This recipe for Cinnamon Overnight Oats is a simple and delicious way to start your day. Packed with warm cinnamon spice and tender oats, this recipe is perfect for meal prep for those busy weekday mornings.
It seems everyone needs a little help with breakfast. Stroll through the cereal aisle of any grocery store and you’ll find more than just sugary cereals, you’ll find boxes of breakfast bars, packaged pastries, instant oatmeal packages along with granola, waffle and pancake mixes and more. There is nothing wrong with these options, but let’s face it, these are typically not the healthiest options to start your day.
That is where meal prep breakfasts come in handy! We have a bunch of them, from our German Chocolate Cake Baked Oatmeal (good morning, chocolate and coconut!), along with Peanut Butter Granola and Strawberry Drop Biscuits. These are all recipes designed to help my family (and yours!) easily and quickly start the day with a healthy and nourishing breakfast. And this recipe for Cinnamon Overnight Oats deserves a spot in your breakfast rotation!
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Ingredients that Matter
Overnight oats are incredibly simple to make. All you need are a handful of basic ingredients for the overnight oats, along with toppings of your choice, and you have a delicious and easy breakfast. Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe:
- Rolled Oats. Old Fashioned Rolled Oats work best for overnight oats. You can use quick oats, but they may be a bit mushier than regular rolled oats.
- Cinnamon. The main flavor of these overnight oats is cinnamon, but it’s important not to overdo it! Cinnamon is strong, so aim for between ¼-1/2 teaspoon per serving.
- Flaxseeds or Chia Seeds. I like to add either ground flaxseeds or chia seeds for extra protein, fiber and vitamins and minerals. I recommend grinding whole flaxseeds as whole seeds don’t absorb in your body as well as ground.
- Almond Milk. Use your favorite plant-based milk alternative (or regular milk, if that’s what you prefer).
- Yogurt. I like to use yogurt in my overnight oats to amp up the nutrition. Use plain full-fat or a plant-based alternative, based on your preferences.
- Maple Syrup. You don’t have to add sweetener to your overnight oats, but I strongly recommend adding just 1-3 teaspoons of maple syrup to balance the flavor.
- Vanilla Extract. A splash of vanilla extract adds diecious floral flavor to the overnight oats.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
It’s incredibly easy to make overnight oats. Once you learn the basics, you’ll likely want to experiment with lots of variations. You can check out our Overnight Oats with Coconut Milk recipe for another variation. Here’s how to make cinnamon overnight oats.
Mix together (either in a bowl if making more than one serving or directly in a mason jar or airtight storage container if making a single serving) the oats, almond milk, yogurt, ground flaxseeds, maple syrup, cinnamon and vanilla extract.
Transfer the oat mixture to a storage container (a mason jar or other glass container work great). Store in the refrigerator overnight, or at least for 4 hours, then serve cold out of the fridge, room temperature or warmed in the microwave. Add your favorite toppings and enjoy.
Hint: To enjoy overnight oats room temperature, set a serving on the counter for at least 30 minutes, up to 1 hour (enough time to get ready in the morning or get a workout). Then stir the oats and add your favorite toppings.
Substitutions
There are plenty of substitutions you can make for this recipe based on your dietary needs or personal preferences. Here are some suggestions:
- Dairy-Free or Vegan – Be sure to use a plant-based yogurt if you are making this recipe dairy-free or vegan.
- Gluten-Free – Use gluten-free oats if you are making this recipe gluten-free (don’t just assume all oats are gluten-free, because they are not!).
- Less Fat – Use a low- or no-fat plain yogurt to reduce some of the fat in this recipe.
Equipment
This recipe uses very basic equipment. You simply need a storage vessel like a mason jar. I also recommend this Snapware Total Solution 24-Pc Glass Food Storage Container Set as it seals well and you can use dry erase markers to label them. And use a spice or Coffee Grinder to grind the flaxseeds.
Storage & Serving
This recipe makes one serving, but you can easily scale it up based on how many servings you want. Stored in the refrigerator, overnight oats will stay delicious for up to 5 days.
What about toppings? Here are some suggetsions:
- Chopped Pecans or Walnuts
- Maple Syrup
- More Cinnamon
- Bananas
- Fresh Berries
- Granola
- Apples
- Pears
FAQ
I recommend using regular old fashioned rolled oats when making overnight oats. You could use quick cooking oats, but the overnight oats may be a bit mushy.
Yes, overnight oats are packing in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals.
More Breakfast Ideas
Looking for more breakfast recipes? Try these:
Dinner Ideas
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PrintRecipe
Cinnamon Overnight Oats
- Total Time: 12 hours
- Yield: 1 ¼ cup 1x
Description
This recipe for Cinnamon Overnight Oats is a simple and delicious way to start your day. Packed with warm cinnamon spice and tender oats, this recipe is perfect for meal prep for those busy weekday mornings.
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup almond milk, plus more for serving
- 3 Tbsp. plain full-fat yogurt (or plant-based yogurt)
- 1 Tbsp. ground flaxseeds or chia seeds
- 2 tsp. maple syrup, plus more for serving
- ¼–½ tsp. ground cinnamon (more if you like a strong cinnamon flavor), plus more for serving
- ¼ tsp. vanilla extract
- chopped pecans, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Stir together in an airtight container or mason jar the oats, almond milk, yogurt, flaxseeds or chia seeds, maple syrup, cinnamon and vanilla until well combined. Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least 4 hours.
- When ready to serve, stir and enjoy cold, room temperature or warm (in the microwave). Add your favorite toppings like more almond milk, cinnamon, maple syrup and chopped pecans.
Notes
- Use gluten-free rolled oats if you are making this recipe gluten-free. Be sure the package is labeled gluten-free (not all oats are gluten-free).
- Keep this recipe dairy-free and vegan by using a plant-based yogurt alternative.
- Overnight oats may be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- This recipe makes one serving. Simply double the recipe, or more, to enjoy more servings throughout the week.
- Prep Time: 5 min.
- Cook Time: 0 min.
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: no cook
- Cuisine: American
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