Dairy Free overnight oats are a popular breakfast because they are easy to make and great to grab on your way out the door in the morning! If you’ve never tried them, here’s five delicious and healthy recipes. Try them out for your next breakfast!
FEATURED RECIPES
- Basic Overnight Oats
- Cranberry Almond Overnight Oats
- Brownie Batter Overnight Oats
- Blueberry Muffin Overnight Oats
- Apple Pie Overnight Oats
PIN FOR LATER!
WHAT ARE OVERNIGHT OATS?
Overnight oats are oats that have been soaked in liquid, usually milk of some kind, either dairy free or otherwise. By soaking oats for four or more hours, the oats soak up the milk, similar to how they would if you were making them on the stove or in the microwave; it’s just a longer process. By soaking oats, it breaks down phytic acid in the oats and makes it easier for the body to digest them. Here’s a great article talking more about overnight oats and why you should try them out!
I’ve always been a fan of oatmeal, but was unsure about overnight oats until last year when I finally decided to give them a try. I’m glad I did, because as soon as I tried them, I was hooked! They are so easy to make and you can easily customize the flavor. You can also eat them straight out of the refrigerator or heat them up (how I prefer).
Note: While oats are naturally gluten free, they can become contaminated if they are processed alongside flour. If you have a gluten intolerance, it’s important that you use certified gluten free oats like these.
WHAT KIND OF OATS SHOULD YOU USE?
I prefer to either use rolled oats (old fashioned oats) or quick cooking oats. If you are meal prepping and your oats will be in the fridge for a few days or a week, then I suggest using old fashioned rolled oats because they can hold liquid better and don’t become mushy over time. If you plan to eat your oats the day after you make them, then quick cooking oats are fine. I’ve found if you use quick cooking oats and leave it for more than a day or two, the oats soak up a lot more liquid and the texture is a bit mushy. The taste won’t change, but the texture is different. So if that bothers you, stick with old fashioned rolled oats!
WHAT MILK SHOULD YOU USE?
You can really use any milk you prefer. Cow’s milk works great, as does most of the dairy free milk that I have tried. I prefer to use almond milk or oat milk, but choose whatever you like. I like to use an unsweetened and unflavored type of milk so that I can control the flavor. However, using chocolate milk or chocolate almond milk can be great in some recipes. Coconut milk tastes great too, but it does alter the flavor, so just be aware of that!
TOOLS YOU MAY NEED
- Small microwave safe bowl or dish with a lid
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing spoon
- Cutting board and knife
- Small sauce pan or skillet
- Spatula
- Blender or food processor
HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY BASIC OVERNIGHT OATS
Basic overnight oats are healthy, gluten free and vegan. They are easy to make, have a delicious subtle flavor and make a great base for any flavored overnight oats recipe!
In a small microwave safe bowl or glass mason jar, combine rolled oats, cinnamon, salt, oat milk, maple syrup and vanilla and stir to combine.
Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Eat them cold or warmed in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute. Eat within a week!
Healthy Basic Overnight Oats
Equipment
- Small microwave safe bowl with a lid
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing spoon
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup old fashioned oats or quick cooking oats
- dash cinnamon optional
- dash salt
- ⅔ cup oat milk or your choice of milk
- drizzle pure maple syrup or other sweetener of choice
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small microwave safe bowl or glass mason jar, combine rolled oats, cinnamon, salt, oat milk, maple syrup and vanilla and stir to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Eat them cold or warmed in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute. Eat within a week!
HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY CRANBERRY ALMOND OVERNIGHT OATS
Cranberry almond overnight oats are gluten free, dairy free and refined sugar free. The oats have a subtle naturally sweetened taste and are topped with a tart cranberry sauce and crunchy toasted almonds that add a light nutty flavor. These overnight oats are perfect for the winter and an opportunity to use those frozen cranberries that are left over from the holidays!
