These Brown Sugar Overnight Oats are such an easy breakfast, and they're perfect for meal prep! You can make however many servings you need in just a few minutes with only 5 ingredients. You can enjoy them on their own or top them with the best brown-sugar-caramelized banana!
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Why You'll Love These Brown Sugar Oats
Classic flavor - The overnight oats are sweetened with (you guessed it) brown sugar, which gives them a deep molasses flavor. I also added banana and vanilla extract to tie it all together, but you can always leave out the banana. It's also topped with the most delicious brown sugar caramelized banana, but it would also work really well with these Caramelized Apples.
Easy and great for meal prep - The best thing about overnight oats is that you can make them ahead and just grab them and go in the morning. If you like a warm oatmeal in the morning, soaking the oats is a great way to speed that up as well!
Ingredients
- Rolled oats - I recommend using old-fashioned rolled oats for the best texture. Quick oats also work in a pinch, but they make the oatmeal much denser. I don't recommend steel-cut oats because they need way more liquid and take longer to soak properly.
- Bananas - Ripe bananas add sweetness and flavor. If you’re not a fan of mashed bananas in your oats, you can skip them.
- Almond milk - To keep the oatmeal vegan, I use almond milk, but you can use whole milk or any other non-dairy milk like rice milk, oat milk, or cashew milk. I don’t recommend canned coconut milk because it’s too thick.
- Brown sugar - I recommend using dark brown sugar for a stronger molasses flavor but light brown sugar is great too. I also use the same brown sugar to caramelize the bananas on top but maple syrup works as well.
- Vanilla extract - You can use either vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. If you use vanilla powder, use much less because the flavor is much stronger.
Variations and Substitutions
- Add-ins - This is optional, but I like adding chia seeds and ground flax seeds. They help thicken the oatmeal a little bit more and add healthy fats, protein, fiber, and other nutrients. For chia seeds, I think the sweet spot is 1 teaspoon per serving before it turns into too much of a chia pudding.
- No banana - You can either skip the banana or add apple sauce instead for an apple version. You can also swap it for some yogurt. If you don't want the caramelized banana topping, top it with Caramelized Apples, Caramelized Peaches, or with fresh berries.
- Yogurt and milk - If you want to make the oats extra creamy, use a mix of yogurt and milk instead of just milk. I like full-fat Greek yogurt, but any dairy or non-dairy yogurt works. Add ½ cup yogurt and ½ cup milk per serving.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- In a medium bowl or a mason jar, whisk together all ingredients (rolled oats, mashed banana, almond milk, vanilla extract, brown sugar, chia seeds, and ground flax seeds if using).
- Allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes and whisk or stir again.
- Close the jar with a lid or cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to soak overnight or for at least 5 hours.
- When ready to eat, just top with your favorite toppings like berries, caramelized banana (see notes), nut butter, yogurt, or your favorite toppings and enjoy!
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Caramelized banana
- Add the butter and maple syrup to a non-stick pan over medium-high heat.
- Once the butter melts and the mixture starts bubbling, add banana slices, vanilla extract, and cinnamon, and lower the heat.
- Gently simmer the banana in the sauce for 2-5 minutes, carefully flipping once halfway through.
- Take it off the heat once the banana is soft and caramelized. Serve immediately before the sauce thickens.
Serving Suggestions
- Fresh fruit - Fresh berries are my go-to for any overnight oats (especially strawberries here), but other fruits like sliced banana, apple, cherries, or any stone fruit would be delicious too.
- Caramelized fruit - I served it with the caramelized bananas from this Caramelized Banana Oatmeal, but you can also serve it with these Caramelized Apples or these Caramelized Peaches.
- Nut or seed butter - Add a drizzle of almond butter, sunflower seed butter, peanut butter, or my Homemade Vegan Nutella. You can also mix any of these into the overnight oats.
- Yogurt - I like adding a dollop of Greek yogurt to my oatmeal if I didn't mix any into the oats themselves for added creaminess. When I have it, coconut kefir is also delicious here (the thick kind that looks like thick yogurt).
Storing
Store the oatmeal in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
The oats continue to soak as they soak with the rest of the ingredients in the fridge, so I always fin they taste the best 2 days before they get too mushy and soft.
I don’t recommend freezing the overnight oats; the texture wouldn’t be the same after defrosting.
FAQs
Yes, just soak them overnight and heat them up in a small saucepan over medium heat until they simmer gently. They don’t need to cook; you just want to warm them up.
Yes, you can either just leave it out, use apple sauce instead, or swap it for some full-fat Greek yogurt or coconut yogurt if you want to keep it vegan. I recommend ½ cup of yogurt and ½ cup of milk for the best consistency.
More Overnight Oats Recipes
If you want to try similar oatmeal recipes, check out the four below! The brownie batter one is my new all-time favorite! To see all the latest ones, head over to Oatmeal Recipes.
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Print📖 Recipe
Brown Sugar Overnight Oats
These Brown Sugar Overnight Oats are such an easy breakfast, and they're perfect for meal prep! You can make however many servings you need in just a few minutes with only 5 ingredients. You can enjoy them on their own or top them with brown-sugar-caramelized banana (see notes)!
- Total Time5 minutes
- Yield1 1x
- DietVegan
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ banana, mashed
- ¾ cup almond milk (or other milk)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1-2 tablespoon brown sugar (or dark brown sugar)
- 1 tsp chia seeds (optional)
- 1 tsp ground flax seeds (optional)
- Optional topping: caramelized banana from this Caramelized Banana Oatmeal (see notes)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl or a jar, whisk together all ingredients (rolled oats, mashed banana, almond milk, vanilla extract, brown sugar, chia seeds, and ground flax seeds if using).
- Allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes and whisk again.
- Close the jar with a lid or cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to soak overnight or for at least 5 hours.
- When ready to eat, just top with your favorite toppings like berries, caramelized banana (see notes), nut butter, yogurt, or your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Notes
Caramelized banana: 1 tablespoon butter, 2 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 banana, ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon. Add the butter and maple syrup to a non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Once it starts bubbling, add banana slices, vanilla extract, and cinnamon and lower the heat. Gently simmer the banana in the sauce for 2-5 minutes, carefully flipping once halfway through. Take it off the heat once the banana is soft and caramelized.
Storing: Store the overnight oats in an airtight jar in the fridge for 3-4 days. The oats will continue to soak and become softer as they sit in the fridge. They’re fine to eat for 4 days, but taste the best the first 2 days. I don’t recommend freezing them.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
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