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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Breakfast

    Overnight Oats (10 Ways)

    Published: Jan 1, 2021 · Modified: May 19, 2023 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links · 34 Comments

    551 shares
    • 444
    Diet: Low Fat / Vegetarian
    Jump to Recipe
    A collage of 8 different ways to serve overnight oats.

    Overnight Oats are the ultimate prepare the night before breakfast. Simply mix some oats and milk together with a couple of other ingredients and put in the fridge overnight for an easy breakfast that is good for on the go too and kids LOVE it too. This post will show you the basic recipe, and then 10 different topping options - there is something for everyone.

    A collage of 8 different ways to serve overnight oats.

    If you have never heard of overnight oats before, then you are in for a treat. They are oats that are soaked in milk (vegan option too) overnight so they get super soft, with some of your favourite ingredients. It's basically no cook, soaked porridge. A really easy sweet breakfast that is easily adaptable. You can make a big batch to keep in the fridge for the week too.

    Overnight oats has its origins as a Swiss breakfast called Bircher Muesli. This is how it originated in Switzerland by a physician named Maximilian Bircher-Benner. His version was soaked in water and condensed milk and had grated apple in it too. Not only are we sharing all our tips for perfect overnight oats, but 10 topping ideas too.

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love it
    • How to make overnight oats - Step by step
    • Best oats to use
    • What milk to use?
    • Top tip
    • Can I make this vegan?
    • Toppings
    • Bonus overnight oats recipes
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More breakfast recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love it

    • Simple to prepare
    • Breakfast is ready for you in the morning
    • Only 300 calories for a filling portion
    • Easy to make vegan
    • Endless possibilities with toppings
    • A big batch can be made for the week

    How to make overnight oats - Step by step

    One: Put all of the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
    Two: Divide between individual jars/bowls and put in the fridge overnight (or 5 hours minimum).
    Three: Add whatever toppings you like!

    A bowl of oats and milk.

    Best oats to use

    We recommend making overnight oats with rolled oats (old-fashioned oats). Quick cook oats are much more processed than rolled oats, so don't work as well. They are processed to cook fast (as the name implies!) so they will turn very mush if left overnight in liquid.

    Rolled oats will keep their form and absorb the liquid nicely. Also, steel cut oats don’t work well either, as they are too thick so don't absorb the liquid as well as rolled oats.

    What milk to use?

    We used a semi-skimmed milk (2%), but you can use full fat or even a skimmed milk - they all work well. You can even use plant-based milks if you prefer - almond, cashew and oat milks all work really well.

    heart icon

    Top tip

    If you can find Tiger Nut Milk, then using this will add a really creamy and sweeter taste to your oats. Tiger Nuts aren't actually nuts, they are a small tuber that get their name from their stripy appearance. Definitely worth getting some if you can find it.

    Can I make this vegan?

    These overnight oats are so easy to make vegan. Simply use one of the plant-based milks we mentioned above, swap the honey for maple syrup and use a vegan yogurt (coconut yogurt adds a nice flavour). Simple! Make to the exact same method and quantities and you will have yourself some lovely, vegan overnight oats. Make sure you us vegan toppings too of course.

    Toppings

    Below you will find 10 of our favourite Overnight Oat Toppings. They are all quick and simple to add to your oats when they are ready and are all delicious flavour combinations.

    Raspberry and Coconut

    Whole raspberries and flakes of dried coconut will add a sharp and smooth flavour combination to your oats. We also like to swap a little bit of the milk in the oat mixture for coconut milk. Not only does it add extra coconut flavour, but it makes them super creamy too.

    A glass of overnight oats topped with raspberries and coconut flakes.

    Pineapple and Coconut

    Make your oats taste like a pina colada (without the alcohol, obviously. Or, why not add some rum and make this a boozy dessert?). Simply add some pineapple chunks and some desiccated coconut. Again, you could swap some of the milk in the oat mix for coconut milk.

    If you wanted to really bring out the flavour of the coconut, follow the recipe from our Honey Grilled Pineapple recipe.

    A glass of overnight oats topped with chunks of pineapple and shredded coconut.

    Creamy Honeyed Peach

    Peaches and cream is such a delicious combination. The soft, sweet peaches pair perfectly with some Greek yogurt (or your favourite yogurt) and a generous drizzle of honey. Plus, we added some almonds for added crunch.

    Interesting fact: Peaches and almonds are closely related, and are quite similar species of plant.

    A glass of overnight oats topped with chunks of peach and almond flakes.

    Mocha Oats

    Who says you can't have chocolate for breakfast? Not us! To get this wonderfully chocolatey Mocha Overnight Oats, simply add a tablespoon of cocoa powder and a couple of tablespoons of espresso (decaffeinated if you wish) to your mix before refrigerating. In the morning, top with a dollop of cream or yogurt and chocolate chips (just for a bit of added chocolate!).

