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With it’s classic flavor combo, my Cinnamon Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats take only minutes to prepare and they’re ready in the morning for a delicious, protein-filled breakfast on the go! The bonus? They’re also made with all-natural, healthy ingredients.
Why We Love This Recipe
First off, let’s just say chocolate + peanut butter and that should be enough right? No seriously, it IS one of my all-time favorite flavor combos and that’s one thing I do love about these overnight oats. The addition of just a hint of cinnamon takes it up a notch and it almost feels like you’re eating dessert for breakfast!
But the great news is that you don’t need to feel guilty about a “dessert for breakfast” because my recipe for these chocolate peanut butter overnight oats is filled with lots of nutritious ingredients!
Not only do the oats provide a great way to get in some healthy fiber to help start your morning and fill you up, I’ve snuck in a few extra ingredients to boost the nutrition content. The Greek yogurt provides a boost of protein as do the chia seeds.
Have you ever make the no-bake chocolate and oatmeal cookies? I used to make them all the time as a kid and the combination of chocolate and peanut butter with just a hint of cinnamon remind me of those cookies.
Best of all these overnight oats, as suggested, are make ahead which makes them a great idea for busy weekday mornings! And with the healthy ingredients, you can feel good knowing you’re getting a delicious AND nutritious breakfast that will keep you full until lunchtime.
You can enjoy them hot or cold. I choose either depending on my mood.
So Just What ARE Overnight Oats?
Overnight oats are just as the name describes..oats that are prepared ahead of time and sit in the liquid mixture overnight (or at least 8-10 hours). You’ll want to refrigerate them because there is usually some sort of dairy in the recipe like milk or yogurt.
Since some people have a hard time digesting oats, the soaking helps break down starches and lowers the natural phytic acid so that your body can more easily absorb the nutrients.
What Ingredients Are Needed To Make This Recipe?
All of these ingredients can be found at your local grocery store. I’ve got a few tips to share with you though:
Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats – These are what I describe as “whole oats” vs. the instant or quick-cook oats that are chopped and cook more quickly. Not a major deal if you use a different one but I prefer the old fashioned variety.
Chia Seeds – Chia seeds are tiny black seeds that you can usually find in the natural food section of your grocery store. That is if they’re not with the other cereals like oatmeal above.
Chia is packed with amino acids, five times the omega-3 content of a ¼ cup serving of walnuts and tons protein, iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium and fiber! They are a powerhouse of nutrition and have no real flavor so it blends right into my recipe easily.
If you don’t have chia seeds, you can omit them or substitute ground flax seeds instead (which are equally awesome nutrition-wise).
Peanut Butter – We prefer the natural creamy peanut butter because it has no added sugar. I buy the natural peanut butter from Sam’s Club that doesn’t require refrigeration. Any peanut butter will do though. Or even peanut butter alternatives like almond butter or sunbutter. Or you can also use chunky peanut butter!
Cocoa Powder – This is the plain baking cocoa powder that you find in the baking aisle. Not to be confuse with cocoa drink mix (as that has lots of other ingredients you don’t want in this recipe)
Plain Greek Yogurt – Our favorite is the Kirland brand from Costco—it’s a great price too! But again, any brand will do.
Cinnamon – I buy our cinnamon in bulk because we use it so much!
Vanilla Extract – Be sure to get the real vanilla extract and not the imitation vanilla. The taste difference is quite noticeable—to me anyway.
Milk – We prefer skim milk but you can substitute any type that you prefer even varieties like almond , soy or oat milk for example.
Preparation Pro Tips
This chocolate and peanut butter overnight oats (with that hint of cinnamon!) recipe is so easy to prepare!
I start by adding all the ingredients to a medium bowl (1). Then it’s a few quick stirs to blend everything together and your’e nearly done. (2).
Cover bowl of overnight oats mixture and put in the refrigerator for about eight hours or overnight (3).
In the morning, I like to let the mixture sit out for about 10 minutes so it’s not super cold but that’s my personal preference. Sometimes I’ll also heat it up a bit and enjoy that way.
I will also often add a tablespoon or so (doesn’t need to be exact) bit of extra milk if it just seems to thick that day. It kind of just depends on my mood!
Make Ahead Preparation Tips
Are These Make Ahead?
Yes! As the name suggests, these are meant to be made ahead—the day before in fact! I’ve made them in a larger batch though and they will keep up in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Or Make It a Meal Kit
You can also make a big batch of the dry ingredients and divide it up into baggies. Label and add instructions to add the “wet” ingredients when you assemble them for overnight. This would mean the peanut butter, vanilla, Greek yogurt and milk.
This is a great idea if you are short on space but want to get a bit ahead on the prep side of things and you can add the fresh ingredients later.
Can You Freeze Overnight Oats?
