Overnight oats is one of the easiest ways to make oatmeal part of your dietary routine. Old fashioned oatmeal is nutritious, high in fiber, lowers cholesterol, and I credit oatmeal with helping me keep my weight down this year. I make this oatmeal recipe to last the week, and I pair it with fresh fruit, ginger, walnuts, and flax seed.
Overnight Oats Ingredients
OLD FASHIONED OATMEAL (aka Rolled Oats)
MILK (ALMOND or SOY MILK will store the best)
…those are really the only ingredients required, but
I like to add:
Fresh minced GINGER
CINNAMON POWDER
Dash of SALT
How to Make Overnight Oats
We generally make 3 to 5 cups of overnight oats at a time, which is enough for CG and I to have an oatmeal breakfast 2 to 3 times a week. I use old fashioned oats, but CG sometimes uses steel cut oats. I prefer the old fashioned kind, but either kind will work using the same method. Check current prices for oatmeal on Amazon.
You can simply use oats and milk (or any soaking liquid) for the ultimate “plain” oatmeal, but I also like to add fresh minced ginger, cinnamon, and a dash of salt to make my overnight oats base. I call it a base, because even though it is quite flavorful, I almost always add other ingredients when I’m ready to eat, depending on my mood and what’s available.
This is Truly the Easiest Oatmeal Recipe Ever
You really don’t have to measure any ingredients, just be sure to add a ratio of ginger and cinnamon to your tastes, and the liquid you add should be just enough to cover the oat mixture.
Fill a sealable container almost to the top with dry old fashioned oatmeal; leave about 1 inch at the top of the container. Mix in minced ginger and cinnamon to taste, plus a dash of salt if you like. You can see in the recipe video that I prefer quite a bit of fresh ginger. Raw fresh ginger can be quite strong, but soaking overnight with the oats mellows this healthy root considerably.
Once all the dry ingredients are mixed together well, pour in the liquid until the oats are just completely covered. I prefer to use almond milk or soy milk, which keeps quite well with the oats and lasts about 1 week in the fridge. You can use dairy milk, but it will not keep as long, so use almond or soy milk if making a batch of overnight oats for the week. You can also use just plain water. Sometimes I’ll use half water and half almond milk.
Seal the container and store in the fridge. You can do this late at night, and the oats will still be ready for an early breakfast. It only takes about 4 hours of soaking time for the oats to be perfect.
Fancy Overnight Oatmeal Additions
I like to use this overnight oat recipe as a vehicle for other healthy foods. Here is a list of some of my favorite additions that I add to this oatmeal base when I’m ready to eat:
- WALNUTS (nuts add a much needed crunch, any nut will do, but walnuts pack nutrition)
- FRESH FRUIT (blueberries and banana are my two favorite choices)
- YOGURT (I try to use yogurt with live cultures for added benefit)
- HONEY (just a spoonful to sneak in the health benefits of honey)
- PEANUT BUTTER (if you made your oats with water, this is a way to add additional protein)
- ALMOND BUTTER (same as peanut butter, but not as overpowering)
- GROUND FLAX SEED (no one knows what this is, but you can add it to oatmeal)
- PRUNES (add pitted prunes, but still be cautious!)
- CHOCOLATE CHIPS (I do this sometimes, but I never feel good about it)
If you make overnight oats a regular part of your week, you’ll almost always have old fashioned oatmeal in the cupboards, here’s another great oatmeal treat No-Bake Oatmeal Fudge Bars.
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