Coffee overnight oats combine your favorite morning brew with delightfully creamy oats. They are easy to make, meal-prep friendly, nutrient-dense, and make the perfect grab-and-go breakfast. Plus we give you three variations to tailor to your tastes!
Overnight Oats vs. Cooked Oats
Overnight oats are made by adding liquid, usually milk, to oats and refrigerating overnight in a sealed container (like a mason jar). The liquid is slowly absorbed by the oats, making them soft, chewy, and creamy. No cooking is required. And more often than not, overnight oats are served cold with additional toppings and mix-ins, like sugar, vanilla, chia seeds, fresh fruit, and even yogurt. They are the perfect fuss-free, easy breakfast that can be made well in advance.
Cooked oats are made by cooking the oats in liquid, like milk or water, in the microwave or over the stove. These oats are likely served warm and can also be served with toppings. Cooked oats require heating, making them a little more time-intensive than overnight oats.
Why You’ll Love Coffee Overnight Oats
- Easy to make – they require only a handful of simple ingredients and we give you 3 unique options that you can tailor to your tastes. Plus no cooking required!
- Meal prep friendly – you can make overnight oats ahead of time (duh, overnight), up to 5 days in advance! That means you can make a whole work week’s worth of fueling breakfasts with little work.
- Healthy breakfast – these overnight oats are packed with heart-healthy whole grains and gut-friendly fiber, as well as healthy plant-based fats and natural sweetener. They’ll keep you fueled.
- Quick caffeine boost – and let’s not forget the little morning boost you’ll get from the coffee/espresso in your oats!
- Three variations – we give you 3 variations of coffee oats to try, with espresso powder, brewed coffee, or mocha protein powder. So your coffee overnight oats will never be boring!
Ingredients
- Rolled oats – old-fashioned rolled oats have a better texture and hold their shape better than quick oats in overnight oat recipes. However, some people like the creamier consistency of quick oats. Take your pick!
- Brown sugar – we love brown sugar in this recipe because it adds a sort of subtle molassasy flavor, but we also use honey and maple syrup interchangeably too.
- Chia seeds – chia seeds are little powerhouses loaded up with fiber, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and tons of vitamins and minerals.
- Milk – we prefer to used almond milk for our oats, but use your favorite plant or cow milk.
- Almond butter – for an extra boost of healthy plant-based fats and a little protein. We like to make our own to cut back on additives and cost.
- Vanilla extract – for a little sweetness and subtle vanilla flavor. Also acts to boost the other flavors in the oats.
- Cacao nibs – deliciously crunchy and chocolatey topping without added sugars and boasting healthy plant fats, fiber, protein, and vitamins and minerals.
- Mocha protein powder – optional add-in to boost the coffee flavor and protein content of these overnight oats.
- Espresso powder – for delightfully rich coffee flavor and a kick of caffeine.
How to Make Coffee Overnight Oats
Combine the oats and chia seeds in an 8 to 16 oz mason jar (or other airtight container). For version 3, add the protein powder. Mix to incorporate.
Stir in the almond butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and almond milk. For version 1 and 3, dissolve the espresso in hot water and add to oats. For version 2, add the brewed coffee.
Mix well until all the ingredients are well combined. Seal and refrigerate a minimum of 4 hours or overnight.
To serve, stir ingredients. Add additional almond milk, if desired, and top with cacao nibs or topping of choice! Enjoy!
How to Store
Refrigerate overnight oats in an airtight container (like a mason jar) for up to 5 days. We love to make these on Sundays for the entire week to have on-hand for an easy weekday breakfast!
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, overnight oats are eaten cold, but they can be enjoyed warm, if preferred.
No. The oats absorb the milk slowly overnight, resulting in soft, ready-to-eat oats in the morning. No cooking required.
Yes you can. However, using water instead of milk will result in less creamy oats. You can also add a splash of milk to oats before serving to help with this.
We do not recommend freezing coffee overnight oats.
We recommend refrigerating overnight oats for up to 5 days.
Use an 8 to 16 oz mason jar for overnight oats in order to have enough room to easily mix the oats before eating and add additional toppings, if desired.
Check out our other fueling breakfast recipes
- Breakfast quesadillas
- Cold brew coffee smoothie
- Peanut butter banana smoothie
- Matcha chia pudding
- Coconut banana chia pudding
- Healthy pumpkin muffins
Coffee Overnight Oats (3 Ways)
Ingredients
Overnight Oats Base
- ยฝ c rolled oats
- 2 tsp chia seeds
- 1 Tbsp almond butter
- 2-3 tsp pure maple syrup
- ยฝ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 Tbsp cacao nibs (optional garnish)
Version 1: With Espresso
- 1 overnight oats base
- 2 tsp espresso powder
- 2 tsp water
- โ c unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)
Version 2: With Brewed Coffee
- 1 overnight oats base
- โ c brewed coffee
- โ c unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)
Version 3: With Mocha Protein Powder
- 1 overnight oats base
- 1 scoop mocha protein powder
- 1 tsp espresso powder
- 1 tsp water
- โ c unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)
Instructions
- Combine the oats and chia seeds in an 8 to 16 oz mason jar (or other airtight container). For version 3, add the protein powder. Mix to incorporate.
- Stir in the almond butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and almond milk. For version 1 and 3, dissolve the espresso in hot water and add to oats. For version 2, add the brewed coffee.
- Mix well until all the ingredients are well combined. Seal and refrigerate a minimum of 4 hours or overnight.
- To serve, stir ingredients. Add additional almond milk, if desired, and top with cacao nibs or topping of choice! Enjoy!
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