Ingredients You’ll Need For The Base Recipe
Rolled oats have the perfect thickness to make overnight oats compared to quick and steel-cut oats. Once soaked in water overnight, they taste just like cold oatmeal. Use gluten-free oats if necessary.
Chia seeds are rich in healthy fats and make your overnights oats a little thicker. You can replace them with flax seeds or leave them out completely.
Yogurt makes the oats a lot creamier. Use plant-based yogurt if you’re on a vegan diet or avoiding dairy.
We Love Overnight Oats
Here at Fit Foodie Finds we absolutely adore overnight oats . Some of the very first recipes that we ever posted on FFF were healthy overnight oats recipesand that dates back to 2010! They never get old and theyre so delicious I could eat them for dessert.
There are also so many different flavor combinations and topping ideas that you could almost eat a different variation of overnight oats 365 days a year!
Today were sharing 8 of our favorite overnight oat recipes + the down low on this magical breakfast in general. We get so many comments and questions about our overnight oats that we thought wed lay it all out in one post.
Ingredients For The Base Recipe
A simple overnight oats recipe starts with the most basic wholesome ingredients below.
I will also give you a list of options to create a range of flavors, but with the 3 ingredients below, you can make a cheap, healthy breakfast that tastes really good.
- Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats this refers to the coarse version of oats. You can use quick oats as well, but the texture of the pudding is more liquidy, and I prefer this option for baby overnight oats.
- Almond Milk if you use sweetened almond milk, you dont need to add a sweetener to this recipe. Of course, for a low-sugar option, use unsweetened plant-based milk, including oat milk, coconut milk, or cashew milk. Other options are unsweetened vanilla-flavored almond milk or chocolate almond milk.
There are two ways to prepare your overnight recipe:
Option 1: In a Glass Mason Jar
Its the most common way to prepare overnight oats but let me share my pro and cons on this method.
Pros
- Fast and simple for a classic 3-ingredient overnight oats recipe.
- Minimal washing can be eaten from the jar the next day.
Cons
- The chia seeds often form lumps in the jar, especially if the jar is too narrow. To avoid this, open and stir the mixture after 2 or 3 hours to prevent the seeds from forming lumps in your jar.
- Its hard to fit extra ingredients like frozen fruits in a mason jar.
Instructions
Put everything in the jar, shake it, and you are done. Making overnight oats in a glass mason jar requires at least an 8-ounce mason jar.
Pros
Cons
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What Should I Top My Overnight Oats With And When Should I Do It
Its totally okay to top your overnight oats with a sprinkling of berries when youre assembling them. However, heavier fruits could sink down into your oats, so save them for the morning of, when the oats have had time to gel. We also recommend saving crisp toppings like nuts and cereal for topping just before you eat the oats in the morning, lest they get soggy. The skys the limit when it comes to toppings, but here are some of our favorites: chopped mango, pomegranate seeds, hazelnuts, chocolate, tahini, banana slices, strawberry slices, orange zest and ground cardamom.
How To Make Overnight Oats + Best Recipes
Not too long ago, Id measure out oats in my bowl, add water or milk, and warm up the mixture in the microwave. Wait a few minutes, and then breakfast was served. Then, one day, I learned how to make overnight oats. After I tried a few recipes, and I never went back to the heat, wait, repeat method. I mean, why would you when making them the night before is so easy? Check out the video and see how theyre made.
I showed you the strawberry version to demonstrate how they are made, but of course, Im also going to share tons of other recipe options below so you can make this make-ahead breakfast a staple at your house too.
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How To Store Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Muffins
Make and bake the muffins per the recipe card below. Then, be sure to leave them to cool completely!
If theyre even just a little warm, youll see condensation almost right away from the moisture.
Place cold chocolate chip muffins in an airtight container and store them at room temperature for 3 to 5 days.
What Ingredients Do You Need For Overnight Oats Recipe
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Discovering The Best Overnight Oats Ever
I never would have tried overnight oats if I hadn’t stopped for breakfast at the Brick Oven Bakery in Northfield, Minnesota the last time I was home. Full disclosure: the bakery is owned by my dad, who is primarily invested in providing artisan loaves of sourdough to the Minnesotan masses, but was recently convinced to add a few more breakfast items to his menu.
This bowl of oatmeal was so perfectly creamy and flavorful that I dragged my dad and his chef out of the back room to tell me how they made it. They rattled off their ingredients and basic method , none of which seemed to explain why my bowl of oatmeal was so darn good.
Just as I was growing flummoxed, the chef mentioned, “Oh, and we let the oats soak overnight.” Bingo.
