Almond Milk Overnight Oats

With a prep time of only 5 minutes, these Almond Milk Overnight Oats make the most amazing grab-and-go breakfast. They are dairy-free, naturally vegan and can easily be made gluten-free as well. 

Oats not only taste amazing but are also high in nutrients as well as protein. They also contain fiber, which can help you feel full for longer. While traditional oatmeal recipes are made on the stovetop, overnight oats are simply mixed together the evening before. For more overnight oat recipes check out Overnight Oats with Water or Overnight Oats with Frozen Fruit, Overnight Oats with Coconut Milk or Overnight Oats without Yogurt.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• With a prep time of 5 minutes, it makes the perfect healthy breakfast for when you're short on time! 
• It's super versatile- overnight oats can be enjoyed warm or cold and the topping options are endless!
• It consists of simple ingredients and there's no special equipment and no cooking required. 
• The base recipe is naturally vegan, nut-free and soy-free and can easily be made gluten-free as well. 

What are Overnight Oats?

Overnight oats are made by soaking old-fashioned oats in liquid overnight. The soaking process softens them, leaving you with a thick and creamy oatmeal.

They are an amazing make-ahead breakfast as they are super easy to prepare (no cooking or fancy equipment needed).

Even though typically eaten cold, overnight oast can also be enjoyed as a warm breakfast. Just put them in the microwave the next morning and you'll end up with some warm oatmeal. 

Almond Milk Overnight Oats Ratio

When preparing oatmeal (overnight or warm) it's all about the oat-liquid ratio. If you add too much milk, you'll end up with a thin, runny consistency. If you add too little liquid, your oats will be quite thick.

Usually, the milk-oats ratio is 1:1. The recipe below calls for ½ cup of oats and ¾ cup of milk because we prefer a runnier porridge-like consistency. You can play around with the texture you prefer by adding more milk or oats.

Ingredients & Substitution Notes

• Oats: The almond milk oats ratio for these overnight oats works perfectly for plain old-fashioned oats. Quick oats or instant oats usually bind less liquid which means when using the same ratio you will end up with slightly runnier oats.  If you want to keep this breakfast gluten-free, choose certified gluten-free oats. Don't use steel-cut oats. 
• Almond Milk: We used unsweetened almond milk in this recipe, if you use a sweetened version make sure to adjust the maple syrup accordingly. Alternatively, you could use other types of non-dairy milk such as oat milk or soy milk. Coconut milk would work as well but the milk-oats ratio will depend a bit on how thick (high in fat) your coconut milk is. 
• Maple Syrup (optional): is used as a sweetener, however, any sweetener of choice such as agave or honey (not vegan) would work here. If you wanted, you could prepare your oats without any sweetener but this will leave you with a very neutral-flavored oatmeal. 
• Chia Seeds (optional): they can soak up a looot of liquid compared to their size. They help give the oatmeal a thicker, pudding-like texture. Could be replaced by ground flax seeds or omitted altogether. You will need slightly less milk then though.
• Yogurt (optional): Similar to the chia seeds, the yogurt helps to create a super creamy consistency. Make sure to choose a plant-based one when vegan such as soy yogurt or simply opt for a traditional dairy yogurt. 
• Vanilla Extract (optional): adds some delicious subtle vanilla flavors 
• Sea Salt (optional): adding salt enhances the flavors even more- make sure to only include a tiny pinch.
• Toppings: This is where the fun comes in. From fresh fruit to creamy nut butter, topping variations for overnight oats are endless. You can find some topping suggestions below. 

How to Make Overnight Oats with Almond Milk

Overnight oats are super quick and easy to make. All you need to do is mix everything together, refrigerate overnight and add your toppings in the morning. It's the perfect healthy breakfast for when you're short on time.

Step 1: Make the oatmeal base

Combine oats, chia seeds, salt, almond milk, yogurt, maple syrup & vanilla extract in a small bowl and whisk well. You could also add the ingredients to a mason jar (with a lid) if you want to enjoy this oatmeal as a quick grab-and-go breakfast.Or stir it together in a bowl and transfer it to a mason jar the next morning.

Step 2: Refrigerate

Cover with a lid or plastic film and refrigerate for at least 3 hours but preferably overnight. This will make the oats and chia seeds absorb all the liquid and they will become soft and chewy. 

Step 3: Add toppings

Add your toppings of choice such as fresh fruit, nuts and seeds or nut butters the next morning or just before you consume it.

Expert Tips

• Grab-and-go: If your want these overnight oats to be a dairy-free breakfast on the go, prepare them in a mason jar or a jar with a lid instead of the bowl. Otherwise you would need to transfer them to the mason jar in the morning. 
• Oats: To end up with the perfect consistency, make sure to use rolled oats (old fashioned oats), not quick oats/ instant oats or steel-cut oats. 
• Prep ahead: These oats usually keep in the fridge for 3-4 days so they can easily be prepared in advance. You can make a big batch of the base recipe on Sunday and enjoy them as a delicious breakfast throughout the week. Add your toppings shortly before consuming it though!
• Warm it up: While overnight oats are typically eaten cold, they can just as easily be enjoyed as a warm breakfast. Feel free to pop them into the microwave for a minute or so. That way they make a cozy breakfast even during cold fall and winter months. 
• It's all about the toppings: While plain oats have a slightly sweet, neutral flavor- it's the toppings that can make all the difference when it comes to oatmeal! Choose whatever you like, preferably a couple of different ones. Below you'll find some topping ideas.

Add-Ins & Toppings Ideas

• Fresh Fruit: Before serving, top with your favourite types of fresh fruit such as banana, berries, oranges and more. 
• Nut Butters: generously top with a big scoop of Homemade Almond Butter, peanut butter or nut butter of choice.
• Nuts & Seeds: such as additional chia seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds add some additional nutrients as well as texture. 
• Caramel: Try this 2-Ingredient Vegan Caramel Sauce as a topping. 
• Jelly: If you're used to toast with peanut butter and jelly, you can try to produce a similar taste by adding a tablespoon of jelly. 
• Apple Puree: adds some nice creaminess as well as cozy apple flavors. 
• Cacao Powder: For chocolate almond milk overnight oats, add a teaspoon of dark cacao powder. 
• Protein Powder: to add some additional protein, feel free to mix in a scoop of your favourite protein powder. 

Storage

They keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Give them a good stir before serving and add your toppings shortly before serving.

FAQs

More Recipes To Try