A quick and easy breakfast that is sure to be tasty and prepared the night before for ultimate convenience! Our guide to overnight oats outlines the basic ratios and will give you some great ideas for:
Stir ins (boost the nutrition of the oats)
Layer ins (add extra flavour and creamy texture)
And toppings (fresh fruit ideas and added crunch)!
Watch my video guide to overnight oats below!
Best Oats For Overnight Oats
Our go-to oats are quick cooking oats. Some guides will caution against using quick oats because they are the thinnest variety and get very soft when left overnight in milk. BUT we always have quick oats in our pantry and when we add in fresh fruit and a crunchy topping we don't mind the "mushier" texture of the oats.
*A benefit to using quick oats is that they really only need an hour or less to absorb the liquid. SO you don't necessarily need to make them the night prior. If we don't feel like warm oats but don't have overnight oats prepared sometimes we will make these and wait only a half hour or so.
If you prefer a firmer oat then rolled oats will be your best choice. They are less processed, bigger, and thicker so they will still soften nicely but retain a firmer texture than quick oats.
And steel-cut oats are the thickest, coarsest cut. If you prefer your oats with much more crunch then using quick cooking steel-cut oats could work for you!
- They will likely need at least 8 hours to soften enough.
- Have a chewy, slightly gummy texture and nutty flavour.
- Due to their weight, I like to mix them with milk and wait a few hours. Then give them a stir. I find the oats can sink and some milk can rise in a layer above the oats. Giving them a stir will help incorporate all the milk through and then the toppings can be added.
- True steel-cut oats (the variety that takes about 30 minutes to cook on the stove-top) will likely be too firm to use in overnight oats.
Oat To Milk Ratio
As with the type of oats used, the amount of milk added can change depending on your preference. BUT our basic ratio is:
- ½ cup oats to ¾ cup plant milk of choice when adding seeds that will absorb some liquid.
- ½ cup oats to just under ¾ cup milk if no seeds will be added OR if frozen fruit is being used.
- You can absolutely use frozen fruit. Just know that the fruit will release water into the oats as it defrosts in the fridge. Decreasing the amount of milk will ensure the oats don't end up too runny.
*This might take a bit of experimentation to find your preferred amount of liquid. I find that if I'm not adding seeds to absorb some of the liquid ½ cup oats to ½ cup plant milk leaves no extra milk BUT ¾ cup milk is a touch too much so somewhere in between is what I aim for.
The Stir-Ins!
Some of our favourite things to stir into the oats for extra flavour and nutrition are:
Ground flaxseed
Chia seeds
Any other ground seed (pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, etc.)
Shredded coconut (*won't really absorb any liquid)
Raisins, dried cranberries, or any other dried fruit
And Maple syrup for some extra sweetness
*For the seeds and shredded coconut: stir in 1 tbsp. Use about ¼ cup dried fruit. And we like ¾ tablespoon maple syrup but adjust to your preference!
- Add your oats to a mason jar or bowl with a lid.
- Stir in any of the dry ingredients above.
- Then add the milk and/or maple syrup and stir to combine.
The Layer Ins!
Add extra flavour, creaminess, and bulk to your overnight oats with:
Nut butters or a seed butter like Tahini
Jam (try our Watermelon Rind Strawberry Fruit Sauce)
Yogurt (check out our 5 Minute Homemade Mango/Pineapple "Yogurt")
Applesauce (and here's an easy 25 Minute Just Apples Applesauce)
*we use 2 tablespoon peanut butter and ⅓ cup yogurt or fruit sauce.
*We love adding peanut butter but not fully stirring it into the oats. By lightly spreading it through the oats you end up with bigger chunks of peanut butter to enjoy in the morning! If your nut butter is really runny you can leave a layer resting on top of the oats!
*If you are adding a fruit sauce or yogurt they will likely sink a bit through the oats if added right away. If you want a really distinct line between the layers... allow the oats to absorb some of the milk before adding in the next layer.
Toppings For Overnight Oats
The last and arguably most fun part of our guide to overnight oats... the toppings!
- Fresh Fruit! Add in any of your favourites/whatever you have on hand. Bananas, berries, mango, pineapple, kiwi... anything will be tasty.
- Frozen Fruit. You can absolutely use frozen fruit. Just decrease the amount of milk added to your oats because the frozen fruit will release water as it defrosts.
*We tend to add about ½ cup to ¾ cup fresh or frozen fruit.
And for some crunch...
- Nuts (quickly toast them for a huge flavour boost... check out our guide to toasting walnuts)
- Granola
- Whole seeds like hemp seeds or pumpkin seeds
- Toasted coconut
- Dried fruit
- And chocolate chips for an extra sweet morning!
Recipe Cost
Our favourite overnight oats recipes generally cost between CAD $0.75 and $2.15 a portion. The price will certainly vary depending on what is added BUT they are a more cost effective option than buying oatmeal from a cafe when we are running late.
For some recipe inspiration take a look at our:
PB Banana Chip Oats
Strawberry Jam Overnight Oats
Mango Yogurt Overnight Oats
Let us know in the comments below what your favourite stir ins, layer ins, and toppings are! Any flavour combinations you want to see recipes for?
Take this guide to overnight oats, sleep in for an extra few minutes, and wake up to a tasty breakfast waiting in your fridge!
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