These Chocolate Blended Overnight Oats are an easy healthy breakfast that requires only 5 minutes to prep. Milk, rolled oats and chia seeds create a delicious creamy texture while cocoa powder, maple syrup and vanilla create a rich chocolate flavor.
I make regular overnight oats all the time, but blending the ingredients gives them such a delicious smooth texture. This recipe is the perfect make-ahead breakfast!
- Linda G.
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Bailey's Thoughts ...
Important things that I know to be true ...
- Breakfast, on any day (even the super rushed ones), is important.
- Treated well, oats can be spectacular.
Ask me for "the best way to make a healthy breakfast happen with "as little effort as possible," and well, it might be these chocolaty blended oats. An easy + healthy recipe (requiring just 5 minutes) that results in a delicious breakfast prepped and ready to go the next morning. To me, it's meal prep perfection.
There is a tight, concise ingredient list, all of which pull their weight: Oats, milk and chia seeds (for the base), pure maple syrup, cocoa powder and vanilla extract for flavor. Yogurt and dark chocolate make a fun "frosting" topper and is a great way to make this recipe more kid-friendly. Adding your favorite toppings or mix-ins is optional - and not at all necessary. I find that often, simple is best.
NOTE: If you love FAST + HEALTHY breakfasts, but prefer your oats served warm, opt for these make ahead instant oat jars. Same nutrition profile and prep requirements as this overnight oats recipe, but more traditional.
-Bailey
Ingredients
For The Blended Oats:
- Milk - recipe was tested using whole milk, but use the type of milk you like; soy milk, oat milk, coconut milk, unsweetened almond milk would all work
- Rolled Oats - old fashioned oats are my go to, but quick oats work too
- Chia Seeds - chia seeds add fiber and protein and thicken the oats, if you want a smoother (less gummy) texture you can eliminate
- Cacao Powder - choose an unsweetened cocoa powder with no ingredients added
- Maple Syrup - use pure maple syrup, table syrup should not be substituted
- Vanilla Extract - adds flavor, select pure vanilla not imitation
- Salt - regular table salt accentuates the sweetness and helps to bring out the chocolate flavor
For The Optional Chocolate Frosting Topping:
- Dark Chocolate Chips- recipe was tested with Ghirardelli dark chocolate, but use what you have on hand
- Yogurt - whole milk vanilla yogurt is my go-to
Instructions
- Add all blended oat ingredients to a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth.
- Divide the oat mixture evenly between jars.
- Make "chocolate frosting" by mixing yogurt and melted dark chocolate together in a small mixing bowl.
- Top each blended oat jar with frosting. Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours before serving.
Top Tip
Using a high-speed blender is very important. Blend the oats until everything is completely incorporated and you can no longer see bits of rolled oats. The final oat mixture should have a smooth consistency.
Substitutions
Old-Fashioned Oats (Rolled Oats)- sub for quick oats at a 1:1 ratio; avoid using steel-cut oats
Milk -use your milk of choice; plant-based milk works well too!
Chia Seeds - sub for hemp hearts or eliminate
Yogurt - whole milk vanilla yogurt can be subbed for plain yogurt or a plant-based yogurt if preferred
Variations
Here are some fun mix-in and topping and flavor combination ideas to add to your blended overnight oats recipe:
High Protein: For a boost of protein, add 1 scoop of your favorite protein powder to your blended oats (increase milk by ¼ -½ cup).
Granola - This chunky granola is simple to make and would make a delicious topping for your blended oats.
Smash Top Blended Oats - Add a chocolate shell to the top of your oats for a fun (kid-friendly) breakfast treat. Mix ⅔ cup melted chocolate chips with 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil). Divide evenly over the top of the oats.
Storage
I like to make enough overnight oats for the entire week. Fully assemble and then store in the refrigerator for up to 4 -5 days. I use 8 ounce mason jars with lids and they are the perfect size!
Overnight oats can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Store them in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn and preserve freshness. Transfer them from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before you plan to use them. They will be ready by morning!
Equipment
Some products listed below are affiliate links (this means I may earn a small commission if you purchase). I only link to things that I use in my home and love.
Regular Mouth Mason Jars (8 ounce): These are the exact jars that I use weekly. There are lots of different options and brands available.
FAQ
A blender really is the best option for this recipe because you want a smooth creamy oats. That said, if you don't mind some texture, you could use a food processor in a pinch.
No. The nutrition profile remains the same for blended and non blended overnight oats.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairings
Recipes that will taste great with blended overnight oats:
Recipe
Chocolate Blended Overnight Oats
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 (8 ounce) servings
Description
These Chocolate Blended Overnight Oats are an easy healthy breakfast that requires only 5 minutes to prep.
Ingredients
For the Blended Oats:
- 4 cups milk *
- 3 ½ cups rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- ½ cup cacao powder
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For The "Chocolate Frosting"
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons whole-milk vanilla yogurt
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions
For Blended Oats:
- Add all blended oat ingredients to a high-speed blender. Blend on high until completely smooth and there are no bits of oats visible.
- Divide oat mixture evenly between 8 jars or containers. Add lids and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours.
OPTIONAL "Chocolate Frosting" Topping
- Melt dark chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave at 20 second intervals, stirring between. Continue until chocolate is smooth.
- Add yogurt to the melted chocolate, stir until smooth.
- Top each prepared jar of blended oats with the frosting, cover with lid and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours prior to serving. Just before eating, give the oat jars a good stir. The oats settle to the bottom and the liquid rises to the top.
Notes
To test this recipe, I used whole milk, but use what you like and have on hand. Plant-based milks can be substituted at a 1:1 ratio.
Blended oats will stay fresh for 4-days in an airtight container when refrigerated.
Nutrition information was calculated using whole milk and without the "chocolate frosting" topping.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Jar (8 ounces)
- Calories: 281
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 124.9 mg
- Fat: 1.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 51.3 g
- Protein: 10.4 g
- Cholesterol: 2.3 mg
Lyndsay
Anyone making this recipe should know they have to temper the chocolate (add the yogurt slowly) or the chocolate will seize up.
Abby
I didn’t try the chocolate frosting with this, but the actual recipe for the blended oats is amazing. The whole family loves it. I even played with the recipe and used some chocolate protein powder with it, and it tastes like brownie batter. Thanks for sharing such a great recipe!