Why You’ll Love This Overnight Oats with Apple Cinnamon

• Effortless Morning Magic. The real beauty here is that all the work happens the night before. Just a few minutes of prep, and you’ve gifted your future self a complete, no-fuss breakfast. It’s the ultimate way to ensure a healthy start, even on your most chaotic days.
• A Cozy Hug in a Jar. The combination of sweet, juicy apple and warm, aromatic cinnamon is pure comfort food. It tastes like apple pie filling, but in a form you can happily eat for breakfast. It’s incredibly satisfying and feels like a treat, which is the best way to start any day, really.
• Endlessly Customizable. This recipe is a fantastic base camp for your own adventures. Once you’ve got the basic ratio down, you can run with it. Swap the apple for pear or berries, change up the spices, or add different toppings—it’s your canvas.
• Perfect Texture, Every Time. Unlike some overnight oat recipes that can turn out a bit slimy or too thick, this one hits the sweet spot. The grated apple releases just enough liquid to create a luxuriously creamy, almost pudding-like consistency that’s simply divine.

Ingredients & Tools

• 1/2 cup rolled oats (sometimes called old-fashioned oats)
• 1/2 cup milk of your choice (dairy, almond, oat, or soy all work beautifully)
• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (adds a wonderful tang and creaminess)
• 1 tbsp chia seeds (these are the secret to a lovely thick texture)
• 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey (adjust to your sweetness preference)
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• A pinch of salt (trust me, it makes all the flavours pop)
• 1 medium apple, any variety you like (I’m partial to Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
• For topping (optional): A handful of chopped walnuts or pecans, a few apple slices, an extra drizzle of maple syrup.

Tools: A jar or container with a tight-fitting lid (a 16-ounce mason jar is perfect), a box grater, and a spoon for mixing.

The ingredients here are simple, but each one plays a crucial role. Using rolled oats is key—they soften perfectly without turning to mush. And that single tablespoon of chia seeds? It’s a game-changer for texture, absorbing liquid and giving the oats a lovely, spoonable thickness.

Serves: 1 | Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 0 minutes | Total Time: 8 hours (or overnight)

Before You Start: Tips & Ingredient Notes

• Oat-al Recall. It’s really important to use old-fashioned rolled oats. Quick-cooking oats will become far too soft and mushy, and steel-cut oats won’t soften enough without being cooked. Rolled oats give you that perfect, substantial chew.
• The Great Grate Debate. Grating the apple is the secret weapon here. It distributes the apple flavour evenly throughout the jar and allows its natural juices to sweeten and moisten the oats. You can peel it or not—that’s totally up to you and depends on the apple’s skin.
• Sweetness is Subjective. The tablespoon of maple syrup is a guideline. If your apple is very sweet, you might want less. If you have a sweeter tooth, add a bit more after it’s rested. You can always adjust in the morning!
• Liquid Assets. The ratio of liquid to oats is crucial. If you find your oats are too thick for your liking in the morning, simply stir in an extra splash of milk. It’s an easy fix that lets you customize the consistency on the spot.

How to Make Overnight Oats with Apple Cinnamon

Serving Suggestions

Complementary Dishes

• A couple of hard-boiled eggs — The creamy, slightly sweet oats pair wonderfully with the savoury, protein-packed simplicity of eggs. It creates a perfectly balanced breakfast that will keep you full for hours.
• A side of turkey or chicken sausage — If you’re looking for a more substantial, brunch-like meal, a little lean protein on the side complements the sweet and spiced flavours of the oats beautifully.

Drinks

• A hot cup of black coffee — The bitterness of the coffee is a classic counterpoint to the sweet, spiced oats. It’s a match made in breakfast heaven and really helps to wake up your senses.
• A glass of cold apple cider — For a truly apple-forward experience, a crisp, non-alcoholic apple cider echoes the main flavour in the oats and makes the whole meal feel extra special.