    A glass of chocolate overnight oats topped with cream and chocolate chips.

    Chunky Monkey

    Nutella and bananas work so well together, and that's exactly what chunky monkey is! Slices of banana, a generous dollop of Nutella and some added hazelnuts for a bit of crunch. To make this a bit healthier, why not use our own Healthier Nutella for this?

    A glass of overnight oats topped with nutella, hazelnuts and banana slices.

    Peanut Butter and Chocolate

    Again, a classic flavour combination - peanut butter and chocolate. Simply top with a spoonful of peanut butter and add a sprinkling of chocolate chips. Make this with our own Homemade Peanut Butter.

    A glass of overnight oats topped with peanut butter and chocolate chips.

    Cherry and Chocolate

    And another great fruit and chocolate combo! This time cherries and chocolate. Simply slice some fresh cherries and add some chocolate chips. If you really want a Choc/Cherry hit with this, why not make our Chocolate Cherry Smoothie to go with it?

    A glass of overnight oats topped with cherries and chocolate chips.

    Caramelised Banana and Pecan

    Caramelising any fruit really enhances the flavour, especially bananas. If you have a little extra time in the morning, these are definitely worth doing.

    Simply heat 25g (2 tablespoon) of caster sugar in a small frying pan over a medium heat. When the sugar starts to catch at the sides, mix with a wooden spoon until all the sugar has turned a lovely amber colour. Remove from the heat and stir in 15g (1 tbsp) of butter and 15 ml (1 tbsp) of cold water, to stop the cooking process.

    Peel and slice a banana along the middle, length ways, and add to the pan cut side down. Return to the heat and cook for 1-2 minutes each side.

    Add the banana to your oats and sprinkle with chopped pecans.

    A glass of overnight oats topped with a caramelised banana slice and pecans.

    Simply Blueberries

    Blueberry Overnight Oats is a classic! Just add as many blueberries as you like, mix and enjoy. You could even cook the blueberries in a pan with some sugar to make a compote.

    A glass of overnight oats topped with blueberries.

    Banana and Cinnamon

    Another simple, but classic combination. Slices of banana topped with a little sprinkling of cinnamon. Delicious! And it feels really warming in the colder months.

    A glass of overnight oats topped with banana slices and cinnamon.

    Bonus overnight oats recipes

    Take a look at our Pumpkin Overnight Oats or Kefir Overnight Oats.

    FAQs

    Can you heat overnight oats?

    Overnight oats the perfect summer morning breakfast, however on those cold autumn or winter mornings you will probably want something a big more warming. So, why not heat up them up?
    You can just put them in the microwave for 2 minutes or warm them through on the hob (stove top). Make sure you heat the oats before adding your toppings. You don't need to heat them though, as soaking them overnight (or at least for 2 hours) really softens them.

    How to store overnight oats.

    We keep ours in jars or plastic airtight containers, however a glass or mug will work too for use the next day. The great thing about overnight oats is that they keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.
    So, you can make a big batch of these for breakfasts for the week. Just make sure that you store them in an airtight container if you're storing for more than 24 hours. 

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    Extra tips

    • Give these oats a protein boost by adding a couple of tablespoons of chia seeds when mixing everything together.
    • Make this vegan by using almond/oat/cashew milk, maple syrup instead of honey and a vegan yogurt.
    • The nutritional values shown here are for the basic recipe only, no toppings are included.

    More breakfast recipes

    • Easy Baked Oats on a white plate with fruit and a spoon
      Easy Baked Oats
    • Two poached eggs, one on a bacon bagel, one on an avocado bagel.
      How To Make a Perfect Poached Egg
    • A bowl of yogurt topped with homemade muesli and berries.
      Homemade Muesli
    • A plate of Baked Home Fries.
      Baked Home Fries

    If you’ve tried any of these overnight oats recipes, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Nine photo collage of different overnight oats.

    Overnight Oats 10 Ways

    By: Dannii Martin
    Simply mix some oats and milk together with yogurt and a couple of other ingredients and put in the fridge overnight for an easy healthy breakfast that is good for on the go too.
    the words low fat in a white circle.
    Low Fat
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
    Vegetarian
    4.98 from 34 votes
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: British, Swiss
    Prep: 5 minutes mins
    Refrigeration time (minimum): 5 hours hrs
    Total: 5 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 306kcal
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a carton of milk.
    Dairy
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 90 g (1 cups) Rolled oats
    • 300 ml (1.25 cups) Semi-skimmed milk
    • 4 tablespoon Plain yogurt
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
    • 2 tablespoon Honey
    • Any toppings you like

    Instructions

    • Put all of the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
    • Divide between individual jars/bowls and put in the fridge overnight (or 5 hours minimum).
    • Add whatever toppings you like!

