Cookie Dough Overnight Oats

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You will love this cookie dough overnight oats recipe! It’s so quick and easy to make with kitchen staples. It makes for the perfect healthy breakfast or on-the-go snack! Inspired by chocolate chip cookie dough, these overnight oats will satisfy those sweet cravings while leaving you feeling energized and full!

It’s not a surprise that I love overnight oats (see my recent cherry overnight oats, strawberry shortcake overnight oats, and peach overnight oats). I also love cookie dough… so I thought to myself that I needed to combine these two! While you could throw some chocolate chip cookie protein powder in your overnight oats for flavoring, this recipe uses pantry staples to make the overnight oats and you don’t have to buy a giant bag of protein powder!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Thanks to the rolled oats, yogurt, and chia seeds, this overnight oats is full of protein, fiber, and just general wholesome goodness, making it a wonderful way to start off your day.
This is a budget-friendly breakfast or snack. Most of these ingredients I have on hand or are budget-friendly to buy in bulk such as rolled oats.
It’s so easy to make! You literally just stir everything together and place it in the fridge. You don’t even have to cook anything.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients needed to make cookie dough overnight oats.

rolled oats — make sure you are using old-fashioned rolled oats. Instant oats and quick oats do not hold up as well, so I do not prefer the texture of the oats after they’ve been soaked.
chia seeds — chia seeds come in both black and white seeds, but there is no difference in nutritional content, so take your pick. They’re an excellent source of plant-based protein! When they absorb the milk, it helps thicken the overnight oats.
milk — you can use any water or milk of your choice, from cow’s milk to non-dairy milk such as almond milk or oat milk. If you don’t have milk, you can make it with water, like my overnight oats with water recipe.
yogurt — a thick and creamy yogurt works with the chia seeds to give the overnight oats a creamy texture. Using Greek yogurt will add a boost of extra protein. If you don’t have yogurt, you can use applesauce or mashed bananas.
nut butter — I like using cashew butter or almond butter for this recipe. You can use store-bought or homemade. I prefer runnier nut butter, so it’s easier to mix in with the rest of the ingredients. Nut butters are packed with nutrients making for a healthy way to kick-start your mornings.
mini chocolate chips — I like the mini versions, so they distribute better throughout the overnight oats. You can also roughly chop up or shave a chocolate bar if you prefer.
brown sugar — brown sugar helps the overnight oats taste more like chocolate chip chocolate dough.
cinnamon — adding a teaspoon of cinnamon adds a warming flavor to the overnight oats.
vanilla extract — just a splash of vanilla extract is all you need.
salt — a pinch of salt helps bring the flavors together.

How to Make Cookie Dough Overnight Oats

Set of two photos showing rolled oats, chia seeds, and milk added to a bowl.

Set of two photos showing nut butter, mini chocolate chips, brown sugar, yogurt, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt added to the bowl of rolled oats, chia seeds, and milk.

Add the rolled oats, chia seeds, milk, yogurt, nut butter, mini chocolate chips, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl.

Set of two photos showing cookie dough overnight oats ingredients mixed together in a bowl then set overnight.

Mix until well combined. Cover and put the mixture into the fridge (or individual containers) for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.

Set of two photos showing cookie dough overnight oats spooned into a jar and topped with toppings.

When ready to enjoy, top with your choice of toppings and enjoy!

A glass of cookie dough overnight oats on a white wooden board with two more in the background.

Recipe Tips and Notes

For my overnight oats, I like to top them with a dollop of yogurt or whipped cream and some mini chocolate chips or cacao nibs for more chocolate chip dough flavors. Cookie butter or chocolate hazelnut butter make for a great indulgent topping as well.
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.
You can portion out the chocolate chip cookie dough overnight oats into jars the night before and let them set up in them, so you get an easy grab-and-go breakfast.

A jar of cookie dough overnight oats with a spoon inside.

Make Ahead Tips

Meal prep: store the cookie dough 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.

Can I add protein powder?

You sure can! To make these overnight oats higher in protein, simply add a scoop of your favorite protein powder to the recipe. You’ll have to add a splash more milk or yogurt to balance it out.

Do you eat overnight oats hot or cold?

I prefer to eat overnight oats straight from the fridge.

Are overnight oats healthy?

Despite its name, I’d consider this cookie dough 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. This frozen fruit overnight oats recipe, in particular, uses rolled oats, so I recommend following the recipe if this is your first time making overnight oats.

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 recipe!