Something Sweet

• A warm, flaky croissant — Okay, this is an indulgence, but sometimes you just need that buttery, pastry goodness alongside your healthy oats. A few bites of croissant with a spoonful of oats is pure bliss.
• A small square of dark chocolate — Grate a little dark chocolate over the top of your oats right before eating. It melts slightly and adds a rich, sophisticated depth that’s surprisingly fantastic with the apple and cinnamon.

Top Mistakes to Avoid

• Mistake: Using quick oats or instant oatmeal packets. These are processed to cook much faster, which means they’ll disintegrate into a pasty, unappealing texture when soaked overnight. Stick with old-fashioned rolled oats for the best results.
• Mistake: Not stirring thoroughly enough. If you don’t mix everything well, the chia seeds will clump together in a gelatinous blob, and the dry oats at the bottom won’t hydrate properly. A really good, thorough stir is non-negotiable.
• Mistake: Skipping the salt. I know it seems odd in a sweet recipe, but salt is a flavour enhancer. Without it, the oats can taste a little flat. That tiny pinch makes the apple and cinnamon flavours sing.
• Mistake: Not letting it sit long enough. Four hours is the absolute minimum, but the texture is truly ideal after a full 8-hour rest. The oats need that time to fully soften and absorb the flavours. Patience is key.

Expert Tips

• Tip: Make a batch for the week. This recipe is easily multiplied. Prepare 3 or 4 jars at once on a Sunday evening, and you’ve got breakfast ready for most of the week. They keep beautifully for up to 4-5 days in the fridge.
• Tip: Add a splash of vanilla extract. For an even more dessert-like vibe, add a quarter teaspoon of vanilla extract to the mix. It adds a warm, aromatic depth that complements the cinnamon perfectly.
• Tip: Warm them up if you prefer. While typically eaten cold, these oats can be gently warmed in the microwave for 60-90 seconds if you’re craving a hot breakfast. It makes the kitchen smell amazing and creates a cozy, porridge-like experience.
• Tip: Layer it for a parfait. For a pretty presentation, layer the overnight oats with some extra yogurt and a handful of granola in a clear glass. It turns your simple breakfast into an Instagram-worthy treat.

FAQs

Can I use steel-cut oats for overnight oats?
Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend it for this particular method. Steel-cut oats are much denser and require actual cooking with heat to become tender. If you try to soak them overnight, they’ll remain far too chewy and hard, almost gritty. They’re fantastic for stovetop porridge, but for no-cook overnight oats, rolled oats are the only way to go for that perfect creamy texture.

How long do overnight oats last in the fridge?
They keep really well! Once prepared and sealed tightly, your jar of overnight oats will be perfect for up to 4 to 5 days. This makes them an incredible meal-prep superstar. Just note that the grated apple might brown a tiny bit over time due to oxidation—it’s completely normal and safe to eat, but if you’re concerned, a squeeze of lemon juice over the grated apple before adding it can help prevent it.

My oats are too runny/thick in the morning. What happened?
Don’t worry, this is an easy fix! The consistency can vary based on the juiciness of your apple or the exact size of your “cup” measure. If it’s too thick, just stir in an extra tablespoon or two of milk until it reaches your desired consistency. If it’s too runny (which is rare), you probably had a very juicy apple; just add another tablespoon of oats or chia seeds, let it sit for another 30 minutes, and it will thicken up.

Can I make this recipe vegan?
Absolutely, it’s very simple to veganize! Just use a plant-based milk like almond, oat, or soy milk. Swap the Greek yogurt for a plant-based alternative (plain coconut or almond yogurt work well) and use maple syrup instead of honey. The method and results are exactly the same—deliciously creamy and satisfying.

Can I heat up overnight oats?
You certainly can! While they’re designed to be eaten cold, sometimes a warm breakfast is what you need. Simply transfer the oats to a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until warmed through. You may need to add a tiny splash of extra milk as they heat up, as they can thicken a bit more. It becomes a lovely, warm, and comforting porridge.