Overnight oats are a simple grab-and-go breakfast.
Most of our mornings start at 5 with a trip to the gym. When we get home we have our daily smoothie and often grab a jar of oats and it’s off to work. These oats are perfect for our busy schedules.
Say goodbye to that bland bowl of oatmeal with some topping ideas that will jazz up breakfast’s most popular cereal.
If you haven’t tried overnight oats yet, this recipe is for you…
Overnight oats are basically a no-cook method of making oatmeal.
Rolled or Quick
Use plain old-fashioned rolled oats, not quick oats that will get too soggy when soaked with milk.
On the topic of milk, of course it’s one that meets your dietary needs. Coconut, vanilla rice, almond, soy, or hemp all work well.
Easy Prep
In a medium bowl combine 2-1/2 cups gluten-free rolled oats, 2-1/2 cups alternative milk, 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey, 5 teaspoons chia seeds (optional), and 1/2 teaspoon sea salt. Cover and place in fridge overnight.
The next morning, stir the oats and portion into 5 bowls or 5 (12-ounce) mason jars.
This can be enjoyed plain or with a topping.
Check out some delicious topping ideas…
It’s really hard to choose a favorite, but sunbutter and jelly rocks!
Top the soaked oats with sunbutter, strawberry preserves, and diced fresh strawberries.
With peaches in season, we love to top the soaked oats with fresh diced peaches and allergy-friendly yogurt.
Here our topping is unsweetened shredded coconut and Enjoy Life’s mini chocolate chips for a real treat! This reminds me of the Mounds candy bar I used to love as a kid.
Apple Pie
Who doesn’t like apple pie? To keep it simple, we added raisins to the oats and topped with unsweetened applesauce and granola. The first photo on this post shows the apple pie oats. We used an allergy-friendly store-bought granola. However, to take it up a notch, top with our toasted coconut and pumpkin seed granola!
Overnight oats are typically served cold, but you can definitely eat them warm. Just place in the microwave for a minute or so and enjoy as is, or top with your favorite topping.
Preparing a large batch before your work week starts will save you time in the morning, as the shelf life for overnight oats is 5 days.
Check out the recipe for other delicious toppings and enjoy your morning!
Overnight Oats
Yield 5 Servings
Free of: gluten and top 8 allergens.
The best grab-and-go breakfast!
Ingredients
2-1/2 cups gluten-free rolled oats
2-1/2 cups alternative milk
3 tbsp pure maple syrup or honey
5 tsp chia seeds, optional but recommended
1/2 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine rolled oats, milk, maple syrup, chia seeds, and sea salt. Cover and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- The next morning, stir the oats and portion into 5 bowls or 5 (12-ounce) mason jars.
- Enjoy plain or add a topping (see recipe notes).
- Shelf life for overnight oats is 5 days.
Notes
The following topping amounts are for 1 serving:
Sunbutter & Jam:
Top soaked oats with:
1 tbsp strawberry jam or preserves
1 tbsp sunbutter
1/4 cup diced fresh strawberries
Apple Pie:
3 tbsp raisins, stir into soaked oats and top with:
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup granola
Carrot Cake:
Stir into soaked oaks:
1/4 cup grated carrots
3 tbsp raisins
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
Coconut Chocolate Chip
1/4 cup shredded coconut
2 tbsp allergy-friendly chocolate chips
Peaches-and-Cream
1/4 cup diced peaches
2 tbsp allergy-friendly vanilla yogurt, optional
Bananas-and-Cream
1/4 cup sliced bananas
2 tbsp allergy-friendly vanilla yogurt, optional
Courses Breakfast & Brunch