I’ve not tried this but I’m not sure why not. I know other people who have and they say it works just fine!
One thing to consider though it the amount of thaw time-give it a good overnight or even a whole day in the refrigerator. Also, if you’re short on freezer space, making up the dry mixture as I mentioned above then adding the wet ingredients will help you do some prep ahead but still save space.
What Are Some Other Make Ahead Breakfast Ideas?
I’m all about making breakfast time as simple as possible. We have some other simple favorites like these Overnight Apple Cinnamon Rolls, my Slow Cooker Homemade Honey Cinnamon Granola (yes! You can make granola in the slow cooker!) or these Make Ahead Spinach, Bacon and Swiss Cheese Mini Quiches (which are great for lunch or snacks too!)
Cinnamon Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ¾ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter you may also substitute almond or soy butter
- 1 tablespoon baking cocoa
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 4 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾-1 cup 1% milk see note
- Pinch salt
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine all ingredients (I like to mix right in my storage container—so a glass Pyrex or mason jar).
- (I like to mix right in my storage container—so a glass Pyrex or mason jar),
- Stir just to blend.
- Store covered in refrigerator 6-8 hours or overnight.
- When ready to eat, serve cold or warm 1-2 minutes in microwave.
- If it is too thick for you, add a little milk to thin it out.
- Mixture will keep up to three days in refrigerator.
Judith
I love putting a spoon of pb in my oatmeal!
Jacky
I love overnight oats too, but I just eat peanut butter by the spoonful!
Dandi D
I like to make energy bites with peanut butter and oatmeal.
Erin Ellis
I love making peanut butter oatmeal cookies! Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
Erin
Ali Celestino
I love peanut butter on pancakes with syrup.
Joan Kubes
I love to have my peanut butter on oat bread toast.
Annamarie V
I like to make my ultimate cookies that include peanut butter, oats and chocolate chips, they are so good.
Lauren
I like them in cookies.
Kaitlin
Awesome! Thanks!
Melissa Craig Marcum
I love making no bake cookies with oatmeal and peanut butter, so delicious and the whole family loves them!!
Mary Somerville
I like peanut butter on honey oat bread.
Donna F.
Steel cut oats topped with a spoon of peanut butter and dried cranberries.
Adele
I like to make chewy protein bars using oatmeal and peanut butter, sometimes adding chocolate chips too.
likeaboss590
My favorite way to enjoy oatmeal and peanut butter is by making peanut butter oat bars! They are delicious!
Linda F
I like eating peanut butteron a spoon!
Susan P.
I like to combine oats and peanut butter in cookies or granola type bars.
nikki m.
My favorite way to enjoy peanut butter is either by the spoonful or in a sandwich. Oatmeal I like with fresh fruit.
Felice
You can never go wrong with cookies.
Mary W
I make energy bars with oatmeal, peanut butter and other healthy ingredients.
Lori G
There are so many ways to enjoy peanut butter and oatmeal. I recently made Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies. It’s become one of my all time favorite ways to enjoy them both!
Latoya Maiden
I love peanut butter! Yum!
ellie sheely
Oats and peanut butter is a healthful combination. I like using Peanute Butter & Co various types in my cookies, but not that fond of oatmeal.
NancyB from Many LA
I like to make overnight oatmeal in the crockpot and add peanut butter in the morning
Karli Prime
I like adding pb to my oatmeal with some chocolate protein powder
Gina
I generally like this combination of peanut butter, oats and chocolate in an energy bar. They are easy to make and a healthy and quick snack or breakfast.
Cat C.
I enjoy peanut butter on apples or by the spoonful.
sandy
love adding to greek yogurt but also just lovemaking cookies- the nonbakeones
Anne
Several days a week, my lunch consists of a peanut butter sandwich, usually with homemade jam or jelly (right now I’m rocking some apple jelly). Nothing fancy, but it sure is good!
Kathleen Walsh
I love peanut butter almost anyway, for baking cookies and cakes, I like it on sandwiches and on pancakes and waffles or straight out of the jar. I like oatmeal with some fruit, but I think I will try putting some peanut butter in it now!
janetfaye
I like Peanut Butter on crackers and I like Oatmeal with fresh fruit like blueberries.
Stephanie
I love peanut butter on apples or celery. Such an easy and healthy snack.
Georgie C
I like oatmeal sprinkled over hot mac n cheese and peanutbutter on rice cakes.
Wanda McHenry
I enjoy peanut butter on a stalk of celery.
Ryan origon
We have peanut butter ever morning in our shakes!
Lathiya
This looks fabulous way to start the day. Thank you for including my Whole wheat sheet Pancake.
Brenda Thompson
Thank you Lathiya! You’re sheet pancake looks so good too–I plan to make it to have some on hand in the freezer for easy breakfasts.