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Overnight Oatmeal with Fruit, Nuts, and Creative Variations Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 77 reviews

A versatile and creamy overnight oatmeal recipe that requires no cooking and can be customized with a variety of delicious toppings and mix-ins. Perfect for a quick, nutritious breakfast that can be prepared ahead and enjoyed chilled or warmed.

Ingredients

Scale

Base Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup milk (dairy or dairy free)
  • 1/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt (dairy or dairy free)
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1–2 tablespoons honey or pure maple syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon sea salt

Toppings and Variations

  • Fresh berries, bananas, nuts, seeds, chocolate chunks (optional toppings)
  • Tropical Paradise: carton coconut milk, 1 tablespoon cream of coconut, pineapple and/or mango, shredded coconut, crushed macadamia nuts or cashews
  • Berry Bliss: strawberry, raspberry, or blackberry jam (1-2 tablespoons), mixed berries, sliced almonds, lemon zest
  • Cinnamon Apple Peanut Butter: extra cinnamon, 2 tablespoons peanut butter, apple chunks, crushed peanuts, chocolate chunks or cocoa nibs
  • Chocolate Raspberry: 1 ½ tablespoons cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon extra honey/maple syrup, 1-2 tablespoons raspberry jam, raspberries, chocolate chunks, chopped pecans
  • Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter: 2 tablespoons peanut butter, 1½ tablespoons cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon honey/maple syrup, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, sliced bananas, walnuts, chocolate chunks
  • Blackberry Peach Crisp: extra cinnamon, nutmeg, chopped peaches, blackberries or raspberries, granola or sliced almonds
  • Peanut Butter and Jelly: 2-3 tablespoons peanut butter, 1-2 tablespoons strawberry or raspberry jam, berries, crushed peanuts
  • Pumpkin Spice: 3 tablespoons pumpkin puree, 1 tablespoon extra maple syrup, 1/4 teaspoon extra ground cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger, pinch of ground cloves, optional pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, cocoa nibs or chocolate chunks

Instructions

  1. Adjust Servings: Use the serving slider to increase or decrease quantities. This changes the base ingredients proportionally while toppings remain for single servings, allowing each jar to have different variations.
  2. Mix the Base Ingredients: For one serving, stir all base ingredients in a 16-ounce jar or bowl. For multiple servings, combine base ingredients in a large bowl and then divide into jars. This ensures even mixing and easy portioning.
  3. Add Mix-Ins: Incorporate desired mix-ins like peanut butter or cocoa powder now. Add stable fruits (like pineapple) if preferred. Perishable toppings (bananas, nuts) should be reserved for the final topping after soaking.
  4. Soak: Cover the jars or bowl and refrigerate for at least 5 hours; overnight soaking yields the creamiest texture. The mixture keeps well up to 5 days but is best consumed within 1-3 days for freshness.
  5. Adjust Consistency: Before serving, add more milk if you want a thinner texture as oats thicken over time.
  6. Warm or Don’t: Optionally, warm the oatmeal by microwaving for 60 seconds, then heat at 20-second intervals until desired temperature, stirring each time.
  7. Add Toppings: Garnish with favorite fruits, nuts, and seeds. You can stir them in or enjoy as a topping.
  8. Try Variations: Experiment with suggested flavor combinations such as Tropical Paradise, Berry Bliss, Cinnamon Apple Peanut Butter, Chocolate Raspberry, Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter, Blackberry Peach Crisp, Peanut Butter and Jelly, or Pumpkin Spice by mixing in specified ingredients and toppings.

Notes

  • Use carton coconut milk (beverage type) and cream of coconut (not coconut cream) for Tropical Paradise flavor.
  • Prepare toppings that do not store well, like bananas or nuts, right before serving.
  • The oats can be refrigerated up to 5 days but taste and texture are best within the first 1-3 days.
  • Soaking time affects creaminess; longer soaking results in creamier oatmeal.
  • Microwaving is optional and for warming only; oats are edible cold.
  • You can prep multiple jars with different variations simultaneously for a convenient grab-and-go breakfast.

Keywords: overnight oatmeal, no-cook breakfast, healthy breakfast, make-ahead oatmeal, chilled oatmeal, vegan options, dairy free oatmeal

Find it online: https://cookwithruby.com/overnight-oatmeal-with-fruit-nuts-and-creative-variations-recipe/