I recently shared a photo of my breakfast – Carrot Cake Overnight Oats – on Facebook and on my Instastory. It got such a nice reaction i though’t share that recipe and a few of my other favourites for you in this blog. If you try them I’d love to hear what you think or if you’ve improved them too – drop me a line in the comments at the bottom!
First things first, some common questions;
So, what are overnight oats? Well its basically porridge, made in advance and left in the fridge to thicken and set overnight, you can eat them hot or cold the next day. They are incredibly easy to make, versatile with an endless list of flavour combinations, and perfect for anyone looking to meal prep for a busy week ahead.
Your oats, your way – All these recipes can be made to be Vegan, Gluten and Dairy free, so they are great whatever your dietary needs. Personally I use Gluten Free oats from the supermarket, Oatly Whole oat milk and The Coconut Collaborative unsweetened coconut desert. But use whatever ingredients suit your needs and your budget.
Sweet or Sweet enough? Most of the recipes I make don’t use an added sweetener, I try to use fresh berries instead. However, you can use 1 or 2 teaspoons of a sweetener of your choice to adjust to what you like – you could try maple syrup, honey or xylitol, which is a great low calorie and natural alternative to sugar.
Double down (or up) – I’ve given you the recipes for one portion, however you can easily double this and more. Once made it should last in the fridge for up to 4 days, so if you’ve got a ‘go to’ or favourite recipe, then times the quantity by four and your meal prep for the week is off the a great start It’s one less thing to worry about right?
Protein – adding protein, from powders or real food sources, can be a great way to bulk your breakfast particularly if your eating straight after a hard session. I like to use Reflex’s Vegan Protein Powder or nuts and seeds in my recipes.
So here are my 3 favourite recipes for Overnight Oats at the moment;
Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
For when you need something sweet and cakey but you also want to sneak some extra vegetables in to your day – it’s the maple syrup in this recipe that makes it for me.
Ingredients
- 50 g porridge oats
- 100 ml milk
- 75 ml yogurt
- 25 g raisins
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of allspice
- 1/4 of a large grated carrot
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
Method
- Combine all the wet and dry ingredients together in your container, stirring well.
- Place in the fridge to chill over night, for at least 4 hours.
- Enjoy straight out of the fridge or warmed up in the morning – or you can top with a tablespoon of yogurt, 20 g of nuts and/or seeds of your choice and a little extra dusting of cinnamon.
Brownie Batter Overnight Oats
This recipe makes a thick ‘cookie dough’ type consistency, so its worth experimenting with the amount of milk added to get something you like, for example increasing to 250ml will give you a more traditional overnight oat consistency.
Ingredients
- 50 g porridge oats
- 180 ml milk
- 1 scoop of protein powder (approx 30g and ideally Chocolate or Vanilla flavour)
- 2 tablespoon cocoa powder or raw cacao powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of sea salt
Method
- Combine all the wet and dry ingredients together in your container, this mixture has a tendency to clump so really mix well.
- Place in the fridge to chill over night, for at least 4 hours.
- Enjoy straight out of the fridge or warmed up in the morning.
Blueberry and Lemon Overnight Oats
A great receipe when you need that fresh, summer vibe to give your morning a healthy kick.
Ingredients
- 50 g porridge oats
- 100 ml milk
- 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
- a handful of blueberries
- 2 tablespoons of desiccated coconut
- Zest of 1/2 lemon
- Pinch of sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon of maple syrup
Method
- Combine all the wet and dry ingredients together in your container, stirring well.
- Place in the fridge to chill over night, for at least 4 hours.
- Enjoy straight out of the fridge or warmed up in the morning.
Enjoy!
I hope you enjoy these recipes, let me know what you think or if you’ve pimped and improved upon them – drop a comment below!
Guy Stapleford Ultra 