4.08 15 Published Aug 20, 2018, Updated Aug 26, 2024 This recipe is inspired by oatmeal raisin cookies (the best!) and this regular cinnamon raisin oatmeal. I wanted to create an overnight oats version. I personally prefer overnight oats in the summer because I want all of the cold, refreshing foods instead of warm, comforting foods (which I prefer in the fall and winter).
Ingredients In Cinnamon Raisin Overnight Oats
old fashioned rolled oats – rolled oats are the best for overnight oats. Instant/quick oats and steel cut oats don’t work the same because they don’t absorb liquid like rolled oats do. vanilla protein powder – I use a plant-based vanilla protein powder that is sweetened with stevia. If your protein powder isn’t sweetened, you’ll likely want to add a little sweetener like maple syrup to your oats. almond milk – I like using unsweetened vanilla almond milk, but any type of milk will work. You can make your own using my almond milk recipe. chia seeds – these little seeds add a bit of fiber, protein and omega-3 fatty acids and they help absorb some of the liquid which gives the oats a thicker consistency. vanilla – a nice flavor enhancer. cinnamon – for some spice! raisins – you can’t have cinnamon raisin without the raisins! maple syrup – pure maple syrup is the perfect natural sweetener to use because it’s liquid so it blends in nicely with the oat mixture and I personally love the flavor. Honey or another natural liquid sweetener will work here. If you want to reduce the sugar in this recipe, feel free to use a sugar alternative like stevia or monk fruit
Easy Substitutions
almond milk – any type of milk will work. maple syrup – If you want to reduce the sugar in this recipe, feel free to use a sugar alternative like stevia or monk fruit. Honey would work well, too.
How Long Do Overnight Oats Need to Soak?
Given the name, you’d assume overnight oats need to soak overnight, but you can actually make them in 2-4 hours if you’re in a rush. While it does take some time for the oats to absorb the liquid, they don’t necessarily have to be soaked overnight. I recommend at least 8 hours for true overnight oats, but there have been mornings where I decide I want overnight oats for breakfast even though I didn’t prep them the night before. When this happens I’ll make them the morning of and let the oats soak for just 2-4 hours. With this quick soak, they’re not as soft as overnight oats that have soaked longer and they’re a bit more liquidy, but they’re still delicious.
Can You Eat Overnight Oats Hot?
Short answer, yes! You can definitely warm up overnight oats, but the whole point of overnight oats is to eat them cold like muesli. Even if you think cold oats sound strange, I recommend giving it shot before you write them off. Of course, if you simply can’t do the cold oats you can always heat them up. Just pop the overnights oats in your microwave, cooking in 30-second increments until the oats are warm throughout and enjoy.
How Long Do Overnight Oats Last?
When stored in an airtight container in the fridge overnight oats should last for up to 5 days. They will soften more the longer they sit so I find they’re best on days 1-3, but they’re still safe to eat on days 4 and 5. With this said, overnight oats are great for meal prep. Feel free to make a whole batch for the week on Sunday. I like prepping them in wide-mouth 16 oz mason jars.
More Oatmeal Recipes to Try
Baked Oatmeal Cups Berry Baked Oatmeal Bars Easy Protein Balls Baked Oatmeal Recipes Protein Oatmeal 3 Minute Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal
More Cinnamon Recipes to Try
Cinnamon Raisin Cookie Protein Balls Apple Cinnamon Overnight Quinoa Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal Vegan Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls Maple Cinnamon Breakfast Trail Mix Healthy Apple Muffins
