Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats: The Easiest Healthy Breakfast

Welcome to the simplest, most delicious start to your day. This recipe for apple cinnamon overnight oats is about to become your go-to for busy mornings. It’s a perfectly balanced, grab-and-go breakfast that tastes just like a slice of apple pie, but with all the wholesome benefits of creamy, fiber-rich oats. Forget rushing to make breakfast; your future self will thank you for prepping this delightful meal.

We’ve tested this recipe countless times to ensure it’s not just easy, but absolutely foolproof. The result is a creamy, dreamy texture with the perfect harmony of sweet apple, warm cinnamon, and hearty oats. Let’s dive in.

Why This is the Best Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats Recipe

There are many overnight oats recipes out there, but this one stands apart. We focus on simple, whole ingredients and a method that guarantees a creamy, never-gummy texture. It’s naturally sweetened, easily adaptable, and designed for real life.

• Effortless Meal Prep: Takes just 5 minutes to stir together before bed.
• Incredibly Flavorful: The flavors meld overnight, creating a deep, dessert-like taste.
• Perfectly Creamy Texture: The ratio of oats to liquid, plus the magic of chia seeds, creates a wonderfully rich consistency.
• Healthy & Wholesome: Packed with fiber, protein, and complex carbs to keep you full and energized all morning long.

Key Ingredients You’ll Need

The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity. Here’s what you’ll need to create this masterpiece.

The Core Components

Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: For the best texture, rolled oats are essential. They absorb the liquid perfectly overnight, becoming soft and creamy without turning to mush. Avoid steel-cut oats (they won’t soften enough) and instant oats (they will become too soggy).

Milk of Choice: Any milk works wonderfully here. Use dairy milk (whole or 2%) for extra creaminess, or opt for a plant-based alternative like unsweetened almond, oat, or soy milk to make it vegan.

Chia Seeds: This is the secret to a thick, pudding-like consistency. Chia seeds absorb liquid, thicken the oats, and add a fantastic boost of fiber, protein, and omega-3s.

Greek Yogurt: For a protein punch and an extra tangy, creamy dimension, we add Greek yogurt. For a vegan option, a thick coconut or almond-based yogurt is a great substitute.

The Flavor Makers

Apple: A crisp, sweet apple like a Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji is perfect. Grating the apple helps it meld seamlessly into the oats, ensuring you get apple flavor in every single bite.

Pure Maple Syrup: We use pure maple syrup for its rich flavor and natural sweetness. You can adjust the amount to your liking or substitute with honey or agave nectar.

Cinnamon & Vanilla: Ground cinnamon provides that classic warm spice, while a dash of pure vanilla extract rounds out the flavors, giving it that unmistakable apple-pie essence.

How to Make Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats

This is less of a recipe and more of a simple assembly. In just two easy steps, you’ll have breakfast ready for the morning.

1. Combine Ingredients: In a jar or a bowl with a lid, add the rolled oats, milk, Greek yogurt, chia seeds, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Stir everything together until it’s well combined.
2. Add Apple & Chill: Gently fold in the grated apple. Seal the container and place it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight. This gives the oats and chia seeds time to absorb the liquid and for the flavors to fully develop.

Tips for Perfect, Creamy Oats Every Time

While this recipe for apple cinnamon overnight oats is simple, a few expert tips will elevate it from good to absolutely perfect.

• Stir Well: Make sure to stir everything thoroughly before refrigerating. This prevents clumps of chia seeds or cinnamon from settling at the bottom.
• Don’t Skip the Salt: A tiny pinch of salt is a crucial flavor enhancer. It balances the sweetness and makes the apple and cinnamon notes pop.
• Adjust Consistency: The morning after, if your oats seem too thick, simply stir in an extra splash of milk until you reach your desired consistency.
• Grate, Don’t Chop: Grating the apple distributes its flavor and moisture much more evenly than dicing it.

Flavor Variations & Topping Ideas

This recipe is a fantastic base for customization. Here are a few of our favorite ways to change it up.

Tasty Variations

• Add Nuts or Seeds: For extra crunch and healthy fats, mix in a tablespoon of chopped walnuts, pecans, or hemp seeds before chilling.
• Increase the Protein: Stir in a scoop of your favorite vanilla or unflavored protein powder with the dry ingredients for an extra protein boost. You may need to add an extra splash of milk to maintain the right consistency.
• Make it Nutty: A spoonful of almond butter or peanut butter adds delicious flavor and creaminess.

Our Favorite Toppings

Wait to add toppings until you’re ready to serve to keep them from getting soggy.

• A dollop of Greek yogurt or a swirl of almond butter.
• A sprinkle of chopped walnuts or pecans.
• A drizzle of extra maple syrup.
• Fresh diced apples for a bit of crunch.

Meal Prep and Storage

Overnight oats are a meal prepper’s dream. You can easily make a few jars at once to have breakfast sorted for several days.

Store the oats in an airtight container, like a mason jar, in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The texture may soften slightly each day, but the flavor will remain delicious. We do not recommend freezing this recipe.

The Recipe

Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats: The Easiest Healthy Breakfast

A perfectly creamy and delicious apple cinnamon overnight oats recipe that's perfect for a quick and easy meal prep breakfast. Tastes like apple pie in a jar!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Servings: 1 serving

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Calories: 380

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1/2 cup Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats Do not use steel-cut or instant oats.
• 1/2 cup Milk Any kind works - dairy or plant-based like almond milk.
• 1/4 cup Plain Greek Yogurt Adds creaminess and protein.
• 1 tbsp Chia Seeds
• 1 tbsp Pure Maple Syrup Adjust to your desired sweetness.
• 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 cup Grated Apple From about 1 small sweet apple, like Honeycrisp or Gala.
• 1 pinch Salt

Equipment

• 1 Mason Jar or Airtight Container A 16-ounce jar works best.
• 1 Grater

Method

 

1. In a 16-oz jar or a bowl, add the rolled oats, milk, Greek yogurt, chia seeds, maple syrup, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir vigorously until everything is thoroughly combined and no clumps remain.
2. Gently fold the grated apple into the oat mixture. Seal the container and place it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or ideally, overnight.
3. The next morning, give the oats a good stir. If they are too thick, add another splash of milk. Serve chilled with your favorite toppings like chopped nuts, a dollop of yogurt, or fresh apple slices.

Notes

Meal Prep: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled. Prepare multiple jars at once for a ready-to-go breakfast for several days. They will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Vegan Option: To make this recipe vegan, use a plant-based milk (like almond or oat milk) and substitute the Greek yogurt with a dairy-free yogurt alternative, such as coconut or almond yogurt.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Breakfast Recipes You’ll Love

If you loved these apple cinnamon overnight oats, we know you’ll enjoy exploring more of our easy, delicious breakfast recipes. Creating a wholesome start to your day is our passion, and we have a whole collection of recipes to inspire you. From other overnight oat flavors to fluffy pancakes, there’s something for everyone.

We love seeing your creations! Share your beautiful breakfast bowls and tell us what you think in the comments below. For more daily inspiration, be sure to follow us on Pinterest!