Need an easy, filling breakfast to take with you on busy mornings? Whether you're dropping off the kids, hitting the gym, or sitting in miles of traffic on your way to work overnight oats jars are the best breakfast to bring with you!
Overnight oats jars are a wonderful breakfast idea for the entire family. And when you're preparing them in advance it's easy to customize each jar for different eaters. I think the perfect serving size is 8 oz mason jars which you can find here for Canada and here for USA/International shoppers.
My recipe idea is for cherry pie overnight oats, but you can customize this however you like with different fruits and toppings.
I actually have an entire lineup of jarred breakfast ideas including piñ a colada chia pudding, and savory tofu scramble soufflé you can heat in the microwave before you leave the house. Get all the ideas in this roundup post here.
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ingredients for overnight oats jars
- rolled oats
- nondairy milk
- cinnamon
- coconut sugar
- sea salt
optional toppings:
- whole cherries
- pecans
- maple syrup
- granola - buy your favorite or make my homemade hemp granola
To ensure your overnight oats are gluten-free look for a certified gluten-free bag of oats like this one. Not all oats are automatically suitable for celiacs as they are very likely to have cross-contamination in the factory.
how to make overnight oats jars
choose your base
Start with a base of rolled oats or steel-cut oats. Add nondairy milk as your liquid for the base. I personally like using more full-fat nondairy milk like cashew, oat, or soy. You could also use a dairy-free yogurt. This forms the foundation of your overnight oats.
In a mixing bowl combine the oats with coconut sugar and cinnamon or other ground spices of your choice.
Add nondairy milk and stir to combine well.
sweeten the deal
Enhance the flavor by adding natural sweeteners like maple syrup, date syrup, or agave nectar. Adjust the sweetness to your liking, keeping in mind any additional toppings you plan to include.
Add about ¼ cup of oatmeal in the bottom of each jar. Then layer with chopped pecans or other nuts of your choice.
I like to drizzle that first layer with some maple syrup. You could add coconut sugar here, or omit altogether if you don't want more sweetness.
get creative with toppings
On top of the first topping layer add the cherries or other fruit you've chosen and then the remainder of the jar will be filled with oatmeal. You can add another drizzle of maple syrup and more of the fruit you chose on the very top before eating.
The beauty of overnight oats lies in the endless topping possibilities. Mix in fruits, nuts, seeds, and spices for added texture and flavor. I personally like the cherry pie overnight oats that I share in the recipe card below, but experiment with combinations like banana and almond, mixed berries with chia, or classic cinnamon apple. I also think it's key to layer the oats with the toppings as I demonstrate so you get an equal bite every time!
refrigerate overnight
Once your jar is assembled, seal it and refrigerate it overnight. This allows the oats to absorb the liquid and flavors, resulting in a delightful and ready-to-eat breakfast you can take on-the-go!
equipment you need
- 8 oz mason jars with lids
- mixing bowl
- spoon
- sharp knife
- cutting board
storage
Obviously you'll keep these in the fridge. You can prepare 5 to 7 of these for the entire week and they'll last all week long. I wouldn't prepare more than 1 week's worth of overnight oats jars in advance just to keep the fruits as fresh as possible. I do not recommend freezing these either as once thawed they will not be as good.
overnight oats jars
Ingredients
- 1 C rolled oats (not quick cooking)
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- pinch sea salt
- 1 C nondairy milk
- 1 C whole cherries pitted and roughly chopped
- ⅓ C pecans roughly chopped
- 2 tsp + 2 tsp maple syrup divided
- 2 tablespoon granola
Instructions
- Combine rolled oats, cinnamon, sugar, and nondairy milk in a bowl and set aside while you preprea the cherries and chop the pecans. Reserve about ¼ cup chopped cherries and ¼ cup chopped pecans for topping when serving.
- Place ¼ cup of oatmeal in the bottom of each jar ensuring you also have enough liquid to fully coat the oats. They will absorb most of this liquid while setting overnight. Add a layer of pecans then drizzle 1 teaspoon of maple syrup on top. Add cherries and top with the rest of the oatmeal. Cover with the jar lid and refrigerate overnight.
- In the morning top with reserved cherries, pecans and granola for an added crunch, drizzle with another 1 teaspoon each of maple syrup, if desired. You can eat it cold as the oats will be soft from soaking overnight or if you prefer, microwave the jar for 30 seconds to 1 minute before adding the additional toppings.
Lauren Toyota
Lauren is a plant-based powerhouse, a former TV host turned wildly successful food creator, best-selling cookbook author, and the woman responsible for making vegan comfort food a thing worth craving. Through her blog and YouTube channel, hot for food, she’s amassed a dedicated following by recreating all the nostalgic, indulgent dishes we love—mac & cheese, burgers, cinnamon rolls—but making them entirely plant-based. No compromise on taste, no weird ingredients, just damn good food.