Breakfast Recipe: Overnight Oats

If you have never tried overnight oats before, let me give you some background information. No-cook overnight oats are made with no cooking involved. You can stir rolled old-fashioned oats with liquid and other mix-ins overnight in the fridge, instead of cooking them on the stove or in the microwave. A pudding-like porridge is an ideal breakfast that you can grab and go to in the morning.

If overnight oats did not taste good, I wouldn’t eat them. Even though I understand that it can take a bit of getting used to eating cold overnight oatmeal after a lifetime of eating hot oatmeal. But I’m sure it will be worth it. Many of my skeptical friends have become overnight oats devotees.
Moreover, the ease and texture seal the deal. The texture of overnight oatmeal is different from that of hot/stovetop oatmeal. Compared to banana cream, this one is creamier, denser, and in my opinion, tastier. My favorite oatmeal is overnight oats, and I prefer it to hot oats every time!
In my opinion, the best comparison would be coffee. Iced coffee and hot coffee are both coffee, and they are both delicious, but they also differ in many important ways. Oats overnight are just like iced coffee on your breakfast table!

I agree, with one caveat-overnight oat are inherently customizable, so if you add candy and a lot of sugar to them, they quickly become desserts. It’s your decision if the overnight oats recipes below are more dessert-like or breakfast-like. Honey or maple syrup can always be reduced or eliminated completely if you wish.

Up until recently (as in, within the past half-century or so), oatmeal was typically soaked and even fermented before it was eaten. All grains contain some amount of phytic acid, but oats are among the highest. For those with stomach troubles after eating oatmeal, you might find it helpful to soak rolled oats in warm water overnight at room temperature.
For added benefits, you can mix in some yogurt, kefir, or whey and let your oats ferment for 8-12 hours in a warm place. Oats have always worked well for me after soaking and fermenting! After eating oats, both my husband and daughter (and occasionally I too) suffer from severe stomach cramps.
When we soak and ferment the oats, they do not cause such pain! Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon provides detailed instructions on how to traditionally prepare grains such as oats for easier digestion. Even though overnight oats don’t have the same predigesting effect as soaking at room temperature and fermenting, it’s still helpful! When soaked in the liquid for 24 hours in the fridge, certain compounds that contribute to digestive issues are broken down.

Of course, you can! Make-ahead breakfasts like overnight oats are my favorite way to prep food for the weekend. My weekend routine used to be to make 8-10 jars of homemade soup to grab for breakfast and snacks during the week when I worked in an office.

I was able to eat the fruit-infused recipes within three days. You could let the ones without ice drip for up to one week in the fridge.

The truth is, oats do not cut it when it comes to weight loss, but oatmeal is one of the best foods to eat when you’re trying to lose weight! This cereal is packed with fiber, but it’s important to pair it with protein to lower blood sugar levels. My overnight oats are always better with protein powder or Greek yogurt added in.
For a sugar-free overnight oats recipe, you can simply omit maple syrup or honey or simply use a sugar substitute like stevia or monk fruit instead. It is simply a matter of adjusting how much to add to fit your taste.