Overnight oats just might be the easiest breakfast ever. There’s very little effort involved and it all happens the night before. For me, this is awesome because I am never in the mood to get out ingredients and cook in the morning. And if you have kids, overnight oats are a fun little project for them. Let them choose mix-ins and shake them up in the jar before bedtime and serve them hot or cold before school the next morning.
4 overnight oat recipes
Of course, when you eat overnight oats as much as I do, you need new ideas for them all the time! Here are 4 ways to do overnight oats – all perfect for frosty mornings!
First, you’ll start each of these recipes with 1/2 cup of old-fashioned oats (rolled or regular both work) and 1/2 cup of your favorite milk. I’m really fond of this refrigerated coconut milk lately. Vanilla flavored milk works well too! You can also add chia seeds for a fiber boost.
Then add your mix-ins:
Pumpkin Walnut Overnight Oats
Add 2 tablespoons of pumpkin puree, 1 tablespoon of chopped walnuts, and 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice.
Cranberry Dark Chocolate Almond Overnight Oats
Add 1/4 cup of dried cranberries, 1 tablespoon of chopped dark chocolate, and 1 tablespoon of almonds.
Spiced Apple Overnight Oats
Add half a cup of chunky spiced or cinnamon applesauce. (I love the one they sell at Trader Joe’s, but you can too.)
Chai Pear Overnight Oats
This recipe is a little bit different. Instead of milk, use a half cup of strongly brewed chai in this one. Stir in a small diced pear in the morning.
Once your oats and mix-ins are assembled, stir and refrigerate overnight in a jar or Tupperware container.
In the morning, you can add sweetener (I like using honey or maple syrup) or more milk if you like. You can also customize your overnight oats by adding things like Greek yogurt, flax or chia seeds, protein powder–whatever you want! I like eating my oats cold, but you can pop them in the microwave for a warm breakfast on those chilly fall mornings.
Do you make overnight oats? What’s your favorite thing to mix in?
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These all look so good! I need to make some this week!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Hi! Maybe this is a silly question but…the oats don’t have to be cooked first? Or microwave? I don’t get it.
Nope, you don’t have to cook first – just combine with the milk and they soften overnight.
The oats don’t have to be cook u leave them in a jar with some milk and it will be soft and ready to eat in the morning
These look so delicious, I will definitely be giving them a go!
I am trying one with dried blueberries, 1 Tbsp coconut and 1 Tbsp sunflower seeds and cinnamon. I love these overnight oats.
I’ve been living on these for breakfast since you first posted about them this summer. I’m usually not very creative but I’ve actually tried most of these on my own. I’m really excited to add the chai/pear into my rotation for some more variety. And I haven’t added the chocolate to the cranberry/almond yet – I just can’t have random chocolate floating around the house. It’ll never make it into a recipe – I’ll eat it first. I admit I have self control issues when it comes to food.
Label all junk food with a sticky note that says”if you eat crap, you will feel like crap” and do not buy again.! Check basket at cashiers and remove items and hand them to her! Works !
YUM
When you say strongly brewed chai – do you mean chai tea leaves or bag?
Or the chai latte syrup/powder?
Yummo! A friend introduced me to overnight oats last year and now I make them every time I know I’ll be in a hurry the next morning (or have to eat breakfast on the go). My favourite is apple and cinnamon with a couple of raspberries and a sprinkling of walnuts!
Okay, the Hudgins are officially doing the Pumpkin Walnut ones this week!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
I make quick oatmeal in the microwave in the moring with the addition of cranraisins or dried cherries and Grapenuts cereal to give it some crunch…chopped walnuts are good too. I like all your ideas too!
Thanks for the new ideas! I like that your overnight oats recipes don’t require chia seeds – I’m not a big fan of the texture they produce. I wanted to make overnight oats with my current can of pumpkin puree but I wasn’t sure of proportions, so this is perfect!
I’m totally trying pumpkin walnut tomorrow morning!
OH! what a perfect idea! I usually make mine in the microwave but most mornings before going out i have no time to let it cool down or no patience to even start making it…
fabulous timing! I was just wondering how to make a oat melange cereal!! And boom! it’s in my inbox! I love when these things happen.
The chai pear one sounds absolutely delicious!
these all look so yummy – especially the spiced apple. that one just looks so darn good.
<3 katherine