Creamy, natural peanut butter, and crisp, juicy apples are the perfect natural sweetener for overnight steel cut oats.
Truth be told: I love a fresh apple, but a fresh apple mixed with creamy natural peanut butter? Yes, please. I frequently pair these two together in quick and easy breakfasts, like my Apple Peanut Butter Overnight Oats. High in protein and fiber, this easy to make, pre-made breakfast will keep you full and satisfied all morning long, and give you the energy you need to tackle whatever the day throws at you.
Ingredients
- Oats: I use steel cut oats personally, but you could also use old fashioned oats. Don’t use quick oats, as those will get too soggy.
- Milk: The milk softens and “cooks” the oats overnight, I personally use low-fat milk.
- Yogurt: Plain yogurt adds probiotics, but you can use Greek yogurt to up the protein content. While I use plain, you could use fruit flavored yogurts to up the fruit flavor, but it will also increase the sugar content.
- Cinnamon: Warm, sweet, and pungent flavor that pairs well with the apples and oats.
- Peanut butter: Creamy, peanuty, and delicious, I like to use natural peanut butter as it is lower in added sugars, and high in protein. But use whatever peanut butter you have and like at home!
- Banana: Naturally sweet and creamy, bananas are also a great source of potassium along with other vitamins and minerals.
- Apple: I used gala apples, as they have a crisp, sweet flavor and are affordable and accessible.
How to Make Apple Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Start your apple peanut butter overnight oats with an empty mason jar or a peanut butter jar that is mostly empty, and add your oats.
Then pour in your milk.
And add your plain yogurt.
Then sprinkle in your cinnamon.
And finish with your peanut butter.
Give everything a good stir, or just give the jar a nice shake once sealed. Then place in the fridge overnight.
The next morning, top with the banana and apple and enjoy your Apple Peanut Butter Overnight Oats!
Easy Substitutions
- Make it dairy free. Use almond or oat milk instead of cow milk, and swap the yogurt out for a dairy free alternative to make overnight oats dairy free, and also to make it vegan!
- Use different fruits. All sorts of berries would also taste great with these peanut butter oats instead of apples or bananas.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is having overnight oats good for weight loss?
Because of their high fiber content, oats of any kind are good for weight loss because they take longer to digest and help you feel fuller, longer.
Do you put fruit in before or after overnight oats?
If you want to keep the fruit crunchier, wait until right before you eat the oats. But you can add fruit either the night before or after, either is fine.
Do overnight oats last more than one day?
Kept in an airtight container, you can keep overnight oats in the fridge for up to 5 days.
More Easy Breakfasts
- Maple Pumpkin Oatmeal with Chia
- Apple Banana Nut Oatmeal
- Chocolate Strawberry Protein Smoothie
- Apple Cinnamon Protein Pancakes
- Cheese and Veggie Baked Egg Cups
Did you try this recipe and like it? The next time you make it, snap a picture and share it to your socials! Tag @thelemonbowl and #thelemonbowl so we can admire and share your dish.
If you love the idea of making breakfast the evening before, but don’t love the idea of cold oats, simply pop the jar in the microwave and a warm breakfast will be ready in 30 seconds.
Your spoon is waiting.
Apple Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ¼ cup steel cut oats
- ½ cup milk (any kind)
- ⅓ cup plain yogurt (low fat)
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter (natural or whatever is left in jar)
- ¼ banana (sliced)
- ½ apple (cored and diced)
Instructions
- In an almost-empty peanut butter jar or another resealable glass jar, combine all ingredients except banana and apples.
- Seal jar and refrigerate overnight.
- Top with banana slices and diced apple in the morning.
I haven’t made this (yet) simply because I don’t have any ripe bananas. But I do make overnight oats all the time and I came across this just because I was hunting for a PB & apple recipe and found yours (thank you!).
I wanted to comment that I’ve discovered that with apples that they can actually be cut up the night before and put in the overnight oats along with the 1/2 C. milk. They keep a nice texture and don’t turn brown. I wouldn’t have believed it my mom hadn’t shown me. When I do it, I don’t use yogurt (just milk and oats), but I don’t think will make a difference. Give it a try. I’m not a morning person, so anything that I can be done the night before is a bonus.
I’m looking forward to trying your exact recipe soon. For tonight, though, I’m doing just the peanut butter, apple, oatmeal and milk since that is what I have. Thank you for the recipe, though!
Thanks for sharing! I’ll have to try that with my apples next time. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
All your recipes that I have made so far, are amazing. There are so many to chose from. Thank you for your time and effort to help us eat healthier and enjoy different types of food.
I hope you enjoy them!
Hi Melissa,
So sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy these oats. I’m slightly confused, you said “maybe peanut butter would help” but peanut butter is, in fact an ingredient. Did you make substitutions to my recipe? If so, that might be why you’re not happy with the end result. Let me know – I’d love to help you make this recipe correctly. We love it and eat it frequently! -Liz
I, too, am wondering if Old Fashioned Oats will work in place of the Steel Cut? Will any of the measurements change if using the Old Fashioned?
Thanks!
Absolutely! Any kind of oats will work! No need to change measurements. :) Enjoy!
Is it possible to freeze these so that I can make them in bulk and then have them for a week or 2 to thaw & have in the morning?
I wouldn’t recommend freezing them but you can make it on a Sunday in a big bowl and scoop it out for several days!
I dont have steel cut oats. will ‘old-fashioned oats work? thanks! im excited to try this!
can this be done with almond milk and almond yogurt? I assume it’s simply the liquid that helps ‘cook’ the oats overnight?
i may just have to try!
Absolutely!! You got it – the liquid basically softens (aka cooks) the oats so that it’s easy to eat. I like mine on the chewier side but some people like their oats a bit more mushy and add more liquid. Totally up to you! Enjoy!
This looks like a great way to change up my usual PB and banana. And I love the overnight idea.
That sounds awesome! I have just finally started eating oatmeal for breakfast after years of wanting to but not enjoying it. My new go-to is 1/2 almond milk and 1/2 water with a pinch of salt, cinnamon, vanilla extract and a teaspoon of each raisins and maple syrup. I eat PB and apples as a snack almost everyday so this is right up my alley – I have to try it!
I have never made OO with steel cut oats! I didn’t think it would work. Must TRY!
It definitely works!!! I actually love using steel cuts for overnight oats since normally it would take 20 minutes! Enjoy!!