5 12 Published May 10, 2021, Updated Jun 03, 2024 Sure, you can modify most overnight oat recipes to be vegan, but this recipe is totally vegan without any modifications and it’s absolutely delicious.
Why Overnight Oats?
If you’ve never had overnight oats before, you are in for a treat! The base of the recipe is rolled oats that you soak in dairy-free milk overnight. The oats absorb the liquid and soften overnight. Overnight oats are served cold, straight from the fridge with toppings of your choice. They’re perfect during warmer months when you don’t feel like having a bowl of hot oatmeal. And they’re awesome for meal prep because they can be prepped in advance and eaten any time for a delicious, filling meal.
Vegan Overnight Oats Ingredients
Here’s everything you need to make vegan overnight oats:
old-fashioned rolled oats – rolled oats are the best option for overnight oats. Quick oats get too mushy and steel cut oats take forever to soften and don’t soak up the liquid as well. almond or oat milk – any dairy-free milk works here but I prefer unsweetened almond or oat milk. peanut butter – I personally love adding nut butter to my overnight oats and peanut butter is an awesome addition to this vegan version. The flavor is soo good. Feel free to use a different nut butter (like almond, cashew or pecan butter) instead of peanut butter. maple syrup – adds a hint of sweetness! chia seeds – adds fiber, healthy fat and protein to the oats. Chia seeds also absorb excess liquid! vanilla extract – a staple ingredient in overnight oats – it adds a great, subtle flavor. sea salt – I know it might seems weird to add salt to a sweeter breakfast but it helps make all of the flavors pop, promise! vanilla protein powder – this is optional but a great way to make the overnight oats more filling. Feel free to use your favorite brand of plant-based protein powder. My favorite brand of protein powder is Nuzest! Use code eatingbirdfood for 15% off your order.
Toppings and Mix-Ins
This is the fun part! There are so many options for flavor additions. Here are some of my favorites:
Vegan yogurt – looking to make your overnight oats extra creamy? Add a little vegan yogurt. I’m a big fan of Culina yogurt. Fresh berries – can’t go wrong with adding fresh berries! I love blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, but any berry works! Sliced banana – one of my go-to toppings for overnight oats. Chopped nuts – add extra crunch by sprinkling chopped nuts on top of your oats. Granola – another great way to add crunch to your overnight oats! I love my hemp granola.
How Long do Overnight Oats Have to Soak?
While they are called overnight oats, they technically don’t need to soak overnight! If you forget to prep the night before you can make them in the morning and let them sit for 2-3 hours. It is important to note that the longer you soak them, the softer the oats will be. If you only soak for a couple of hours, the oats will be chewier. I don’t mind the chewier texture, but it comes down to personal preference!
How Long do Overnight Oats Last?
Like I mentioned earlier, overnight oats are amazing for meal prep! Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. The longer you soak, the more liquid the oats will absorb so you may want to add an extra splash of milk before serving.
More Overnight Oat Recipes to Try
Peanut Butter Overnight Oats Chocolate Banana Overnight Oats Tropical Overnight Oats Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats Vanilla Overnight Oats (MUSH Copycat) Low Calorie Overnight Oats
Check out all of the overnight oats recipes as well as the full collection of oatmeal recipes on EBF!