Overnight Oat Flavors To Try
Not very creative? Not to worry, here are a few tasty flavor ideas to try:
- Carrot Cake: Stir in 1/2 cup finely grated carrot, 1/4 cup drained and crushed pineapple and 2 tablespoons walnuts or pecans to your mixture before sitting overnight.
- Peanut Butter Banana: Swirl in 1/4 cup all-natural peanut butter to the overnight oat mixture and sit overnight. Top with lots of fresh banana.
- Lemon Blueberry: Add 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest and 1 cup fresh blueberries to the overnight oat mixture before refrigerating.
- Coconut Cream: Make your overnight oats with coconut milk and stir in 1/2 cup desiccated coconut before refrigerating. Top with a dollop of Greek yogurt and extra toasted coconut.
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How To Make Basic Overnight Oats
Its all about the ratios to get the consistency you like. So try this suggested ratio below and then add more milk or use less milk until you find what works perfectly for you! Once you nail down the ratio of the basic overnight oats recipe, the skys the limit with the flavor combinations and toppings.
Heres our simple ratio:
1 part oats + 1 part milk + & frac18 part seeds
To start, combine old fashioned oats and chia seeds. You can use a bowl, a mason jar or just some glass cups.
Next add the Greek or vegan yogurt and vanilla extract.
And then add the sweetener of choice and the milk. Then mix the overnight oats together until you see no clumps. Next, seal or cover with a lid, and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.
The next morning, grab a spoon, add your favorite toppings and dig in!
Chia Seeds Arent Required
Many overnight oats recipes out there have chia seeds in them. Confession: we tried an overnight oats with chia seeds recipe a few years ago, and it turned us off on the concept for years. Chia seeds form a gel when theyre wetted, so they give overnight oats a jelly-like quality. To us, this wasnt appetizing!
If this has happened to you before: never fear! Chia seeds arent essential for overnight oats. Overnight oats are simply oats soaked with milk and seasonings. So the texture here is just softened oats: not jelly-like at all!
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How To Store And Meal Prep
Whether youre making a single serving or 5 days worth of breakfast, overnight oats is a meal prep savior.
- To Store: Overnight oats will stay good for up to 4 days in the fridge. If you have fruit toppings or fruit mix-ins, I recommend no more than 3 days, as the fruit is likely to go bad first.
- For Freezing: Yes, you can freeze overnight oats! Similar to my meal prep chia pudding, overnight oats will stay good for several months in the freezer.
How To Make This Recipe
Add the old-fashioned oats, almond milk, vegan yogurt, chia seeds, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt into a jar that has a lid.
Stir well to combine and seal the lid tight.
Place in the fridge overnight or for at least 2 hours.
The next morning, remove the lid and stir well. Add any desired toppings to the top and enjoy!
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Apple Pie Overnight Oats
Borrowing from the creamy and delicious bircher muesli, the secret to this version of overnight oats is a grated apple. Simply stir in a spoonful of Greek yogurt, 1 grated apple, and ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon into the oats mixture prior to chilling. Before serving, drizzle with honey and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds if you have some on hand.
Frequently Asked Questions About Overnight Oats
Why do people use almond milk for overnight oats?
almond milk is the sweetest and most neutral in taste and is the best choice when replacing dairy milk which makes it a great match with oatmeal.
Are overnight oats good for weight loss?
Yes, eating overnight oats can help you feel full and prevent you from craving other foods and is a great support in weight loss.
How long do overnight oats with almond milk last?
The overnight oats remain delicious stored in a jar with a lid in the refrigerator for about 5 days.
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Back Up What Are Overnight Oats
While oatmeal is meant to be eaten hot, overnight oats are cool and creamy. Mix together old-fashioned rolled oats with liquid and, if youd like, a sweetener. Overnight, the oats absorb some of the liquid and soften up, becoming delightfully chewy. Part of the fun of overnight oats is that you can customize them with different sorts of toppings from berries to chocolate chips so you never get bored.
How Long Are Overnight Oats Good In The Refrigerator
You might be wondering how long overnight oats will keep in the fridge? They keep well for up to 5 days. So, feel free to make a batch tonight and munch on them all week long.
When making your overnight oats, they should soak overnight as the name suggests, or at least 6 hours for the best flavours.
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How Long Do Overnight Oats Take
Since they dont require cooking, they take time to soak in the liquid added to the jar or bowl. They are called overnight because they require 8 hours at a minimum to soak in the liquid.
