Allowing oats to soak overnight in milk, yogurt and cinnamon and topping them with fresh fruit and honey in the morning is a great way to have breakfast ready before you even turn on the coffee maker.
This past weekend I traveled to Dearborn to speak at Mitten Moms, a Michigan Mom Bloggers conference, on behalf of the United Dairy Industry of Michigan. As a self-proclaimed fan of all things milk, cheese, and yogurt – it was a no brainer to accept the invitation to do a dairy-filled cooking demonstration for the group.
Get it? Mitten Moms? I know, cutest name ever.
The objective? Create three no-cook breakfast recipes involving dairy. As a busy mom of a toddler with another one on the way, I was all over this challenge. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and the perfect opportunity to fill your family with vitamins, nutrients and minerals.
Overnight Refrigerator Oats with Fruit and Honey is a delicious recipe that takes less than 5 minutes to prep the night before and works with whatever milk, yogurt or fruit you have on hand. In fact, since the recipe doesn’t require any knives, stove or oven – it’s a great way to get the kids involved and get them in the kitchen. What kid wouldn’t love shaking the jar to combine the oats with the milk and yogurt before refrigerating? :)
As I mentioned during my cooking demonstration with my fellow bloggers and mothers at Mitten Moms, dairy is packed with protein which helps stabilize blood sugars giving you lasting energy throughout the day. Additionally, it is full of calcium, potassium and Vitamin D which just so happen to be three of the four key nutrients often lacking in the American diet.
Right now, blueberries are in season so I topped mine with locally grown blueberries as well as bananas for added sweetness. If you have peaches on hand, those would be great. Later in the year you can try diced apples or pears. Get creative and most importantly, get in the kitchen. You’ll thank me in the morning when a healthy and nutritious breakfast is ready before you even turn on the coffee maker.
Your spoon is waiting.
Overnight Refrigerator Oats with Fruit and Honey
Ingredients
- ½ cup old fashioned oats (or steel cut)
- ½ cup skim milk
- ⅓ cup plain yogurt (low fat)
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch salt
- ½ cup fresh fruit (banana slices, strawberries, blueberries, etc)
- ½ tablespoon honey
Instructions
- In a small resealable jar combine oats, milk, yogurt, cinnamon and a pinch of salt.
- Seal jar with lid and shake well. Refrigerate jar overnight.
- Top with fresh fruit and honey before serving the next morning.
Notes
Let the kids get involved and shake the jars.
I just made these and I’m loving it! I also added flaxseed into mine. I made one for my brother but he forgot to take it to work today! I’m wondering how long can these last in the fridge? Thanks for sharing this!
Oh I’m so glad you love it!! These will last 2-3 days in the fridge! It will get a bit mushier as each day passes but it’s perfectly fine to eat. :)
How long do these stay fresh? I’d love to make a huge batch and have it for breakfast every day during the week. Would that work?
I am all about this idea! Picture looks so appetizing I simply must make this asap!!!
It’s really great for busy mornings!! Enjoy.
Great recipe! I like that you used yogurt, I’ll have to try it that way.
I love the tanginess and creamy texture it adds!! :) I hope you enjoy.
Could this be made without yogurt? Everytime I by yogurt it ends spoiling.
Yes just use milk or water!
I’ve got to jump on this overnight oat bandwagon, it looks delicious and so filling!!
Yes you do my friend!! Especially with your early wakeup call!!
What a fantastic idea, Liz! Waking up to a premade breakfast on a school morning sounds like a parent’s idea of a dream come true.
This morning I forgot I made them and it was seriously the best feeling ever – haha. :) Good luck with back to school!!
LOVE these overnight oats Liz! Pinning now :)
Thank you Marla! I’ve been loving your mountain photographs lately!!
Hello Liz! Did you get inspired by our Muesli? We hope you had a safe trip home and enjoyed having you at Water Street!
It’s funny – I developed this recipe months ago for the United Dairy Industry of Michigan but after having yours I wanted to change it with the cranberry juice!!!! Keep your eyes peeled… it will happen. ;-) Great meeting you Jessica!
Liz,
What an easy breakfast, and it looks so good (as do you at the conference).
Nicely done post!
As a busy mom of 4, I welcome with open arms the idea of overnight oats!! However, I get migraines from yogurt :( Any suggestions as to what I could substitute for it?
Just use extra milk and skip the yogurt entirely. For the vanilla flavor, try a splash of vanilla extract. :)
I love overnight oatmeal, it’s so creamy and delicious! Yours looks simply incredible! What a great breakfast to wake up too!
Thank you so much!! I love waking up to breakfast. :) BTW loved your vanilla smoothie today!!
I am always looking for healthy make ahead breakfasts. I just put it together and can’t wait to taste it tomorrow morning.
How did it turn out???
It was great, I just wish I had remembered the honey. Definitely will be making it a lot. Thanks!
I am doing an overnight oats recipe tomorrow too–something about summer makes me crave cold oats + fruit for breakfast. :) And oh, those blueberries look gorgeous! My family used to always vacation in Michigan and I remember how good the blueberries are there.
I totally agree!!! Plus I love eating the fruit fresh vs. cooking it into the oats like I do with apples and pumpkin in the fall. :)
The best blueberries come from province of Quebec. :)
I will have to try them sometime!! I also love the wild blueberries in Maine. :)
I’ve recently been into steel cut oats (have a great slow cooker recipe), but have yet to do just overnight oats in the fridge – need to put on my to-do list!
I need to check out your slow cooker recipe!! I’ve never done steel cut oats in the slow cooker – mostly because I’m usually just feeding myself and a toddler in the morning. But I want to try it. :) Overnight oats are another great idea for steel cuts.. enjoy!
Here is my slow cooker steel cut oat recipe. It’s so good and so easy. I would suggest cutting it in half if you are just feeding yourself and the little guy:)
http://www.sweetandsavoryfood.com/2013/07/slow-cooker-steel-cut-oatmeal.html
Here it is!
http://www.sweetandsavoryfood.com/2013/07/slow-cooker-steel-cut-oatmeal.html
I would recommend cutting it in half if it is just for you and the little guy:)
Overnight oats are one of my absolutely favorite breakfasts! I pretty much love anything I can make ahead & that will save me time in the morning, plus there are so many ways to change these oats up!
I know I think I’m having them again in the morning!! We just got more blueberries and raspberries that are begging for a bowl of oats. :)
I eat overnight oats everyday for breakfast!! It’s my fav. I seriously can’t wait for fall when I stir in a little pumpkin…#jazzhands!
Love the idea of overnight oats – such a great idea especially during the school year!
I agree – I think kids will love choosing their own toppings and having breakfast ready when they wake up!! :)
Thank you again for being part of our conference this year Liz. I can’t wait to share the recipes to did with my family!
Thank you so much for having me Shawn Ann – it was a great event!!
I love these kinds of breakfast that are both filling and healthy!
Same here!!! And I can add as much fruit as I want guilt free – lol.
I absolutely love easy meals and snacks. This gets a big thumbs up for being make ahead too. And the whole concept of mitten moms is kind of funny because it’s two fold since it’s cold in MI but also… it looks like a mitten and I never realized that before.
Exactly!! When people ask where we live we hold up our hand and point. :) hahha
With a spouse from the UP and in laws below the bridge, I need two hands. And then some!