-inch or similar size, nontoxic nonstick or parchment-lined
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1 Large bowl
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1 Fine Mesh Sieve
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Soak the steel-cut oats: Place the steel-cut oats in a bowl and cover generously with water. Soak for 6 to 7 hours, until the oats are pliable and can be pressed between your fingers but still retain their shape. Do not oversoak. Drain very thoroughly using a fine mesh sieve.
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Prepare the apricots: Use kitchen shears to cut the dried apricots into small pieces. Leave the pumpkin seeds whole.
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Combine the dry ingredients: Add the drained steel-cut oats, chopped dried apricots, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, teff flour, psyllium husk, and salt, is using, to a large bowl. Mix until evenly combined.
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Mix the liquids: In a separate container, stir together the water and apple cider vinegar.
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Mix wet with dry: Pour over the oat and seed mixture. Mix thoroughly. Stir very well, making sure the psyllium and liquid are evenly distributed and there are no dry pockets.
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Rest: Let the mixture sit for 25 to 30 minutes. This gives the psyllium time to fully hydrate and helps bind the loaf.
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Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C).
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Pack the loaf pan: Transfer the mixture to a nontoxic nonstick or parchment-lined 8 ½ x 4 ½-inch loaf pan. Press the mixture down very firmly and evenly. Compacting the mixture well is important for a loaf that holds together when sliced.
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Bake: Bake on the middle rack at 325°F (163°C) for about 75 minutes.
Optional for a firmer crust: Carefully remove the bread from the pan for an additional 10 to 15 minutes of baking and place it directly on the oven rack or a baking sheet.
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Check for doneness: The loaf should feel firm, with lightly browned edges and a set center that does not wobble or feel squishy when gently pressed. It will still be moist inside and continue to firm up as it cools. Cool completely before slicing.
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Cool: Let the porridge bread cool completely, preferably on a cooling rack, before slicing. Allow at least 30 minutes so the loaf has time to firm up.
Nutrition: Each slice provides approximately 33% of the Daily Value for magnesium, 20% for zinc, and 17% for iron, when the loaf is cut into 12 slices.
Teff flour: Substitute ½ cup rolled oats or quinoa flakes. For a finer texture, briefly pulse the rolled oats in a blender. Use certified gluten-free oats if needed.
Pumpkin seeds: Use shelled pumpkin seeds, also called pepitas. There is no need to chop them.
Dried apricots: Use any dried fruit. Cut into small pieces as needed with kitchen shears for easy preparation and even distribution.
For gluten-free bread, be sure to use certified gluten-free oats. Find teff flour or quinoa flakes here, under ‘Shop Healthy Ingredients.’
Psyllium husk: Whole psyllium husks work best for this recipe. If using psyllium husk powder, use about 2 tablespoons instead of 3 tablespoons whole husks, as the powder is more finely ground and absorbs liquid more quickly.
Calories: 217kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 246mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 4g | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 3mg
This information is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate. Nutritional values may vary depending on factors such as product types and brands used.
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