Whether we are back at work or still punching away on our computers from our home offices, valuable nutrition and tasty treats are still essential and serve their purpose throughout the day.
A popular breakfast trend throughout the country is overnight oats. These customizable bowls allow you to add all your favorite fruits or treats, creating an overall enjoyable edible experience. Compared to the manufactured and processed based oats, you may see at your local grocery store; overnight oats allow you to add abundant protein and fiber to enrich diets and sustain healthy living. Plus, they are EXTREMELY convenient for those days that you oversleep and need to grab a quick bite to eat before running off to work (or your home office).
As an enthusiast for current trends, I’ve found some outstanding overnight oat recipes that are tasty, yet contribute to my overall health. I encourage you to try some of these overnight oat’s recipes, possibly implementing them into your daily routine. Share your favorite overnight oats creation with us on Instagram by using the hashtag #SharpHome and tagging @SharpHomeUSA.
Blueberry Banana Overnight Oats
Alright, fine, I will admit it. I have been known to hit the snooze button on my alarm clock way too many times, causing my morning to seem a bit rushed. Are those extra 10 minutes worth it? It depends. What is excellent about overnight oats is that it minimizes the hassle and commotion of the morning time, taking away breakfast preparation for your morning routine can add up to an extra 15 minutes in the morning. And if you are a sleepyhead like me, an extra 15 minutes can make or break your day. Between the extra sleep and the right nutrients, making a batch of overnight oats cold leads to a more productive workday.
If you have followed some of my past work, you would know that my all-time favorite fruit is a banana. They are my go-to and ideal fruit for any time of day, but I tend to find myself eating them morning because they are easy to grab and go. The overnight oats concepts allow me to create a banana-like taste yet give me more options for breakfast servings.
While researching different recipes, I was naturally drawn to this blueberry banana overnight oats recipe from “Organize Yourself Skinny.” This fruit-filled option gives you the soft banana smelling taste that you know and love. To add extra flavor and nutrition, the additional blueberries added into the mix provide a sweet and pleasant taste.
What is specifically interesting about this recipe is that you can store it in a 16 oz. mason jar for up to 3-5 days. So, even if you know that the next two mornings may be a bit eventful, you don’t have to worry about skipping breakfast altogether.
The first thing that you should begin with is gathering the ingredients. First, gather a ½ cup of rolled oats and then some of the fun ingredients. This includes a ½ banana (peeled or chopped) and ½ cup of blueberries. Either fresh or frozen ones will work, your choice!
You will also need to gather a ½ cup of coconut milk, a teaspoon of chia seeds, a teaspoon of maple syrup, and a ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract to bring taste. While the oats may take around 8 hours to freeze, the prep time should take you about 10 minutes. Let’s begin!
- First, grab the 16 oz. Mason jar and place the rolled oats and the chia seeds in there.
- Next, pour in the coconut milk. After that, simply place the blueberries and the banana ingredients on the oats.
- Place the mason jar with all the ingredients in the refrigerator and let it refrigerate overnight. It is recommended that it sit for approximately 8 hours.
- Once you are ready the next morning (or any time of day), feel free to add a bit of maple syrup to give it extra taste and add some leftover coconut milk to loosen it up a bit. Enjoy!
Peanut Butter Cup Overnight Oats
When I visit the local wholesale club, half of my cart filled with household necessities and the other half filled with boxes of chocolate peanut butter cups. Yes, I have a bit of an addiction. Even though the taste of a chocolate shell with a peanut butter filling is my kryptonite, offering it in an overnight oat’s recipe sounds like a win-win situation.
Oats are commonly referred to as a breakfast hack; however, this unique take on the trend-setting creation is perfect for any time of day and can be used with an array of ingredients. If I was eight years old, it would have probably been my dream to have chocolate for breakfast. However, since I am an adult now, I guess it may not be the best thing to have every single day.
This amazing chocolate peanut butter overnight oat creation from “Lemon and Zest“ showed me how to integrate these wonderful and amazing sweets to satisfy your taste buds. It may even serve as the perfect late-night snack. One of the benefits of oats are being able to save them for up to five days, so you can prepare them and refrigerate them overnight, and eat them any time of day.
Imagine, the smooth and chill taste of chocolate and peanut butter mixture as you pop in a movie for the night. Feel free to prepare them for everyone in the family or your next social gathering. Unique and tasty creations always bring people together. So, what do you say, shall we gather the essential ingredients?
The essentials include a ½ cup of rolled oats, 2-3 teaspoons of peanut butter, and a teaspoon of cocoa butter. Gluten-free oats will work just fine, as well as any type of nut butter. It is completely up to you!
Next up, you will need 2 teaspoons of maple syrup or honey, ½ cup of milk, a dash of sea salt, and a teaspoon of ground flax meal and vanilla. If you are looking for a bit more flavor and sweetness, it is recommended to add 2 teaspoons of shredded coconut and a teaspoon of chia seeds for some protein and fiber.
Before we get into the steps of how to assemble and get this creation one step closer to your taste buds, if you are looking to create a vegan variation of this recipe, use dairy-free milk and stick to the maple syrup option.
- Grab a jar or bowl that could be sealed. A typical bowl with a lid or a mason jar would do the trick.
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and make sure to stir it well (especially the peanut butter).
- Chill the creation in the refrigerator for about 4 hours. After that, top it off with whatever toppings you choose. (a sprinkle of cocoa may do the trick!)
Apple Pie Overnight Oats
So, if you want to know a little bit about me, I was born in the great state of New Jersey (and yes, it is great, despite what you’ve may have heard). One of the best attributes that makes me proud to call this state my home is its strategic location, allowing for four seasons. Fall. Winter. Spring. Summer.
While each of these three-month periods calls for a specific bunch of activities, my heart will always have a special place for the fall. Most people probably attribute the fall season to pumpkin picking, hayrides, and haunted houses; however, my favorite part is hands down the array of fall time snacks. This includes apple cider donuts, corn, and one of my favorite is apple pie.
When I was 14 years old, I worked on a farm during the fall season. So, when I found this recipe calling for an apple pie overnight oats recipe from “Delicious Little Bites“ made with fresh apple and warm spices, it brought me back to those memories. This sweet-tasting quick prep recipe is not only can be one of the best treats but resembles the sense of family and fun that comes with fall.
Not only will this recipe be perfect for your busy mornings, afternoons, or evenings, but it may also serve as the perfect dessert option for after dinner. Since you could store it in a sealed jar for up to five days with just less than 10 minutes of prep time, you can enjoy these outstanding oats chilled, on-the-go, or warm.
To get started, we will need a few things. Grab a ½ cup of rolled oats, ½ cup of milk, and 2 tablespoons of apple. Make sure to dice the apples small (so you can get that amazing taste in every bite). Feel free to use a bit more milk, up to a 1 cup, if you plan on a thinner oat.
Also, you will want to gather ¼ teaspoon of brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg, and (my personal favorite) ½ teaspoon of cinnamon. Lastly, you will need a teaspoon of flax seeds, or chia seeds (your choice), a teaspoon of brown sugar, and a teaspoon of pure maple syrup.
Well, let’s just jump right into it.
- Use a jar or a bowl and mix the ingredients oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, brown sugar, and flax seeds (or chia seeds if you are using them).
- After you mix them, blend in the milk, maple syrup, and diced apples. Make sure to get the diced apples in every bit for the fantastic taste!
- Once you have stirred your jar or bowl, refrigerate for at least 8 hours.
- Finally, after eight hours, feel free to warm up the oats or eat them cold. Enjoy!
