Vanilla Overnight Oats with Cinnamon

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Vanilla Overnight Oats with Cinnamon is bound to become your new favorite make ahead breakfast! This easy recipe is SO satisfying and delicious, and also a very nourishing way to begin the day.

Overnight oats are a refreshing, ultra-creamy version of oatmeal that is served chilled. Best of all, you can whip up a batch IN MINUTES on Sunday evening and have breakfast ready to go in the refrigerator nearly all week long!

Since this recipe for overnight oats is simply flavored with vanilla extract and ground cinnamon, it makes a great backdrop for fresh fruit, nuts, coconut flakes....you name it! These oats go with practically everything.

Glasses of overnight oats topped with bananas, blueberries and strawberries.

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Why This Recipe Works
Ingredients
How to Make This Recipe
Expert Tips
FAQS
Overnight Oat Topping Ideas
Related Recipes
Recipe

Why This Recipe Works

This recipe takes less than 5 minutes to prepare and is entirely make ahead. Easy and nutritious breakfasts are in your future!
No cooking required! The oats simply soak for a minimum of 3 hours and they are ready to enjoy.
These overnight oats are SIMPLY flavored with vanilla extract and ground cinnamon so they are perfect for topping with your favorite fruits, nuts, nut butter, granola or coconut. SO incredibly versatile!

Ingredients

Old-fashioned rolled oats form the base of this recipe. It's important to seek out old-fashioned rolled oats as opposed to steel cut oats (which won't soften properly without cooking) or quick cooking oats (which will create an overly mushy texture in this recipe).
Milk (any kind will do) brings moisture and richness. My personal favorite for this recipe is unsweetened almond milk.
Greek yogurt adds body and creaminess.
Chia seeds plump up during the soaking process and help the oatmeal set up to a delightfully thick and satisfying texture.
Pure maple syrup is our sweetener here, but honey would also be delicious!
A bit of salt helps highlight the sweetness and other flavors in this recipe.
Vanilla extract and ground cinnamon bring their delicious, comforting flavors to round out this recipe.

See the recipe card below for specific amounts and detailed instructions.

How to Make This Recipe

Making overnight oats couldn't be simpler. No need to turn on the stove or even pop anything into the microwave! Simply combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Allow the oats to soak for at least 3 hours or overnight in the fridge and top as desired. DONE!

Overnight oats in a glass bowl with a a whisk.

Expert Tips

Be sure to seek out old-fashioned oats (rather than steel cut or quick cooking) for the best texture in this dish.

FAQS

What is the story behind overnight oats?

Overnight oats are essentially a modernized version of muesli, a Swiss oatmeal dish that is traditionally served cold. The recipe was developed by a Swiss doctor, Maximilian Bircher-Benner, in the early twentieth century as a "health food" to serve to his patients as part of their strict vegetarian diet regimen. The original version contained diced apple, nuts, rolled oats that had been soaked for 12 hours, lemon juice and either milk or cream. Interestingly, muesli was originally served as an appetizer course before dinner and not as a breakfast food.

How do overnight oats differ from traditional oatmeal?

Overnight oats are not cooked. Instead, they are soaked overnight in a mixture of milk (regular or plant-based), possibly some yogurt or skyr (Icelandic yogurt), sweetener (usually pure maple syrup or honey) and chia seeds which help thicken the mixture and give it a hearty, substantial texture.

Can I use any kind of oats to make overnight oats?

Overnight oats are almost always made with old-fashioned rolled oats as opposed to quick-cooking or steel cut oats. Quick-cooking or instant oats create an overly mushy texture to the final product, and steel cut oats don't soften enough during the soaking process to be pleasantly edible.

What is the best way to store overnight oats?

I will often portion my overnight oats into individual servings in small glass containers prior to placing them into the refrigerator (be sure to cover each container with a lid or plastic wrap). This saves me a step in the morning...all I have to do is top my oats and enjoy!

How long do overnight oats last?

Overnight oats will keep for 4 days covered tightly in the fridge. Almost a week's worth of nourishing breakfasts at your fingertips!

Overnight Oat Topping Ideas

There are MANY options for topping your overnight oats! Here are a just a few ideas to get you started:

Fresh berries
Your favorite jam or preserves
Sliced banana
Chopped apple, mango or pineapple
Coconut flakes
Shaved dark chocolate or cacao nibs
Nuts and seeds of all kinds
Granola
Nut butter (roasted almond butter and diced apple are wonderful together)
Shredded carrots and warm spices (think carrot cake vibes)
Roasted Strawberries
Any seasonal compote (Blueberry Cardamom Compote, Strawberry Rhubarb Compote, Pear Compote, or Peach Compote are all AMAZING!)

A spoonful of overnight oats, a banana slice and a blueberry on a spoon.

Looking for more delicious breakfast recipes featuring oats? Check these out!

If you loved this recipe, give it a star review! Also, snap a picture of your Vanilla Overnight Oats with Cinnamon and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #truenorthkitchen and tagging me @true_north_kitchen.

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