If you need an easy make-ahead breakfast recipe, try overnight oats! They’re easy to customize with your favorite flavors and they’re prefect for busy mornings!
Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Added Sugar-Free, Vegan-Friendly
That’s right! With just a few simple swaps from the recipes below, each one can be easily adapted to fit a variety of dietary needs, making them great options for everyone.
Dairy-Free:
To keep it dairy-free, simply use a non-dairy milk like soy, almond, or cashew (my personal favorite) and swap out the Greek yogurt. I recommend Silk cashew milk and Kite Hill Greek-style almond milk yogurt. If Kite Hill isn’t available, Trader Joe’s vanilla cultured coconut milk works well, though it’s slightly less thick than Greek yogurt but adds a nice sweetness. Another option is Forager Project plain cashew yogurt, though it’s thinner and slightly affects the texture, but still works in a pinch!
Gluten-Free:
Oats are naturally gluten-free, but they can often be processed in facilities where cross-contamination with gluten occurs. To avoid this, simply choose oats labeled as certified gluten-free. I usually go for Bob’s Red Mill or Trader Joe’s.
Added Sugar-Free:
None of these recipes include added table sugar. One recipe does call for honey, but you can easily replace it or skip it altogether. For a natural sweetener, mash 1/2 of a medium banana and mix it in. This adds natural sweetness without using any sweeteners. The apple cinnamon recipe at the bottom is already sugar-free!
Vegan-Friendly:
To make these recipes vegan, swap out the honey (and use the dairy alternatives mentioned earlier). You can sweeten with mashed banana, maple syrup, agave, date syrup, or even regular sugar. You can also leave the sweetener out entirely—it’s still delicious without it!
These adjustments make the recipes versatile and suitable for a variety of dietary preferences!
Actually Overnight?
So what I love about these oats is that you are able to make them the night before a busy day and grab them on your way out the door the next morning. You can even make a bunch of them on Sunday night and bring them to work for the entire week. However, you don’t have to remember to make them the night before to be able to enjoy these. As long as you give them about four hours to sit, they will be good to go!
And did you know there is actually a benefit to this? Soaking the oats in this acidic mixture helps break down phytic acid, which is an anti-nutrient that interferes with digestive enzymes and inhibits mineral absorption. So it makes the oats easier to digest and helps your body actually absorb more of the nutrients from them!
Are you ready to get going?? Pick the flavor that sounds best to you and let’s get started!
Chocolate Coconut Overnight Oats
Chocolate Overnight Oats
Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats
Chocolate Berry Overnight Oats
Overnight Oats: 4 Ways
Ingredients
Chocolate Coconut Overnight Oats
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1/3 cup plain greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 2 tablespoons cacao powder
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons milk (I like using cashew milk)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon honey
Chocolate Overnight Oats
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/3 cup plain greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 2 tablespoons cacao powder or cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons milk (I like using cashew milk)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon honey
Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1/3 cup plain greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce (learn how to make your own here!)
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons milk (I like using cashew milk)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Berry Chocolate Overnight Oats
- 1/2 cup oats (I buy these gluten free ones)
- 1/3 cup plain greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp cacao powder (I buy this one)
- 1–2 tbsp dried gogi berries (we love this brand)
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 2 tbsp milk (I like using cashew milk)
- 1/2 banana (mashed)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir until well combined.
- Transfer to a glass jar with a tight lid (I usually use mason jars, but you can also use any glass Tupperware) and refrigerate overnight.
- Grab it on your way out in the morning and enjoy!
