These Brownie Batter Overnight Oats taste just like a dessert! They take only a few minutes to make and don't require any special ingredients. It's the perfect make-ahead breakfast for busy mornings and so easy to make! Creamy, chocolatey, and sweetened with just a touch of maple syrup.
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What Makes These Brownie Batter Overnight Oats So Good
Dessert for breakfast - If you're a brownie lover or you always go for the chocolate dessert, no matter what it is, this oatmeal is for you! They're extra creamy and chocolatey which totally makes them taste like a brownie batter! But at the same time, they're not overly sweet, and they're as filling and satisfying as any other oatmeal!
Easy and great for meal prep - You technically only need 5 ingredients to make it (if you don't count the vanilla, cinnamon, and salt), and just a few minutes of hands-on work. They last at least 3 days in the fridge with proper storage, which makes them perfect for a busy week. There's no need to heat anything up in the morning, and you can even eat them on the go!
Ingredients
- Rolled oats - I recommend using classic old-fashioned rolled oats. They'll give you more texture than quick oats, which would yield a denser oatmeal. You can still use them in a pinch, though. I don't recommend steel-cut oats because they need more time and more liquid to soak properly.
- Almond milk - I use unsweetened almond milk or cashew milk for practically everything so that's what I use here. Since this recipe also has Greek yogurt, you can obviously also use whole milk if you prefer or any non-dairy milk (except canned coconut milk).
- Greek yogurt - To make the oats creamier, I added full-fat Greek yogurt. It adds a bit of tanginess as well, which balances the bitter cacao well. You can always use non-dairy yogurt if you prefer.
- Cacao powder - I always use raw cacao powder, but regular Dutch-processed cocoa powder is great as well. The main difference between the two is their flavor and some nutritional values.
- Maple syrup - You can use practically any sweetener you have here. I like liquid sweetener, and dark maple syrup adds a nice flavor, but honey or agave syrup would be great as well!
- Vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and sea salt - These add a little bit of flavor and tie everything together. Technically, all three are optional, but I do highly recommend them. You can use vanilla extract and vanilla bean paste interchangeably. I also recommend always using either sea salt or Himalayan pink salt if possible, not table salt.
Variations and Substitutions
- Chia seeds and flax seeds - Oats are a great source of fiber on their own, but if you want to add even more, along with extra protein and healthy fats, add some ground flax seeds, chia seeds, or both! Ground flax seeds also add a little bit of nutty flavor.
- Dairy-free - If you want to keep the oats vegan, use dairy-free yogurt instead of Greek yogurt. I recommend a good, thick coconut yogurt like Yoggu.
- Protein powder - You can also add some protein powder if you want to make the oats more filling. I'd be careful not to add too much, though, not even a full scoop, to avoid the protein being the only thing you taste.
- Chocolate chips - If you want to double up on the chocolate flavor, stir 1-2 tablespoons of chocolate chips into the oatmeal. Don't want the added sugar? Add cacao nibs instead.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Into a jar or a medium bowl, add rolled oats, cacao powder, sea salt, and chia seeds and ground flax seeds if using. Stir to mix.
- Add almond milk, Greek yogurt, maple syrup, and vanilla extract to the oat mixture.
- Whisk to mix well.
- Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes and whisk again.
- Cover and place in the fridge overnight or for at least 5 hours.
- When you're ready to eat, just take it out of the fridge and serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
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Serving Suggestions
- Berries or other fruit - Probably nothing beats the combination of chocolate and fresh raspberries or strawberries, so that's always my go-to.
- Cooked fruit - While this defeats the purpose of overnight oats a little bit because it requires a little bit of work in the morning, you can try topping the oats with the caramelized bananas from this Caramelized Banana Oatmeal, or warm berries. Just heat up some frozen raspberries with a small splash of maple syrup in a small saucepan on the stove until they start to bubble and serve.
- Cacao nibs - To add more chocolatey flavor and texture, sprinkle on cacao nibs on top.
- Hemp hearts - Shelled hemp seeds add a nutty flavor and some extra protein and healthy fats. They're my favorite, and I sprinkle them on practically anything sweet!
- Nut or seed butter - You can mix it in or drizzle some on top for serving. Almond butter, peanut butter, Vegan Nutella, sunflower seed butter, or practically any other kind works!
Make Ahead Options and Storing
As you probably already know, overnight oats are perfect for meal prep. While I don't recommend freezing them, they do keep well in the fridge. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. They'll continue to soak up the liquid, and the oats will get softer and mushier as they sit.
If you're meal prepping them and making a bigger batch, you can either store the whole thing in one big container and scoop out a serving each morning, or you can divide it into individual jars and add all your toppings before you place them in the fridge to soak. This way, the oats will be completely ready for you in the morning!
FAQs
Yes, if you prefer warm oatmeal in the morning, soaking the oats in the evening to make overnight oats is a great way to save time in the morning. Just transfer the oatmeal to a small saucepan and warm it up over medium heat until it gently simmers. Add more milk as needed. It doesn't need to be cooked.
Other Overnight Oats Recipes
Do you want to try more similar recipes to this one? Check out the four below! They’re all just as easy to make and great for meal prep. To see all the latest ones, head over to Oatmeal Recipes.
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Print📖 Recipe
Brownie Batter Overnight Oats
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Brownie Batter Overnight Oats taste just like a dessert! They take only a few minutes to make and don't require any special ingredients. It's the perfect make-ahead breakfast for busy mornings and so easy to make! Creamy, chocolatey, and sweetened with just a touch of maple syrup.
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 heaping tablespoon cacao powder
- Small pinch sea salt
- 1 tsp chia seeds (optional)
- 1 tsp ground flax seeds (optional)
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk (or other milk)
- ½ cup Greek yogurt (or plant-based yogurt)
- 1-2 tablespoon maple syrup
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Into a jar or a medium bowl, add rolled oats, cacao powder, sea salt, and chia seeds and ground flax seeds if using. Stir to mix.
- Add almond milk, Greek yogurt, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
- Whisk to mix well.
- Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes and whisk again.
- Cover and place in the fridge overnight or for at least 5 hours.
- When ready to eat, just take it out of the fridge and serve with fresh berries, banana, nut butter, granola, seeds, nuts, yogurt, or your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Notes
Storing: You can store the overnight oats in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. They’ll continue to soak and become softer as they sit in the fridge. They taste the best in the first 2 days. I don’t recommend freezing the oats.
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We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
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