How to make overnight oats
Mix up your breakfast game with our step-by-step guide to making overnight oats, and be inspired by our recipes using banana, berries, peanut butter and chocolate.
Looking for a healthy breakfast that's easy to throw together and ready when you wake up? You've come to the right place. Find out how to make overnight oats with our steps below, and be inspired by our delicious recipes.
If you'd like more ways to use up a bag of oats, check out our healthy oat recipes – we have pancakes, baked oats and porridge.
Discover all our overnight oats recipes. Plus, read our review of the best healthy cereals to buy, top gluten-free breads and find out how much fibre you should eat per day.
How to make overnight oats
1. Choose your oats
Jumbo oats will add more texture than porridge oats – why not try a combination of the two? For extra flavour, toast some or all of the oats for a couple of minutes in a dry non-stick pan. Move them around with a spatula to make sure they cook evenly and once they start to become fragrant and ever so slightly browned at the edges, tip them out into a bowl or tray and leave to cool before using. Check out our guide on Is porridge healthy?
Read up on the healthiest grains.
2. Soak in milk
Decide which milk and yogurt you'd like to use. Go with regular or choose an alternative milk if you prefer the flavour, or if you're vegan. Soak the oats overnight until soft and creamy. If you're going to add spices, do so along with the mix. You could even add juice to sweeten.
3. Add fruit
You have plenty of options here. From coarsely grated apple or pear, chewy dried raisins, frozen berries or banana slices – not only can you get in one of your five-a-day, you can also use up any fruit you have in the kitchen.
Try experimenting to find your favourite combinations. We like peanut butter and dates, orange and blueberry or passionfruit and kiwi.
For more inspiration, check out 10 ways with overnight oats.
4. Pick your toppings
All that's left to do in the morning is add that final flourish; scattering over a handful of nuts or seeds to give your breakfast an extra nutritional boost. Drizzle with honey or nut butter, add a spoonful of crunchy granola – you could even grate in dark chocolate.
For a good base recipe, try our classic overnight oats with mixed berries, honey, yogurt and almond butter.
5. No time to soak?
If you haven't soaked your oats overnight, don't panic. Try this 10-minute breakfast bowl with grated apple and blueberries.
Are you an overnight oats fan? What are your favourite combinations and toppings? We'd love to hear your ideas in the comments below...
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