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You see, for years I've been sending warm oatmeal in thermos containers for my daughters' snacks at school. Snack time usually occurs early in the morning and that's after scarfing down what little breakfast they can manage before running out the door for school at 7am (the day starts early around here).
Recipe for Overnight Oats
So oatmeal on the go was the perfect solution, and my kids loved it. But then my 1st grader's snack time got changed to the afternoon, so we were really pushing the 5 hour thermos warm food limit by continuing to send her oatmeal.
Perfect Oats Recipe for an Easy Snack
Enter Overnight Oats, our new perfect solution! But, I guess if I am being technical here we don't actually make these oats overnight. We mix it up in the morning (still in an insulated thermos container) while the kids are eating their breakfast and then by snack time later that day (approximately 5 ½ hours later), it's ready to go. And since thermoses can keep cold food cold for longer (7 hours to be exact), it really is the new perfect solution for us.
Do you Eat Overnight Oats Cold?
For our family we serve overnight oats cold! It's perfect for keeping throughout the day in an insulated container like a thermos, and it's a great way to enjoy a cool and nutritious snack in the summer months! We don't recommend heating these oats, since the ingredients wouldn't lend well to a hot oatmeal dish.
That's why I am excited to share our favorite "Overnight" Oats combination with you today—the one my 1st grader has been eating (and loving) almost every single day so far this school year! Also, be sure to check out our other "Overnight Oats" blog post for more recipe ideas in addition to the one below.
Our Favorite Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tablespoon plain yogurt
- ½ teaspoon honey
- 1 tablespoon raisins ((or more if you like more raisins))
- ⅛ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 pinches cinnamon
Instructions
- Mix together all ingredients, cover, and refrigerate for a minimum of 5 hours before eating. Alternatively, mix in an insulated thermos container (left unrefrigerated) and wait no more than 7 hours before eating.
Amber says
Could I use almond milk?
April says
I use almond milk in mine!
Josie Hyams says
Is cinnamon hill offering any discount codes for first time buyers? I'd love to try it.
Jackie says
can you add frozen fruit instead of raisins???
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Jackie. I think that would work fine. Let us know how it turns out. ~Amy
Marilyn Lakaner says
Do you eat this cold?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Yep. It's delicious!
Carissa says
Just curious, have you tried any fruit combos yet? I am wondering how much liquid berries or peaches might be. Do the release too much moisture?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Carissa. We do dried fruits combos all the time. I usually add fresh fruit just before eating. ~Amy
Darra says
So I REALLY want to try overnight oats. However, oats should be soaked for 24 hours to get rid of the phytic acid. I soak mine in buckwheat flour and apple cider vinegar. If I were to dehydrate them after soaking/rinsing, would they reabsorb the liquid which makes overnight oats so good?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Darra. Yep, I'm pretty sure they would be just fine. :)
Tracy says
I'm obsessed with this blog and this is my first recipe. For the first time, I had everything required in my pantry!
Emily says
Can you use steel cut oats?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Emily. I like them best with steel cut. It is a nutty crunchy texture and sometimes I like them best on day two. :) ~Amy
Olive maguiness says
Don't you have to cook the Oates. I hated oatmeal as a child and still don't like it. I would think cold Oates would be even worse? Just wondering.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hello Olive. No, they are not cooked. ~Amy
heather says
Olive, I hate cooked oatmeal but really like this. It's just not the same.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Kate. Hmmm, I'm not sure. What kind of oats are you using?
Kate says
I want to love overnight oats like all of you guys! But I've made them twice - with rolled oats - and they're not turning out so good. I'm getting major thumbs down from my 6 and 4 year old, and I'm not enjoying them either. It's like the oats aren't absorbing any of the liquid overnight while in the fridge and they are just kind of blah. What am I doing wrong?!
Hope says
I made this last night with whole milk organic vanilla bean yogurt since that's what I had in the house. It was AMAZING, and my toddler loved it, too! I think this will be her breakfast for daycare from now on!
Elena says
Was wanting to try this.... can u use "quick cook" oats? I have a ton and rather than buying rolled.... anyway just wondered if anyone had tried it?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Elena. You can. The results are just a little more "mushy". ~Amy
Katherine says
Just wondering if you soak this dish overnight, can you microwave it in the morning if you'd like hot oatmeal?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Sure. You can do that. ~Amy
Kristin says
So they eat the oatmeal cold?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Kristin. Yep. But, you can warm it if you prefer.
Beth Mattson says
Just wondering if anyone has done these dairy free?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Beth. I make them with almond milk. :)
Lil says
I'd love to try overnight oats! Been wanting to make it but haven't got started yet as I have a question. Which type of rolled oats do you use? Is it the instant cook (just pour boiling water), quick cook (need some cooking but only requires shorter cooking time), or regular ones (that requires the full length of cooking time if we are eating it hot)? Is it necessary to cook the oats first? I feel uncomfortable eating the rolled oats without cooking them as it would appear to be the case in overnight recipes, if I understand the recipes correctly. Would appreciate your comments. Thanks!
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Lil. You can use regular rolled oats. I use steel cut, too for a nuttier texture. ~Amy
Carla says
Just wondering if anyone added in fruit that does not work very well, or if anyone has used flavored yogurts instead of plain?
Carrie says
Love overnight oatmeal! Yum!
