Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats

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All you need are some simple ingredients to make this delicious apple cinnamon overnight oats recipe! It’s such an easy recipe to make and tastes like apple pie in a jar! Perfect for busy mornings or as a snack, this overnight oats recipe with cinnamon apples is cozy, flavorful, and healthy.

A jar of apple cinnamon overnight oats with cooked apples on top.

Why You’ll Love This Overnight Oats Recipe

This is a budget-friendly breakfast or snack. Rolled oats and apples are pretty budget-friendly, making for a tasty but cost-friendly breakfast.
Made with wholesome ingredients, this apple cinnamon overnight oats recipe is a pretty healthy way to start off the day.
It tastes like apple pie! I love the warm, cozy flavors!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients needed to make apple cinnamon overnight oats.

apple topping — for the apple topping, you’ll need apples, cinnamon, maple syrup, brown sugar, water, cornstarch, and salt.
rolled oats — I highly recommend you use old-fashioned rolled oats. Instant oats and quick oats do not hold up as well, so I do not prefer the texture.
milk — you can use any water or milk of your choice, from cow’s milk to non-dairy milk. If you don’t have milk, you can make it with water, like my overnight oats with water recipe.
yogurt — to help with the creaminess of the overnight oats, the yogurt works with the chia seeds to give the overnight oats a creamy texture. If you don’t have yogurt, you can use applesauce or mashed bananas. I like vanilla bean yogurt, but you can use your favorite flavor.
chia seeds — you can find black or white chia seeds at the store. There is no difference in nutritional content between the two. Chia seeds are an excellent source of plant-based protein, and when they absorb the milk, it helps thicken the overnight oats.
cinnamon — you definitely need ground cinnamon to make this overnight oats recipe! Make sure your cinnamon is not stale. The untouched years-old bottle of ground cinnamon hiding in the back of your cupboard will not lead to flavorful overnight oats or delicious cooked apples!
brown sugar — brown sugar pairs so wonderfully with the flavors of cinnamon. You can use light, regular, or dark brown sugar.
vanilla extract — I always recommend using real vanilla extract and not artificial extract. Don’t have any? Skip it! No biggie.
salt — just a pinch to help enhance the flavors in the overnight oats.

How to Make Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats

Set of two photos showing apples cooked in a pot.

To a small saucepan, add chopped apples, cinnamon, maple syrup, brown sugar, water, cornstarch, and salt.
Turn the heat on low and cover. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 8 to 10 minutes or until the apples are soft and tender. Turn the heat up to medium, and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes to evaporate some of the juices or until you create a nice syrup around the diced apples. Set aside to cool and refrigerate until ready to use.

Set of two photos showing overnight oats ingredients in a bowl.

Add the rolled oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt in a bowl.

Set of two photos showing apple cinnamon overnight oats before and after setting in a bowl.

Stir until well combined.
Cover with a lid or plastic and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
When ready, serve with the apples over top. You can reheat the apples or enjoy them chilled.

Three jars of apple cinnamon overnight oats with cooked apples on top.

Recipe Tips and Notes

For the best results, use baking apples such as Jonagold, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Fuji, Gala, and Pink Lady. Some apples don’t hold up as well, and the texture will not be too pleasant after cooking.
Make sure you use real maple syrup and not pancake syrup.
Make sure you don’t add your toppings too early. I like to add the toppings right as I’m about to serve.
For an on-to-go meal, mason jars are great. 16-ounce wide-mouth mason jars are great if you plan on adding toppings, so you don’t spill anything. I also LOVE a good weck jar. They’re so pretty.
You can add some applesauce for extra apple flavor to the overnight oats.
You can add some apple pie spice to the overnight oats for more apple flavor. A sprinkle of nutmeg is great as well.

Make Ahead Tips

Meal prep: store the overnight oats without any toppings in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge.
Freezer: to freeze overnight oats, portion out the oats in small containers, then freeze! Thaw the overnight oats in the fridge for 6-8 hours/overnight before you’d like to eat them. You can store the overnight oats in the freezer for up to 2 months.

A spoonful of apple cinnamon overnight oats in front of a jar.

What are overnight oats?

Overnight oats are a no-cook method of making oatmeal! It’s made by soaking rolled oats in some liquid overnight, so they become soft and digestible.

Do you eat overnight oats hot or cold?

If you’re not a fan of a cold breakfast, no biggie! You can microwave the overnight oats until warmed through before enjoying them for breakfast.

Are overnight oats healthy?

I would consider this overnight oats recipe to be healthy as the ingredients are rich in fiber, protein, and antioxidants. They also contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals!

Can you use steel-cut oats for overnight oats?

While you can use steel-cut oats, keep in mind that steel-cut oats will need to be soaked longer, and the texture will be dense and chewy in comparison.

What are chia seeds?

Chia seeds are tiny seeds from the plant Salvia hispanica. You may recognize them from those cute little chia pet commercials from way back when but other than a cute terra-cotta pet, the seeds are packed with healthy goodness. Despite being tiny little seeds, an one-ounce (28 grams) serving of chia seeds contains 11 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein, and 9 grams of fat (5 of which are omega-3s).

Two glasses of overnight oats with frozen fruit on a white board with another jar in the background.

Want another overnight oats recipe? Try my overnight oats with frozen fruit!