Breakfast doesn’t get much easier than overnight oats! And these coffee overnight oats combine the best of both worlds – your morning coffee and your breakfast! They are thick and creamy, packed with protein and fiber, absolutely delicious. Not to mention, a breeze to prep for busy days.
The funny thing is, I don’t even drink coffee. I never got into it growing up and it doesn’t really give me that buzz as most people find. But I do like coffee-flavored things!
And that is exactly what we are doing here. The coffee flavor is combined with creamy yogurt, nutty cashew butter, sweet honey, and a little spice from the cinnamon. They taste like a latte but in oatmeal form!
What I love about this recipe so much is it’s so balanced. It is packed with protein from Greek yogurt. It also has complex carbs from oats, which are slower to digest. Then healthy fats from nut butter, milk, and chia seeds. And fiber from the oats and chia seeds.
Not only is having a balanced meal with protein, carbs, and fat beneficial for balancing your blood sugar and energy levels, but it’s also important for when you drink coffee. It’s helpful to get some protein and fat with your morning cup of coffee so it’s not super taxing on your body and doesn’t make you jittery.
Why we love these coffee overnight oats
- your morning coffee and breakfast combined into one!
- 5 minutes to make – mix everything up and pop it in the fridge!
- they make a balanced breakfast – they have protein, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and fiber.
- a great option for meal prep – double or triple the recipe!
Are overnight oats healthy?
Overnight oats can be a great addition to one’s diet. Rolled oats are loaded with fiber, complex carbs, and whole grains, have plant-based protein, and are low in fat. Adding ingredients like chia seeds, greek yogurt, and fruit also adds fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals. When making them, it’s important to add good sources of protein and fat to balance out the carbs to help keep your blood sugar stable. You can easily customize them to fit your liking and nutrition goals when making them.
Ingredients
- rolled oats – use certified gluten-free if needed.
- chia seeds
- greek yogurt – to make them extra creamy and for a boost of protein!
- cashew butter
- honey – for a touch of sweetness.
- cinnamon
- salt – to help bring out the flavors.
- cold brew coffee
How to make coffee overnight oats
- Make overnight oats. Add all ingredients to a medium jar. Stir well to combine until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Place the lid on the jar and put the oatmeal mixture in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight, until the mixture thickens.
- Enjoy! Eat out of the jar or transfer to a bowl and top with toppings of choice.
Can you make overnight oats without yogurt?
Yogurt is not a necessary ingredient for making overnight oats. I do find the yogurt helps give them a super creamy consistency, almost pudding-like. It also adds a boost of protein, especially if you using Greek yogurt, without having to use any protein powders.
If you don’t like yogurt, you could leave it out. If you do leave it out, you will need more liquid. I would suggest adding 1/4-1/2 cup milk of choice to help them come together.
Can you heat up overnight oats?
Overnight oats are meant to be eaten cold, but you can heat them in the microwave or on the stove to your desired temperature. If heating them on the stove, you may need to add more milk.
How long do overnight oats take?
Overnight oats don’t really need to be “overnight”. I actually usually do a “quick overnight oats” and make them the morning of, let them sit for an hour or two, and then enjoy. An hour is usually enough for the chia seeds and the oats to absorb the liquid.
The reason why most people make them at night is that it just makes your morning easier. Just grab and enjoy! But if you forget, you can make them on the same day.
How long do overnight oats last?
We keep ours in the fridge for up to 5 days. The longer they sit, the more time to soak up the liquid. Overnight oats will last for 5 days, but they might be a little bit mushier than on day 2 or 3.
They make a great option for meal prep – I will make a few servings at a time (these jars are perfect for them) and just keep them in the fridge for something quick and easy to grab during the week.
They make a great option for meal prep – I will make a few servings at a time (these jars are perfect for them) and just keep them in the fridge for something quick and easy to grab during the week.
Can you freeze overnight oats?
Overnight oats are a great freezer-friendly recipe. Make them according to the directions. Once the liquid has been absorbed, pop them in the freezer. They should last for 2 months. When ready to eat, let them defrost in the fridge overnight.
