The concept of overnight oats can be somewhat confusing to newbies, which is totally understandable. - But, how does it work exactly?
- How are they “cooked” in the fridge, overnight?
- Do I eat them cold?
- Can I eat them warm (because eating cold oats weirds me out)??
- Why are they made in a jar?
WHAT’S GOING ON HERE.
I get you. At one point, I also pondered those hard-hitting questions. So lemme explain.
When it comes to overnight oats, there’s no right way or wrong way to make them or eat them. It’s kind of up to you and what you prefer.
Overnight oats are basically rolled oats swirled together in a mason jar with any kind of dairy-free milk, plus any extra goodness you feel like adding (chia seeds, berries, nuts, cinnamon, cacao powder, nut butter etc.). Then you seal the mason jar (or covered bowl, if that’s all you have) in the fridge overnight. The oats soften and soak up the liquid, essentially “cooking” overnight, so there’s no need to actually cook them.
Voila! YOU HAVE MAGIC IN A JAR.
Why do busy people love overnight oats so much? They’re CONVENIENT and CUSTOMIZABLE.
We’re busy. Life is crazy town sometimes. There are days when we wake up late and breakfast turns into a quick larabar so we aren’t late to work (which will leave us starvedddd in an hour or two, because a larabar is a snack y’all). We’ll be wishing for some magic-in-a-jar.
Overnight oats are a healthy grab-n-go breakfast, meaning one less thing you have to worry about, come morning. You literally grab the jar out of the fridge (don’t forget a spoon) and BOOM. The creamiest, yummiest breakfast that saves time, tastes uh-mazing, keeps you full and energized and more importantly, keeps you nourished. There’s literally nothing better. While I love smoothies, my love is equal for overnight oats.
You could warm them up on the stove in the morning, or dare I say it, in the microwave, OR you can eat them room-temperature, as I usually do. I take the jar out of the fridge and set it on the counter to warm up while I make coffee and chug my lemon water and love on Taz until he’s annoyed with me. That way, the oats aren’t “cold” but I also don’t have to dirty any more dishes. Hashtag lazy.
Why do I love overnight oats? Brain fuel. Packed with oodles of nourishment. DELISH. Filling. Easyyyy.
You should totally make them in cute mason jars, especially if you’re on the go because of the screw-on lid! Spillage problems avoided, you are welcome.
I poured my overnight oats into a bowl (as shown in some pictures) but either way, you can get creative, customize with your fave add-ins and be excited for your breakfast in the morning. Let’s talk about add-ins and toppings. The options are endless here. This is the part where you transform overnights oats into whatever you want them to be.
Overnight Oat Flavor Ideas:- Peanut Butter Brownie? Add in peanut butter and cacao powder.
- Banana Coconut? Add in coconut milk, mashed banana and coconut flakes.
- Protein-Powered Berry Bliss? Add in plant based protein powder and berries (fresh or frozen).
- Crunchy and Savory? Add in crushed walnuts, cacao nibs and nut butter.
- Superfood Packed? Add in chia seeds, hemp seeds, maca powder, gogi berries etc.
- Peanut Butter and Jelly? Add peanut butter and jelly. Yup.
These heavenly Peanut Butter Chia Overnight Oats are loaded with so much goodness, lemme tell you. Whole grain oats, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, mashed banana (for natural sweetness) “peanut butter” which I will talk about, chia seeds, cinnamon, a teeny pinch of sea salt, coconut flakes, crushed almonds and cacao nibs. Sweet, savory, crunchy, creamy, energizing and superfood infused. Just the way I like it.
Fun fact! Two tablespoons of chia seeds contains: eight grams of fiber, six grams of plant protein, 12% of the daily value of iron, and 16% of the daily value of calcium.
I always, always, always add chia seeds to my overnight oats. They are little superfood gems! Just be sure to add extra liquid as chia seeds and oats SOAK up every ounce. The more liquid, the creamier and better.
For the “peanut butter”, I used a lightened up version. PB Fit Powder is a de-fatted peanut butter powder you mix with water to create the dreamiest peanut butter, with a little less fat. I’m obsessed!!
Peanut Butter Chia Overnight Oats
Ingredients- 3/4 cup rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch of sea salt
- 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or any plant milk)*
- 1/2 cup filtered water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- 1 ripe banana, mashed (but leave a few banana coins for topping!)
- 2 tablespoons PB Fit powder + 1 1/2 tablespoons water (or any nut butter, to taste)
- 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup or agave, for extra sweetness
Extras/Toppings
- cacao nibs (optional)
- coconut flakes
- crushed almonds
- sliced banana coins
- extra sprinkles of cinnamon!
Read More :
Peanut Butter Chia Overnight Oats
