I researched the topic (of course), tried several versions (of course), and decided I that I’m a bit obsessed with the whole idea of overnight oats!
It’s super simple, healthy, extremely versatile – no matter what your preferences are, you can make it your own. You just add what you like to the basic recipe. All you need to remember it to put it together the night before. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days for best freshness. Alternatively, all of the fruit/nut toppings can be added the next day, just before serving if you prefer.
My 2 favorites (so far) are Strawberries and Cream, and Peanut Butter Banana. I tried regular oats, quick oats, and steel cut oats. All will work for this recipe. I also found that pretty much any kind of milk will work as well – skim, 2%, whole, soy, almond milk, etc. Most recipes utilize the same amount of oats as milk – here again you can tweak this to your preference. I like my oat consistency a bit more “wet”, so I used 3/4 c milk to 1/2 c oats. If you like yours “thicker”, you would be best using 1/2 c of each. You can always add more milk later – when you are ready to eat your oats.
I also found that many recipes include about 1 Tbsp of Chia seeds. This helps add a creamy/thick texture, but I’m not a fan so I didn’t include this.
The next day, shake/stir, and warm up the oats in the microwave, for about 20 – 30 seconds. You can eat it straight out of the frig., or at room temp – which makes it great to pack in your lunch for the day!
STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM OVERNIGHT OATS (serves 1)
Basic recipe ingredients:
Add to a 1 pint mason jar with a lid:
- 1/2 c oats
- 3/4 c milk (1/2 c if you prefer your oats thicker)
Shake to combine.
- 1-2 Tbsp strawberry jam (swirl through the oat mixture)
Then top with:
- 1/4 c yogurt (Greek, vanilla, or strawberry)
- 3-4 large fresh strawberries, sliced
Refrigerate overnight.
Shake/stir in the morning – serve cold, room temp., or slightly warm in the microwave.
PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANA OVERNIGHT OATS (serves 1)
Basic recipe ingredients:
Add to a 1 pint mason jar with a lid:
- 1/2 c oats
- 3/4 c milk (1/2 c if you prefer your oats thicker)
Shake to combine.
Then add:
- 1/8 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp peanut butter
Shake to combine.
- Top with 1/2 banana, sliced into chunks.
- Optional – add 1 Tbsp mini chocolate chips
Refrigerate overnight.
Shake/stir in the morning – serve cold, room temp., or slightly warm in the microwave.
