Introduction: Basic Overnight Oatmeal Recipe

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Overnight oatmeal is the perfect breakfast. If you have never heard of overnight oatmeal before, I know what you're thinking: Warm oatmeal is nice and comforting, but cold oatmeal?!

Don't worry - that's exactly what I thought the first time I tried this a few years ago! But then this became my breakfast for almost every single day of the year. Overnight oatmeal is delicious and especially refreshing during hot summer days. You can even choose to have it warm during the winter if you quickly microwave it. It is also perfect for those of you who don't have much time in the morning to make a proper breakfast. I make my overnight oats the night before, and it's great because if I wake up late the next day, I can eat it on the way to school.

In this tutorial I will share my basic overnight oatmeal recipe, as well as a few creative recipes I made.

Step 1: Get Your Oats!

You can choose any type of oats you like – steel cut, quick oats, rolled oats, etc. I usually use quick oats, but I've heard from many people that they prefer rolled oats. Either way, it will taste great.

Pour 1/2 cup oats into a jar or airtight container.

Step 2: Combine the Oats With Liquid

Just remember the 1:1 ratio. You will soak 1 part liquid with 1 part oats overnight. The liquid can be milk, almond milk, yogurt, etc. Since I used 1/2 cup oats, I will use 1/2 cup milk.

Add the milk to the jar or container.

Step 3: Add a Sweetener and Other Mix-ins

The sweetener can be anything: brown sugar, maple syrup, agave, honey, jam, a packet of truvia, etc. You can also choose to skip this step if you like the oatmeal itself.

Then add other mix-ins like cinnamon, fruits, nut butter, nuts, vanilla extract, raisins, chocolate chips, mashed banana, seeds, etc. If you want to add something that might get soggy (like granola or cereal), you should add it after the oatmeal is refrigerated (Step 5).

For the oatmeal I made, I added 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp honey, and a handful of frozen mango pieces.

Step 4: Stir and Refrigerate Overnight

Mix the oatmeal mixture and seal the jar or airtight container.

If you are planning to have your oatmeal for breakfast, put the oatmeal in the fridge the night before and the next morning, your oats should have soaked up all or most of the liquid. It should look thick and creamy!

If you choose not to wait overnight, I would recommend waiting at least 3-4 hours.

Step 5: Add Extra Liquid and Fresh Toppings. Enjoy!

In the morning, add a little bit of extra liquid (about 1-3 tsp), as the oats will have absorbed almost all of the liquid added earlier. I added 3 tsp milk.

Then add your fresh toppings. This can be anything – fresh fruits, granola, cereal, or the things I listed in the overnight mix-in list previously. I just added a handful of fresh blueberries.

Enjoy! You can either have your oatmeal straight out of the jar/container, or you can transfer it to another bowl. If you would like to have your oatmeal warm, you can also put it in the microwave for a few seconds.

Step 6: Overnight Oatmeal Idea: Chocolate Banana Pudding Oatmeal

Ingredients:

For the banana pudding layer:

  • 1/3 cup oats
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1/2 mashed banana (save the rest for the topping)

For the chocolate layer:

  • 1/3 cup oats
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 2 tsp cocoa powder
  • 1 tbsp honey (or more if you would like it sweeter)
  • 1 tbsp chocolate chips (optional)

Toppings:

  • 1/2 banana, sliced
  • granola (optional)
  • chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions:

  1. In a jar or container, combine ingredients for the banana pudding oatmeal layer.
  2. In another jar or container, combine ingredients for the chocolate oatmeal layer.
  3. Put containers in fridge overnight.
  4. In the morning, add a few teaspoons of milk to the containers if oatmeal is too thick. Pour the oatmeal in another jar, alternating between the banana pudding layer and the chocolate layer.
  5. Top with sliced banana, granola, and/or chocolate chips!

Step 7: Overnight Oatmeal Idea 2: Honey Nut Oatmeal

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup oats
  • 1/2 cup almond milk
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • handful of mixed nuts (mine had cashews, almonds, and macadamia nuts)

Topping:

  • handful of nuts (I just used almonds)
  • granola
  • drizzle of honey

Instructions:

  1. In a jar or container, combine oats, almond milk, honey, and mixed nuts.
  2. Put jar in fridge overnight.
  3. The next morning, add 1-3 tsp more almond milk if mixture is too thick. Top with nuts, granola, and honey.
  4. Enjoy!
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