Overnight oats, oatmeal, assorted toasts, waffles, pancakes, along idli and dosa are kiddo’s staple breakfast. In the coming days, I will share some quick and healthy breakfasts that I make for the kiddo, and I am starting with our favorite overnight oats, precisely chocolate overnight oats with peanut butter. PS – Both husband and I switched to porridge and breakfast smoothies for our breakfast. I add these overnight oats to our smoothie.
So what’re overnight oats?
A no-cook way of making oats where we combine the rolled oats and milk and let the oats soak up all the liquid. This 4 – 6 hour or overnight soaking helps the oats absorb all the liquid and soften them to relish it without cooking them. And this makes overnight oats all the more popular. You can easily make them ahead and refrigerate, and it’s an excellent mess-free, grab-and-go breakfast.
Ingredients required
When it comes to overnight oats, you need two main ingredients – rolled oats and a liquid, and you can add all the other ingredients to your personal preference and choice. For this chocolate overnights oats, I have used these below ingredients as per the kiddo’s liking. Rolled oats – I highly recommend old-fashioned rolled oats and not the instant one. You can try quick-cooking steel-cut oats but make sure to refrigerate or soak the oats for atleast 12 hours. If you are getting started with overnight oats, opt for rolled oats. Milk – I have used dairy milk, but you can use any plant-based milk of your choice, making this dish vegan. Chocolate and peanut butter: I have used unsweetened cacao powder and unsweetened creamy peanut butter. Use a nut-butter of your choice or skip for a nut-free version. For added protein, I have included chia seeds and hemp hearts. I have used brown sugar, but you can opt for agave nectar or maple syrup of honey. Finally, I topped it with some banana and sunflower seeds.
Variations & toppings
Every overnight oats variation is a recipe on its own. :-) I have already shared one with almond butter and savory and spicy overnight oats. For this particular chocolate overnight oats, you can add raw cacao nibs along with cacao powder and add a dash of cinnamon. You can also try adding different nut butter or seed butter. Coming to the toppings, I love to add bananas when I use peanut butter. You can add berries, dried fruits, nuts, other seeds, and chocolate chips. It’s effortless to customize this oatmeal recipe to your preference.
Dietary specification and serving suggestion
I have used dairy milk as well as nut butter. Feel free to use other alternatives to keep it vegan and nut-free. Make sure to use gluten-free certified oats for a gluten-free version. Overnight oats are typically served cold, but no harm in microwaving them for 30 seconds. Add the fruits and other toppings before serving.
VVK Tip
As you can see from the pictures, I use tall mason jars for making my overnight oats. I love to top it with fruits and nuts, and if you are planning to have it during your commute, you want the big-enough mason jar to mix the oats and enjoy without spilling. So I always make them in big jars and do not overfill them.
Chocolate overnight oats recipe with peanut butter
Add the peanut butter, chia seeds, hemp hearts, brown sugar, and unsweetened cocoa powder into the mason jar. Add ½ cup of milk.Using a fork or small hand whisk, mix all the ingredients. Break the peanut butter. It’s ok if it doesn’t blend well; break it down a little and mix them all.Now add the rolled oats. Mix well, add ¼ more cup of milk, and ensure oats are nicely immersed inside the milk.
Close the mason jars and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. Here is how it looks after 8 hours of soaking.
After 6 hours, top it up with nuts and fruits and serve chilled or transfer it to a bowl and microwave for 30 to 45 seconds. Add more milk if required and add the toppings and serve warm.
Recipe notes
Skip the nut butter for a nut-free version.Use maple syrup or agave nectar, or other sweeteners of your choice. I have tested this recipe only with almond milk and dairy milk, but you can use any milk of your choice. Opt for plant-based milk for a vegan version. There is no set measure for these overnight oats; adjust them as per your preference.
Frequently asked questions
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PS: If you try this chocolate peanut butter overnight oats, please don’t forget to comment and rate this recipe. If you have any questions, please leave a comment, and I will get to it ASAP. Make sure to follow me on my Pinterest for more healthy and delicious ideas! Follow me on Instagram or join my Facebook Group for more recipe updates! You can also sign-up for my newsletter for weekly updates.
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