8 Dessert Inspired Overnight Oats Recipes that are Actually Good for You

Looking for the best dessert overnight oats?  Dive into my 8 Overnight Oats Recipes that are all dessert-inspired but still healthy enough to eat for breakfast!

Dessert Overnight Oats Recipes

You are going to love these dessert overnight oats recipes that are healthy enough for breakfast.  These feature flavors like Peanut Butter Cup, Blueberry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, Strawberry Shortcake, and more.  They are a sweet but nutritious way to start your morning.  You can customize these breakfasts for so many diets too including vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and more.

Overnight oats aren't anything new, but they stand the test of time and are still a great way to start your day.  You can make them the night before and have breakfast ready to go in the morning without any thought involved. It's nice to wake up knowing that you have a healthy breakfast too. As we approach the time of year when life starts to get a little busier (hello school, fall, holidays… yikes... yes.... I just went there) I thought it would be a great time to revisit this healthy and fast breakfast idea with my 8 dessert Overnight Oats recipes.  

Grab your oatmeal, almond milk, honey, and chia seeds for the basic overnight oat recipe, and add all sorts of delicious mix-ins that elevate this breakfast recipe to dessert status.  Start with my 8 recipes below or skip to the bottom of this post where I'm sharing my base recipe for overnight oats, plus all the additional variations you can make with overnight oats.  I'm also sharing my best tips to make them super delicious.

Over the years I've made a lot of different types of overnight oats for Running in a Skirt... in fact, some of them are the most popular recipes on this site.  But it's the ones that are truly dessert-inspired that win me over again and again.  No these are dessert overnight oats... but they taste so good you'll be surprised a healthy breakfast.  These are the BEST overnight oats recipes on the interwebs.

The Best Overnight Oats that Taste Like Dessert

Peanut Butter Cup Overnight Oats

This combination is dreamy and is one of my favorite dessert overnight oats recipes!  Peanut Butter Cup Overnight Oats features chocolate and peanut butter a match made in candy heaven.  This Peanut Butter Cup Overnight Oats is reminiscent of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup in a healthy package.

Blueberry Pie Overnight Oats

Fresh blueberries and oats come together as my version of a breakfast blueberry pie. You'll love this Blueberry Pie Overnight Oats creamy blueberry Greek yogurt, fresh blueberries and granola making this one of the best dessert overnight oats recipes.  Add a drizzle of honey for an extra twist.

Peanut Butter Chunky Monkey Overnight Oats

Chunky Monkey Overnight Oats was the first overnight oats recipe on Running in a Skirt and it is the most popular. This recipe is inspired by the popular ice cream and uses it like peanut butter banana flavors for a perfect dessert overnight oats.  This is one of my top 8 dessert overnight oats recipes.  You can also swap this out for your favorite nut butter.

Apple Pie Overnight Oats

Celebrate fall with a taste of apple pie in the morning. My version of Apple Pie Overnight Oats uses grated apples and loads of spices for a fun twist.  This is a great dessert for overnight oats for fall.

Peach Cobbler Overnight Oats

Does it get any more summery than this? Fresh peaches vanilla and creamy yogurt make this Peach Cobbler Overnight Oats one of my favorites.

Peanut Butter & Jelly Overnight Oats

Peanut butter in overnight oats goes perfectly together and this recipe is no different! Use pantry staples like peanut butter and jelly to make this delicious combination.  This Peanut Butter and Jelly Overnight Oats is crazy simple to make and by far one of the best dessert overnight oats.

Strawberry Shortcake Overnight Oats

Who doesn't love Strawberry Shortcake? It's even better in a healthy overnight oats breakfast that tastes like dessert.

Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats

Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats uses simple canned pumpkin to bring fall flavors to your morning boats. This dessert overnight oats recipe is so simple and so delicious.

Base Overnight Oat Recipe

If you are just getting started with overnight oats, here is the base recipe you'll need!  You can use these ingredients to make any of the fun dessert overnight oats above.

Overnight Oats Ingredients:

• Old Fashioned Oatmeal
• Almond Milk, Oat Milk
• Honey, Maple Syrup, Agave or Another Sweetener
• Chia Seeds
• Fun Add Ins: Nuts, almonds, coconut, vanilla, fruit, fresh berries, cocoa powder, vanilla extract

Overnight Oats Directions:

1. Combine all of the ingredients for the overnight oats and stir well.
2. Put in an airtight container in the fridge and allow to sit for a few hours to overnight.  The liquid will soak in.
3. The oatmeal will above the moisture in whatever milk you use and soften, as you have cooked it.

Tips for Making Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are easy to make!  I have step-by-step instructions in all my recipes but here are a few easy-to-follow tips and tricks.

• You can make overnight oats overnight or even a few hours before eating.  The oatmeal just needs enough time to soak up the liquids.
• Store your overnight oats in an airtight container in the fridge.
• If you don't like cold oatmeal you can easily heat these up for a minute in the microwave.
• Add your toppings on after the oatmeal soaks overnight so they don't get soggy too.
• To make them gluten-free use gluten-free oatmeal.

What is the best oatmeal for overnight oats?

Old-fashioned Oatmeal is the best kind of oatmeal for overnight oats.  Any brand will work but THIS ONE is a favorite of mine.  You will want to avoid any quick-cooking or quick-cook oats or 1-minute oatmeal.  It will get too soggy and leave you with no texture to your oatmeal.  I would also not use steel cut oats as the texture would be hard and too chewy.

Best jars for overnight oats?

I love making and storing my overnight oatmeal in classic mason jars.  They are easy to store and clean.  This one is my favorite and are great for meal prepping.

Base Dessert Overnight Oats Recipe

Julie Wunder

Here's the base recipe for making any dessert overnight oats! Get creative and add your favorite toppings!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Resting Time 8 hours hrs

Total Time 8 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 1

Calories 209 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ½ cup old fashioned oats
• ½ cup milk or non-dairy milk
• ¼ cup greek yogurt
• 1-2 tablespoons sweetener like honey
• 1 teaspoon chia seeds
• ½ teaspoon vanilia extract
• extras: fruit, peanut butter, chocolate chip, jelly, jam,, pumpkin

Instructions

 

• Add the oatmeal, yogurt, sweetener, vanilla and chia seeds to a jar or airtight storage container. Stir well.
• Put in the fridge for 2 hours up to overnight.
• When you are ready to eat, remove the jar from the fridge and stir. Top with any other desired toppings.

Notes

Storage & Lefovers

Leftovers of overnight oats can be made ahead and prepped up to five days in advance.  I would not freeze the overnight oats.

Nutrition

Calories: 209kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 11gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 21mgPotassium: 237mgFiber: 5gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 4IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 102mgIron: 2mg

Keyword Dessert Overnight Oats

Tried this recipe?Mention @Julie_Wunder or tag #RunninginaSkirt!

8 Dessert Overnight Oats Recipes

Here are those 8 Dessert Overnight Oats recipes again in an easy to click format.

1. Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats
2. Strawberry Shortcake Overnight Oats
3. Apple Pie Overnight Oats
4. Peanut Butter Cup Overnight Oats
5. Peanut Butter Chunky Monkey Overnight Oats
6. Peanut Butter & Jelly Overnight Oats
7. Peach Cobbler Overnight Oats
8. Peanut Butter Chunky Monkey Overnight Oats

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