In a small microwave safe bowl or glass mason jar, combine rolled oats, cinnamon, all spice, salt, oat milk, maple syrup and vanilla and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
The next day, in a small saucepan, add frozen or fresh cranberries and water. Simmer for 5-7 minutes until tender. Add to a blender with maple syrup and blend until smooth.
Add slivered almonds and coconut oil to a skillet and toast on low-medium for 5-7 minutes heat.
Remove your oats from the refrigerator and top with the cranberry sauce and toasted almonds. Eat them cold or heated in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute.
*You can top your oats with the cranberry sauce and almonds the same day they are made, refrigerate and eat the next day or within 2-3 days.
Want another delicious cranberry recipe? Check out my cranberry banana nut muffins!
Healthy Cranberry Almond Overnight Oats
Equipment
- Small microwave safe bowl or dish with a lid
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing spoon
- Small sauce pan or skillet
- Spatula
- Blender or food processor
Ingredients
Overnight Oats
- ⅔ cup old fashioned oats or quick cooking oats
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp all spice or pumpkin pie spice
- dash salt
- ⅔ cup oat milk or your choice of milk
- drizzle pure maple syrup or other sweetener of choice
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Cranberry Sauce
- ¼ cup whole fresh or frozen cranberries
- ¼ cup water
Topping
- ¼ cup slivered almonds
- 1 tsp coconut oil
Instructions
- In a small microwave safe bowl or glass mason jar, combine rolled oats, cinnamon, all spice, salt, oat milk, maple syrup and vanilla and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
- The next day, in a small saucepan, add frozen or fresh cranberries and water. Simmer for 5-7 minutes until tender. Add to a blender with maple syrup and blend until smooth.
- Add slivered almonds and coconut oil to a skillet and toast on low-medium for 5-7 minutes heat.
- Remove overnight oats from the refrigerator and top with the cranberry sauce and toasted almonds. Eat them cold or heated in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute.
Notes
HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY BROWNIE BATTER OVERNIGHT OATS
Healthy brownie batter overnight oats make you feel like you’re eating dessert for breakfast, even though they are free of refined sugars! These overnight oats combine rich cocoa powder, peanut butter and some chocolate chips to make a delicious and decadent breakfast!
In a small microwave safe bowl or glass mason jar, combine rolled oats, unsweetened cocoa powder, flax seeds, salt, oat milk, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
When you’re ready to eat it, drizzle with peanut butter that’s been warmed and your favorite chocolate chips. You can eat it cold or warm in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute!
Healthy Brownie Batter Overnight Oats
Equipment
- Small microwave safe bowl or dish with a lid
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing spoon
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup old fashioned oats or quick cooking oats
- 1 ½ tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp flax seeds optional
- pinch salt
- 2/3 cup oat milk or your choice of milk
- 1 tsp pure maple syrup or other sweetener of choice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp peanut butter or nut butter of your choice
- 2 tbsp chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a small microwave safe bowl or glass mason jar, combine rolled oats, unsweetened cocoa powder, flax seeds, salt, oat milk, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
- When you're ready to eat it, drizzle with peanut butter that's been warmed and your favorite chocolate chips. You can eat it cold or warm in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute!
Notes
HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY BLUEBERRY MUFFIN OVERNIGHT OATS
Healthy blueberry muffin overnight oats are vegan and naturally sweetened with wild blueberries. They are so delicious and easy to make, with only a handful of ingredients, and are perfect for a grab and go breakfast!
In a small microwave safe bowl or glass mason jar, combine rolled oats, cinnamon, salt, oat milk, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Top with frozen wild blueberries (or fresh), cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
Remove from the refrigerator and eat them cold or warmed in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute and enjoy!
Looking for another blueberry breakfast recipe? Check out my delicious blueberry muffin bread!