This, of course, is a personal choice. Many people love overnight oats made with old-fashioned oats after just 4 hours of soaking. Steel-cut oats will take closer to 12 hours to soften up.
Benefits Of Eating Overnight Oats With Almond Milk
This recipe combines the health benefits of oats as well as almond milk.
The best benefit of overnight oats is that it has rich fiber and protein content. Plus, it even contains a great amount of vitamins and minerals including phosphorus, manganese, copper, zinc, iron, and magnesium.
Whats more, overnight oats are based on the fermentation process where the oats are soaked in the liquid, almond milk in this case. This process allows the oatmeal to swell up and seep in the liquid so that they turn into a wholesome and satiating meal.
Another key ingredient of this recipe is almond milk, which is rich in vitamin E, which is and important antioxidant that lowers the risk of serious health conditions like heart disease, cancer, and stroke.
Additionally, you will also be amazed to know that almond milk is a potent source of magnesium, one of the most important minerals of our body. Furthermore, almond milk is a perfect substitute for all those people who are lactose intolerant as it does not have any lactose content.
Plus, its low in carbs and calories. On top of that, it features an amazing nutty and sweet flavor many people thoroughly enjoy.
From an overall note, Ill mention that almond milk and oats are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Therefore, each of these ingredients are beneficial for our body.
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Health Benefits Of Overnight Soaked Oats In Almond Milk Recipe
Some of the benefits of having these recipes are:
- When you soak oats overnight, it Is almost like you are cooking them, but the process is much longer and slower, and it makes them easy to digest, aids in weight loss, and increases feelings of fullness. Adding nuts and fruits work as icing on the meal.
- Oats are loaded with magnesium, potassium, and omega-3 fatty acids, among other things. All of these minerals increase the nutritional value of oats to an enormous extent.
- The natural starch and phytic acid included in oats inhibit the body from fully absorbing the nutrients and may result in stomach issues. Oats become much more nutrient-dense and simpler to digest when soaked in liquid overnight to help break down the starch and reduce the phytic acid.
- Moreover, this contains a good amount of protein. Protein helps promote healthy weight loss.
- Oats are rich in soluble fiber. Soluble fiber is beneficial for the gut because it helps with the effective removal of waste.
Is Milk Necessary For Overnight Oats
Cows milk is not necessary for overnight oats. Other substitutions can be made as long as the oats are soaked in a liquid to soften them.
A liquid is necessary when making overnight oats because the oats are added into the liquid must be left to soak overnight. The oats absorb the liquid, break down and soften, becoming creamy and toothsome.
The overnight oats technique allows you to eat raw oats without heating or cooking and to make it in advance.
This method of making non-cook porridge is endlessly customizable. So long as you have a liquid ingredient, you can use any milk, dairy, or plant-based. You can even use water or juice if you are stuck, although the texture and flavor will suffer.
Apart from milk, a milk alternative, and oats, you can make the following additions to overnight oats:
- Sweeteners: honey, maple syrup, or monk fruit
- Toppings: nuts, dried coconut, dried fruit, fresh fruit, or seeds
- Flavorings: cinnamon, pumpkin spice, vanilla extract, nut butter, or jam.
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Easy & Healthy Overnight Oats
Easy breakfasts are the way to go these days. I think that just about all of you will agree that the main reason you would skip breakfast is that you dont have time to make a healthy meal. Well, thats about to change! Let me introduce you to Protein Overnight Oats, the no-excuse easy breakfast option that ANYONE can make .
I love overnight oats because they take just a few minutes to prep the night before and then they are ready to go in the morning. The only thing you need to do in the morning is to give the jar a little stir and maybe put some optional garnishes on top. And thats it! It doesnt get easier and is much better for you than grabbing a donut on the go.
This recipe is perfect because it only requires some really basic ingredients that are usually already in my kitchen. Its also a great way to use up any questionable bananas you have laying around .
How Do You Make Steel Cut Overnight Oats
Since steel cut oats arent pre-cooked they dont soften overnight in the same way that old fashioned oats do in this gluten-free overnight oat recipe.
I discovered from this recipe, that one quick remedy is to simply start your overnight oats with boiling liquid. It is one extra step, but only takes 5 minutes.
All you have to do is combine your steel cut oats with dairy-free milk and bring it to a simmer. Cook for one minute, then remove from the heat to cool. The hot liquid makes it even easier to whisk in your other ingredients.
Ive added chia seeds and tahini to give even more body to these gluten and dairy free overnight oats. Together with the nut milk, the steel cut oats become velvety and creamy not all that different to the texture of a stovetop porridge, but with only 5 minutes of hands on time!
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