Betty says
I like to throw in some fresh fruit like blueberries.
Charlene says
So there is no cooking with this recipe?
Christa says
That's the beauty of it! :)
Stephanie says
I've been making this for a couple weeks now... it is AWESOME!! We are vegan so I use soy milk, maple syrup, and coconut milk yogurt. I don't have fresh cinnamon, but it is on my list of things to try soon!! I sometimes have it for breakfast, but it is so yummy it is often my dessert.
hytekblue says
Making it in a thermos is such a great idea! Thanks a million!
Erin says
I LOVE this recipe! Is it OK to make a bunch in advance and eat over a few days? Or is it only good when prepared the night before and eaten the next day?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Erin. These can be made a few days in advance, too! :)
Brandi says
Hi. New to the blog here. Just wondering if you have more overnight oatmeal recipes or oatmeal smoothie recipes.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Brandi. Go here for a crazy bunch of ideas but be sure to sweeten with honey or maple syrup: http://www.buzzfeed.com/arielknutson/overnight-oat-recipes-oatmeal-cold. :) ~Amy
Korin says
I just put this in the refrigerator and will try it in thr morning. I used soy yogurt and almond milk because my son is severely allergic to milk. I'll let you know how it tastes!
Faith says
I remember seeing an ad on here with a coupon code for Cinnamon Hill. Is that no longer current... can't find it now. Was "strongly suggesting" my husband by me the set for Mother's Day and was hoping to find the coupon code. :)
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Faith. Yes, the coupon codes are almost always short term. ~Amy
Danielle says
I read this a while ago and I am very intrigued by the idea of fresh cinnamon so I bit the bullet and ordered some today. I can't wait to try it. I am making a mental list of all the things I can make with it, and cinnamon ice cream is right there at the top of it. Thanks for the recommendation!
Logan says
I don't have rolled oats, just steel cut - would those work?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hello Logan. Making these with steel-cut is my favorite way. They come out nutty and crunchy. ~Amy
Gail says
Wouldn't it have to be the quick cooking steel cut oats? The non-precooked steel cut oats take 40 minutes to cook. Doesn't seem like they would be edible by simply soaking at room temperature.
Marie says
I've done (another) overnight oatmeal with regular steel cut oats and they do soften, though I prefer using the old fashioned oats for these. For steel cut oats, I rather cook them in the crock pot overnight.
Rose @ Healthy Food for Hectic Lives says
I got started making this and realized I didn't have any yogurt. I decided to proceed without it and it worked out just fine!
Chelle says
Another big hit with my guys! They have always loved oatmeal so this wasn't a tough sell. We have made as written, swapping out Greek yogurt because that's what we use. We also tried swapping apples for the raisins and maple syrup (organic grade b) for the honey. Both were great! This solved the o'dark thirty rush in our home of grabbing something less healthy or nothing at all. I make this in batches of 6-12 depending on the day. They have even grabbed them as snacks or packed for lunch at work! This is so quick, healthy, and hearty (ie no sugar crash!). Finally, something we all agree on. Thank you Lisa!!
Claire says
May I dice the apple when I make it or does that need to be added fresh? If I can do it in advance would it be ok to do for five days - or just a day ahead? Thanks!
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Claire. You can add apple before refrigerating or wait and do it fresh. I've made these oats for a full school-week of breakfasts in advance. :)
Sandra says
I have always disliked the smell of oatmeal (grandma gave me WAY TOO much as a kid!). Because it is so healthily I have been looking for a way to add it to my menus. Maybe by not cooking it, I won't smell it and this will work for me! Thanks for the idea!
Anitra says
I had tried other recipes for overnight/cold oats before, and hated them. Really glad I gave it one more try! This was nice, made me think of a cold rice pudding but less grainy. My only concern is that somehow it's not as filling as 1/2 cup oats cooked with water or milk.
I think I'll be making it in double batches next time. :)
Heather says
We love Overnight Oatmeal! Been making it for months. (My sister-in-law introduced to us on vacation as "Swiss Oatmeal") I make mine at least 3 times a week for breakfast on the go. My favorite combo is dried cranberries (instead of raisins) and diced apples. I also like doing blueberries and slivered almonds. I also usually use Maple Syrup instead of honey. (I like the taste better) Yum!!
Annie says
Does it have to be rolled oats or can I use steel cut instead? Thanks.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
I make steel-cut refrigerator oats all the time. :)
Karen says
Are you supposed to heat it up or leave it cold?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Karen. Either, but this recipe is good served cold.
Eric says
I have a REALLY stupid question (but I'm a guy so that's to be expected). Is the 1/2 cup of rolled oats cooked before you add them or do you just throw the dry oats in with everything else?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Eric. No cooking required at all. :) ~Amy
Stephanie says
Can steel cut oats be used in place of rolled oats?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
You can use steel cut oats. They will be more chewy, dense, and nutty but I love them. :) ~Amy
Mary says
I love overnight oats! I usually use 1/2 cup plain organic yogurt, 1/4 cup regular oats, pinch of cinnamon and fruit - usually either blueberries, mango or apple. Instead of making at night, I make this right before I leave for the gym in the morning and put in the refrigerator. It's ready when I get back. I've found that frozen wild blueberries (which are smaller than other blueberries) work really well because they are smaller and have a slightly softer texture when thawed than fresh blueberries.