Healthy Blueberry Muffin Overnight Oats
Equipment
- Small microwave safe bowl or dish with a lid
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing spoon
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup old fashioned oats or quick cooking oats
- dash cinnamon
- dash salt
- ⅔ cup oat milk or your choice of milk
- drizzle pure maple syrup or other sweetener of choice
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup wild frozen blueberries or fresh
Instructions
- In a small microwave safe bowl or glass mason jar, combine rolled oats, cinnamon, salt, oat milk, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Top with frozen wild blueberries (or fresh), cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
- Remove from the refrigerator and eat them cold or warmed in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute and enjoy!
HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY APPLE PIE OVERNIGHT OATS
Healthy apple pie overnight oats combine all the flavors of an apple pie into a delicious breakfast. It’s like eating dessert for breakfast, except it’s actually healthy and free of refined sugar! Apple pie overnight oats are also gluten free, vegan, easy to make and are perfect for the fall and winter months!
In a small microwave safe bowl or glass mason jar, combine rolled oats, cinnamon, salt, oat milk, applesauce, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
The next day, or when you’re ready to eat the oats, cut half an apple into pieces. In a skillet, combine the chopped apples, cinnamon and water and simmer on medium heat until the apples are tender. Top your oats with the apples and enjoy!
Healthy Apple Pie Overnight Oats
Equipment
- Small microwave safe bowl or dish with a lid
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing spoon
- Cutting board and knife
- Small sauce pan or skillet
- Spatula
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup old fashioned oats or quick cooking oats
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- dash salt
- ⅓ cup oat milk or your choice of milk
- ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
- drizzle pure maple syrup or other sweetener of choice
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Apple Topping
- ½ apple chopped
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp water
Instructions
- In a small microwave safe bowl or glass mason jar, combine rolled oats, cinnamon, salt, oat milk, applesauce, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
- The next day, or when you're ready to eat the overnight oats, cut half an apple into pieces. In a skillet, combine the chopped apples, cinnamon and water and simmer on medium heat until the apples are tender. Top your overnight oats with the apples and enjoy!
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR MORE BREAKFAST IDEAS?
Looking for more breakfast ideas like these dairy free overnight oats? Check these out!
- Homemade Pancakes from Scratch
- Dairy Free Pumpkin Spice Dutch Baby
- Dairy Free Lemon Scones
- Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
Did you make any of these overnight oats recipes? If you enjoyed them, I’d really appreciate if you came back and gave the recipe a five star rating! Tag me on Instagram (@thesimplehomeplace) to show me your own recreation of this recipe!
The overnight cranberry oatmeal looks amazing! What a great idea. I love oatmeal and definitely must try this.
Thank you so much! The cranberry overnight oatmeal is one of my favorites!
Can’t wait to try this! The apple pie oats look divine ?
I hope you enjoy! The apple pie is my favorite!
i love all five they look so delicious and healthy. they also look good my babies would love them. thanks for sharing
Thank you! My kiddos like them too 🙂
I was looking for same recipes with oatmeal to make my breakfast healthier ? great sharing
I hope you enjoy them!
I’m drooling over the brownie batter ones. It is a must try this week for sure.
Thank you Gabriela! You’ll have to let me know how you like them!!
Had to come back in here and rate this recipe.
I loooove overnight oats and eat them regularly. It’s just so easy to prep and I am the type of person that needs to meal prep or I’ll barely eat. I’m excited to try these ones out!
Having breakfast all ready with little effort is so nice! Overnight oats are so great!
I’m in love!
So many choices it will be hard to choose which to make first! The cherry almond looks divine! I can’t wait to try them!
Thank you! The cranberry almond is amazing! It is so hard to choose, for sure!
I always struggled to cook good oats. Really great recipe!
Thank you! Soaking them overnight takes all the work out of it and they turn out great every time!
Omg my mouth is watering going to try these
🙂 I hope you enjoy!
Oatmeal is basically what I eat every morning for breakfast! I love these options for adding different flavors and textures
Thank you!
Love all of the different oatmeal flavor ideas!!
Thank you!