Overnight oats are a simple and healthy breakfast or snack that you can prepare ahead of time and enjoy in the morning. They are made by soaking rolled oats in a liquid, such as coconut milk or yogurt, and adding your favorite toppings, such as fruits, nuts, seeds, peanut butter or yogurt. They are rich in fiber, protein and omega-3, and they can help improve your digestion and metabolism. Plus, they are vegan-friendly and gluten-free if you use certified oats.
In this article, I will show you how to make creamy overnight oats that are not too thick or thin, but just right. I will also share some tips and tricks to make them even more delicious and nutritious. Let’s get started!
The Ingredients
To make one serving of overnight oats, you will need:
- 1/2 cup of regular rolled oats (not instant or steel-cut)
- 1/3 cup of coconut milk or yogurt (or vegan yogurt)
- 1/4 cup of water or milk (any kind you like, such as almond milk or hemp milk)
- 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons of maple syrup
- A pinch of sea salt
- 1 tablespoon of chia seeds (optional, but highly recommended)
The Method
The method is very easy and takes only 10 minutes of hands-on time. Here are the steps:
- In a small bowl or a mason jar, combine the oats, coconut milk or yogurt, water or milk, vanilla extract, maple syrup and salt. Stir well to combine.
- Add the chia seeds if using and stir again. Chia seeds will help thicken the mixture and add more fiber and omega-3.
- Cover the bowl or jar with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 hours.
- In the morning, give the oats a good stir and add more liquid if needed to adjust the consistency. You can also add some spices, such as cinnamon or nutmeg, but do this just before eating as some spices can make the oats gummy if soaked for too long.
- Top with your favorite fruits, nuts, seeds, peanut butter or yogurt and enjoy!
The Tips
Here are some tips to make your overnight oats even better:
- Use regular rolled oats for the best texture. Instant oats will become too mushy and steel-cut oats will be too hard.
- Use coconut milk or yogurt for a creamy and naturally sweet base. You can also use other plant-based milks or yogurts if you prefer.
- Adjust the sweetness to your taste by adding more or less maple syrup. You can also use other sweeteners, such as honey, agave nectar or stevia.
- Experiment with different flavors by adding different extracts, spices, fruits or nuts. Some examples are chocolate overnight oats with cocoa powder and chocolate chips, banana overnight oats with mashed banana and walnuts, or apple pie overnight oats with diced apple and cinnamon.
- Make a batch of overnight oats for the week ahead and store them in individual jars or containers in the fridge. They will last for up to 5 days.
I hope you enjoyed this article and learned how to make delicious overnight oats. Please let me know if you have any questions or feedback. I apologize for any errors or inaccuracies in my rewriting. Thank you for reading! 😊