Substitutions and additions
Overnight oats are so customizable and you can tweak them to your preference and your macronutrient needs. Here are a few suggestions for these coffee overnight oats:
- oats – old-fashioned oats are the same as rolled oats. You can use quick oats instead of rolled oats, although the texture will change slightly. I do not recommend using steel-cut oats as they need to be soaked for much longer and need more liquid.
- greek yogurt – use full-fat yogurt, fat-free yogurt, or dairy-free yogurt. Plain or vanilla flavored will work best.
- cashew butter – any nut or seed butter will work. Almond butter or peanut butter would be great substitutes. Use sunflower seed butter or tahini (ground sesame seeds) to make them nut-free.
- honey – any liquid sweetener will work. Try maple syrup or agave.
- cold brew coffee – I low using cold brew as you can easily buy it from most stores. If you don’t have it, you can usually use leftover chilled coffee.
Here are some additions to change them up:
- protein powder – for even more of a boost of protein, add a scoop or two of your favorite protein powder. Chocolate or vanilla would both be delicious!
- vanilla extract – for a touch of vanilla flavor.
- cocoa powder – for a mocha flavor!
- sea salt – just a pinch, to bring out the flavors a little more.
- toppings – fresh fruit (strawberries, banana, berries), coconut flakes, nut butter, cinnamon, nuts, seeds, chocolate chips, or cacao nibs are all great choices to put on top!
More healthy overnight oat recipes
- chocolate peanut butter overnight oats
- mango overnight oats
- protein overnight oats
- strawberry overnight oats
- pumpkin overnight oats
If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced bowl, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!
Coffee Overnight Oats
equipment
ingredients
- 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats (50 grams)
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 3/4 cup plain full-fat greek yogurt (6 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon cashew butter
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cold brew coffee
- optional toppings: banana, cashew butter, cinnamon, chocolate chips…
instructions
- Make overnight oats. Add all ingredients to a medium jar. Stir well to combine until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Place the lid on the jar and put the oatmeal mixture in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight, until the mixture thickens.
- Enjoy! Eat out of the jar or transfer to a bowl and top with toppings of choice.
nutrition
Recipe by Kelly Nardo, Eat the Gains | Photography by The Mindful Hapa and Kelly Nardo
Lori says
I didn’t think the coffee flavor was strong enough so I added a tablespoon of Expresso instant coffee powder. Much better!
Kelly says
Oh, I love that! I’m not a huge coffee drinker so I don’t like it super strong, but glad you found an add-in to make it to your preference. Thanks for trying it, Lori!
Mike says
Crazy delicious and super filling! This overnight oats recipe makes waking up for breakfast very simple. 5 stars
Kelly says
Such a good combo right? Thanks for trying it Mike and glad you enjoyed!
Dad says
I like anything coffee😋
Kelly says
Haha yes, this is a fun way to enjoy it!
SFair says
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure about this at first. I like all the ingredients but when I first mixed and tasted it, I still wasn’t sure. After trying it this morning though, I’m a much bigger fan. I do not love the texture of overnight oats so maybe should give this a 4.5 if I could since that’s not the fault of the recipe. 🙂
I’m really trying to get rid of my sweet tooth and I’m not there yet so this was a little less sweet than i would like but I liked the flavor a lot. We added a dollop of vanilla greek yogurt, cinnamon and 2 yogurt covered coffee beans to the top. 🙂
The recipe made a lot more than I expected! I doubled it so we would each have 2 servings this week. It made a TON!
Thanks for your help in getting our eating back on track!
Kelly says
Glad it came around for you! The texture of overnight oats can be a little different if you aren’t used to them. Those toppings sound delicious and glad it made the week easy!
Sara Mendez says
Loved this one the coffee gave so much flavor to my oats and it was simply delicious. I will probably try it with some protein powder next but it s delicious as is!
Kelly says
Yes, I love adding a scoop of vanilla or chocolate protein powder! Glad you liked it Sara, thanks for trying them!
Casey Colodny says
mmmmm this was so creamy and the perfect on-the-go breakfast, especially with that extra kick of caffeine!! i added some coffee flavored granola and so good!
Kelly says
Oh that addition sounds so good! So glad you liked them Casey!