Brown Sugar Overnight Oats

This brown sugar overnight oats recipe is such a delicious and easy breakfast to start off the day! Paired with mashed bananas and hints of cinnamon, you’ll love these comforting flavors. Thanks to the mashed bananas, this overnight oats recipe is made without yogurt! It’s the perfect overnight oats recipe for those who don’t usually have yogurt on hand.

 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• This overnight oats recipe uses pantry and kitchen staples! I love being able to whip this up without having to run out to the store.
• There’s nothing easier than making overnight oats for breakfast! Simply mix everything together in a bowl, then let it set overnight.
• Brown sugar, banana, and cinnamon pair so well together! It has all the delicious cozy flavors that I gravitate towards!

Ingredients You’ll Need

• 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.
• 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.
• mashed bananas — make sure your bananas are ripe, so they easily mash up and mix into the overnight oats mixture. The bananas add a creaminess to the recipe and a delicious subtle banana flavor.
• cinnamon — a pinch of cinnamon adds a lovely warm flavor to 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!
• brown sugar — brown sugar pairs so wonderfully with the flavors of cinnamon and banana. 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.
• 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.

How to Make Brown Sugar Overnight Oats

• Add the rolled oats, chia seeds, brown sugar, mashed bananas, cinnamon, salt, and milk to a large bowl.

• Stir until well combined.
• Cover with a lid or plastic and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• When ready to enjoy, top with your toppings of choice.

Recipe Tips and Notes

• 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.
• I like to top my overnight oats before serving them with some sliced bananas and granola.
• If you like your overnight oats sweet, then serve them with a sprinkle of extra brown sugar and maple syrup! You can also caramelize the banana garnish.

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.

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).

More Breakfast Recipes

• Matcha Chia Pudding
• Peaches and Cream Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
• Warm Chia Pudding
• Protein Chia Pudding
• Blueberry Oats
• Matcha Overnight Oats
• Raspberry Overnight Oats
• Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats

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