    Recipe tips

    • Give these oats a protein boost by adding a couple of tablespoons of chia seeds when mixing everything together.
    • Make this vegan by using almond/oat/cashew milk, maple syrup instead of honey and a vegan yogurt.
    • The nutritional values shown here are for the basic recipe only, no toppings are included.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 93mg | Potassium: 435mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 193IU | Calcium: 252mg | Iron: 2mg

    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jere Cassidy

      January 02, 2021 at 9:23 pm

      5 stars
      I am going to start at the top and work my way down through your overnight oats. Each one just looks delicious. This is why I love to eat breakfast.

      Reply
    2. Claudia Lamascolo

      January 02, 2021 at 8:42 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for the grandkids this morning and they loved it, finally something new they will eat thanks

      Reply
    3. Julie

      January 02, 2021 at 7:17 pm

      5 stars
      Such great flavor combinations for oats. I can't wait to try these out.

      Reply
    4. Roxana

      January 02, 2021 at 7:09 pm

      5 stars
      I really like overnight meusli and love all your flavor suggestions and tips. A great compilation.

      Reply
    5. Jen

      January 02, 2021 at 2:06 pm

      5 stars
      Breakfast never has to be boring again! Thank you for all of the delicious ideas for us to keep in rotation. Love it!

      Reply
    6. Jesse

      January 02, 2021 at 1:13 pm

      5 stars
      So many great ideas here for overnight oats. One of my favorite breakfast hacks!

      Reply
    7. Jeanne @ Cooksister

      January 02, 2021 at 11:47 am

      5 stars
      I made overnight oats for the first time during lockdown and I could not believe that it had taken me so long to try them - they are amazeballs! Love your inspiring list of topping ideas - feel a small obsession with chocolate cherry overnight oats coming on!

      Reply
    8. Jenn

      January 02, 2021 at 10:38 am

      5 stars
      Overnight oats are a genius breakfast hack - I can't wait to try all these delish recipes!

      Reply
    9. Devy

      January 02, 2021 at 10:32 am

      This is definitely a new favourite in my household. So easy yet it's so delicious. No cooking fuss. Thanks

      Reply
    10. Helen

      January 01, 2021 at 3:30 pm

      5 stars
      These all look so delicious I can't decide which to have first! Great ideas to liven up an easy breakfast - thanks!

      Reply
    11. Srikanth

      January 01, 2021 at 3:05 pm

      5 stars
      Lovely post and fun ways to start my day

      Reply
    12. Claudia Lamascolo

      January 01, 2021 at 2:16 pm

      5 stars
      My son loves this for breakfast, the first time I made it he was so surprised on the method, great recipe!

      Reply
    13. Jen

      January 01, 2021 at 2:12 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve always wanted to make overnight oats and love all of your tips to make them. Now I have a lot of great toppings and flavors to try with them! Thank you.

      Reply
    14. Caitlyn Erhardt

      January 01, 2021 at 11:44 am

      5 stars
      Overnight oats are one of my favorites for breakfast. Love how easy they are to make and you include awesome flavor combinations.

      Reply
    15. Julie

      July 31, 2020 at 11:00 pm

      5 stars
      All these different versions look delicious. Already tried some and can’t wait to try the rest.

      Reply
    16. Rachael

      October 14, 2013 at 12:08 pm

      Prepared this last night and ate it for breakfast for the first time this morning with fresh raspberries. It was really delicious and satisfying - thank you!

      Reply
      • Dannii

        October 14, 2013 at 2:28 pm

        I am glad you enjoyed it :)

        Reply
    17. Rebekah

      August 06, 2013 at 6:47 pm

      Are these quick oats or old fashioned? Loving all your recipes. Thanks so much

      Reply
      • Dannii

        August 06, 2013 at 6:56 pm

        They are old fashioned oats. I am glad you are enjoying the recipes :)

        Reply
    18. Willow

      September 24, 2012 at 2:32 pm

      It's freezing this morning isn't it! Haha, I did laugh at what you put about your cat. Mine was the same this morning. I don't get what she expects me to do about it lol.

      Reply
    19. Jane

      September 24, 2012 at 2:25 pm

      I am loving peaches at the moment. I never thought about putting them on oats before though.

      Reply
    20. Amber

      September 24, 2012 at 2:24 pm

      Thank you so much for pre-prepared breakfast ideas. I have so very little time in the morning, that anything I can do the night before is a big help.

      Reply
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    My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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