These easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Overnight Oats are the perfect way to indulge a little over breakfast (or even dessert)! Say goodbye to morning grumpies.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe
These overnight oats are one of my favourite ways to indulge in a little chocolate treat for breakfast. The yummy hard chocolate shell is a super fun add-on to overnight oats, and resembles the peanut butter cups we all know and love. These overnight oats make waking up to my alarm clock a little easier knowing I've got one of these in the fridge waiting for me!
- Takes 5 minutes to make - when I said these were easy to make, I really meant it!
- Customizable to your tastes and dietary needs - you can make these vegan, nut-free, gluten-free, or alter it to suit your tastes with just a few easy ingredient choices.
- Fun and kid-friendly - for those very picky eaters, these overnight oats (with the chocolate shell) will make breakfast exciting and something to look forward to.
- Ready for you when you wake up - because these are make-ahead meals, you won't have to worry about scrambling to make breakfast as soon as you wake up, saving you time during those busy weekday mornings.
What are Overnight Oats?
Overnight Oats are basically a no-cook method of making oatmeal, by soaking old-fashioned rolled oats in milk in the refrigerator overnight. Instead of softening oats by cooking them, this slow method of allowing them to absorb the liquid create a beautifully creamy, luxurious, soft and thick texture. Meal prep is super easy with overnight oats - they're ready for you in the fridge as soon as you wake up, making them a huge time-saver for those busy weekday mornings when you're rushing off for school or for work.
The beauty of overnight oats is how easy and quick they are to make, with just a few simple ingredients. Not only that, but they are easily customizable with all of your favourite toppings and ingredients - giving you creative flexibility to experiment with your own unique flavour combinations, like this chocolate peanut butter cup flavour!
Ingredients
Please scroll down to the recipe card below for exact quantities and measurements.
- Rolled oats - make sure to use old-fashioned rolled oats, not steel cut, quick or instant oats as they don't absorb liquid well enough for this recipe.
- Unsweetened almond milk - any type of milk will work, whether it's regular cow's milk or a plant-based milk (ie. cashew or oat).
- Greek yogurt - I prefer Greek yogurt but you can use whatever type of yogurt you prefer. This helps adds an even thicker, creamier texture to the overnight oats.
- Chia seeds - packed with nutrition, chia seeds are a superfood that adds thickness to the oats mixture when they expand in liquid.
- Maple syrup - or you can use any type of sweetener you like. Honey also works very well in this recipe!
- Cocoa powder - I use unsweetened cocoa powder for a rich, chocolatey taste.
- Natural peanut butter - any type of nut or seed butter will work; just make sure to use one with a runny, drippy consistency for easy mixing.
- Pinch of salt - to help bring out the flavours.
- Coconut oil - to use as part of the mixture for the chocolate syrup topping.
- Berries (optional) - to use as a topping, adds some fruity balance to the chocolate peanut butter taste.
Instructions
STEP 1: First, prepare the overnight oats mixture: In a mason jar, mix together oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, maple syrup, cocoa powder, peanut butter, and a pinch of salt.
STEP 2: Once the ingredients have been thoroughly mixed, set the mixture aside while we prepare our chocolate syrup.
STEP 3: Prepare the chocolate syrup topping: in a small bowl, mix together melted coconut oil (1 tbsp), cocoa powder (1 tsp), maple syrup (1 tsp), and a pinch of salt.
STEP 4: Pour the chocolate syrup on top of the overnight oats mixture. Snap on a lid, and refrigerate overnight (or for at least 2-3 hours).
STEP 5: When it's ready, take it out of the fridge. The chocolate syrup will have hardened into a hard shell on top of the overnight oats. You can crack into it with a spoon and enjoy it with the oats. Enjoy!
How to Store
You can store these away in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. I recommend using a 16-ounce (473 ml) wide mouth mason jar - they're super easy to clean and tall enough to stir ingredients in without creating a mess (and have enough height for space to add toppings to).
Toasty's Tips
- If you find your overnight oats to be too thick, just add a splash of milk to help thin it out until you reach the desired consistency. This is particularly important if adding extra protein powder or other nutritional powders to your mixture.
- Make sure to use nut (or seed) butter that has a runny, drippy consistency to make it easier to mix with. If your nut/seed butter has become too firm and difficult to stir, you can try warming it up in the microwave to soften it up.
- Customize it! Instead of berries, you can add in nuts, seeds, coconut flakes, whatever you like.
- Make it vegan or gluten-free by using plant-based milk, gluten-free oats, and other ingredients that fit in with your dietary needs.
FAQ
Do I have to make the chocolate shell?
No, it's totally up to you! The overnight oats will taste just as great on their own without the added step of making the chocolate shell.
Can I use chocolate protein powder instead of cocoa powder?
Yes, you can certainly swap the chocolate protein powder for cocoa powder - it's a great way to add a protein boost to your breakfast. If your protein powder is sweetened, you may want to reduce the amount of added sweetener (honey, maple syrup, etc) that you use so that you don't over-sweeten this recipe.
Can I warm these up before eating?
Technically yes, you can warm up overnight oats before eating them (although they typically meant to be enjoyed chilled straight out of the fridge). However for this recipe, due to the hardened chocolate shell, I wouldn't recommend heating it up first as that will very quickly melt the hard shell.
Can I eat this as a dessert?
Of course! Do what makes you happy.
Other Overnight Oats Flavours to Try
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Overnight Oats
Suggested Equipment
Ingredients
Oats Base
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 tablespoon natural peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
Chocolate shell
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- salt - pinch
Toppings (optional)
- berries - fresh (optional)
Instructions
- First, prepare the overnight oats mixture: In a mason jar, mix together oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, maple syrup, cocoa powder, peanut butter, and a pinch of salt.
- Once the ingredients have been thoroughly mixed, set the mixture aside while we prepare our chocolate syrup.
- Prepare the chocolate syrup topping: in a small bowl, mix together melted coconut oil (1 tbsp), cocoa powder (1 tsp), maple syrup (1 tsp), and a pinch of salt.
- Pour the chocolate syrup on top of the overnight oats mixture. Snap on a lid, and refrigerate overnight (or for at least 2-3 hours).
- When it's ready, take it out of the fridge. The chocolate syrup will have hardened into a hard shell on top of the overnight oats. You can crack into it with a spoon and enjoy it with the oats. Enjoy!
Notes
- Video: Watch the step-by-step video tutorial here.
- Storage: Store them in an air-tight container for up to 5 days in the fridge. I like to use Mason jars (16-oz), with a large opening that makes it easier to clean and stir ingredients in.
- If you find your overnight oats to be too thick, just add a splash of milk to help thin it out until you reach the desired consistency. This is particularly important if adding extra protein powder or other nutritional powders to your mixture.
- Make sure to use nut (or seed) butter that has a runny, drippy consistency to make it easier to mix with. If your nut/seed butter has become too firm and difficult to stir, you can try warming it up in the microwave to soften it up.
- Customize it! Instead of berries, you can add in nuts, seeds, coconut flakes, whatever you like.
- Make it vegan or gluten-free by using plant-based milk, gluten-free oats, and other ingredients that fit in with your dietary needs.
STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO
You can find step-by-step video tutorials for all of my recipes on my YouTube Channel. There you'll find many more tips and tricks to help you along!
Nutrition
Note: Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Comments
No Comments