As the weather warms up, we switch from cooked oatmeal to overnight oats. This is a great way to add interest to your breakfast routine if you’re getting a little bored. There are so many variations on the theme! And, if you don’t care for the texture of cooked oatmeal, you might prefer overnight oats.
There are numerous ways to make overnight oats, and we’ve tried various ratios of oats to liquid, with or without yogurt, and with or without nut butter. We finally settled on this basic mixture for a dairy-free breakfast, using only oats, non-dairy milk, and nut butter, to which many different ingredients can be added. Feel free to stir in a little yogurt if you want.
To the above mixture, we usually add some nuts, coconut, raisins (or fresh fruit), and sometimes crunchy granola.
From there, you can create many variations. Here are a few of our favorites:
Chocolate-Covered Cherry
Chocolate-Covered Cherry Overnight Oats
Basic Mixture (see Overnight Oats recipe)
Extras:
1 tablespoon dried cherries
1 tablespoon cacao nibs, or dark chocolate chips
1 tablespoon almond butter
1 teaspoon cacao powder
1 tablespoon pecans
- Combine all basic mixture ingredients in a bowl or mason jar, and stir well.
- Mix in all extras except pecans. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- In the morning, stir again. Add more sweetener, to taste.
- Sprinkle pecans on top.
Turkish Delight
Turkish Delight Overnight Oats
Basic Mixture (see Overnight Oats recipe)
Extras:
2 dried figs
1 tablespoon dried mulberries, or raisins
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of ground cardamom
1 tablespoon walnuts
- Combine all basic mixture ingredients in a bowl or mason jar, and stir well.
- Chop figs. Mix into oat mixture, along with all other extras except walnuts. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- In the morning, stir again. Add more spices and sweetener, to taste.
- Sprinkle walnuts on top.
| Prep Time | |
| 5 minutes |
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Easy!
Inexpensive!
Serves:1person
Serving Size:
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If you love oatmeal, but don’t want hot cereal in the summer, try cold overnight oats. The variations are endless, and you don’t even have to use oats! Other grains we have used include quinoa, millet, buckwheat groats, and amaranth, usually in some sort of combination, with or without oats as the main grain. Start with our basic mixture then add whatever extras you want.
Tools:mason jar or small bowl, measuring cups and spoons
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- 1 cup almond milk or similar
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon nut butter
- 1 teaspoon honey or other sweetener
- 1 tablespoon dried fruit*
- 1 tablespoon coconut
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds or chia seeds
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon and/or ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves
- Pour milk into a mason jar (or small bowl).
- Add oats, nut butter, and honey if desired. Mix well with a spoon.
- Stir in extras like dried fruit, chia or flaxseeds, and spices. (Wait until the morning before adding items that will become soggy or discolored, like fresh fruit, nuts, or granola.) Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- In the morning, stir again. Add more spices or sweetener, to taste.
- Sprinkle remaining add-ins on top.
Tips:
Add a spoonful of yogurt to the basic mixture the night before if desired.
Leave out the sweetener until the morning. Add fresh fruit and other garnishes, then sweeten to taste.
This sounds good! I love hot oatmeal, but I’m not sure how it would taste chilled… but I’m willing to give it a try! Thanks for sharing!
We tried it several different ways, and this was our favorite. Some people love cold overnight oats, and others don’t. Would love to hear what you think!