5 Minute Vegan Overnight Oats

Name: 5 Minute Vegan Overnight Oats
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 245 min
Ingredients: ½ cup rolled oats (regular or gluten free); ½ cup vanilla almond milk, unsweetened (or dairy free milk of choice); 1 tsp almond butter; ½ tsp vanilla extract; 1-2 tsp maple syrup (or sweetener of choice); Dash of sea salt; 2 tsp sliced almonds (optional); 5-7 cherries (fresh or frozen), sliced (optional)

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Breakfast prep that takes only 5 minutes and then is ready in the morning? That's what these Vegan Overnight Oats are! Simple to whip up and can sit in the fridge for several days. Hearty oatmeal with the perfect touch of maple and fresh cherries!

This recipe was originally published June 2017 and updated January 2022.

Overnight oats are quite possibly my very favorite breakfast of all time. So versatile, easy to prep and ready when you wake up. This vegan overnight oats recipe is a great option to start your day with a hearty meal that is simple and delicious!

Overnight oatmeal, and not just this recipe can very easily be made vegan, so know you don't have to stop here.

I flavor this recipe with cherries and almonds, but you don't have to--use the simple vegan base and toss in your favorite add ins!

Why you will love these vegan overnight oats:

You only need 5 minutes to prep a week's worth. The beauty of making this vegan overnight oats recipe is that you only need a few minutes to have a full week of breakfast prepared. Since they can last in the fridge for about 5 days, you can do all the work on Sunday and be ready for the busy mornings in no time.
Simple ingredients. Oats, dairy free milk, maple syrup, and a few other ingredients and you are set. The other ingredients are optional and easy to customize so don't worry about anything past the basics!
So versatile and easy to customize. The beauty of this recipe is how easy you can adjust it to whoever you are serving. See below for all the possible add ins but there is so so much you can toss in and never have the same overnight oatmeal twice. Keep it exciting in the am, right?!
Super kid friendly! The kiddos will love making and eating this overnight oatmeal. The recipe is basic enough that they can help from start to finish. Set out chocolate chips, berries, raisins, and other options they can toss in and make it their own.

Ingredients and Substitutions:

rolled oats: rolled oats are ideal in this recipe. They soak up the milk nicely and aren't overly chewy when they are ready to eat. Quick oats could be subbed but you may need to adjust the amount of milk slightly. Some like steel cut oats but I am not a fan. They are way too chewy for my liking. For gluten free overnight oats, just make sure you get gluten free rolled oats.
plant based milk: I love unsweetened vanilla almond milk in this oatmeal recipe. Your favorite plant based milk should work well.
sweetener: I prefer maple syrup but whatever sweetener you like is great. Also, sweeten to taste as everyone likes a different level of sweet. You can wait to sweeten when serving if you would like as well.
vanilla: a touch of vanilla extract rounds the flavor out well
almond butter: this is technically an optional ingredient for this vegan overnight oats recipe, but I like the flavor and thickness it adds to the oatmeal. You can swap it for peanut butter, cashew butter, a seed butter or skip it!
other add ins: I love adding sliced cherries and almonds to this recipe. 100% optional, but a great flavor as well with just a drop of almond extract.

How to make this vegan overnight oatmeal recipe:

Literally, there is nothing to it. Stir everything together, seal and wait until the morning.

THAT IS IT.

Did I mention I love love looooove overnight oats??

Recipe Tips and Notes:

Storing these vegan overnight oats: to store, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days. You may want to add an extra splash of milk when serving if too much milk is absorbed and the oatmeal is too thick.
If you need to make this nut free, opt for a dairy free milk option that does not contain nuts. Then omit the almond butter. You can substitute a seed butter if preferred. But the recipe will be great still without nut butter.

Possible Add Ins:

The best part about these vegan overnight oats is the flavor possibilities--they are seriously endless. Here are some of our favorites:

fresh or frozen berries
other nuts: walnuts, pistachios, pecans, etc.
chocolate chips--the mini chips are great
shredded coconut
raisins or dried fruit
chia seeds
cinnamon
protein powder (just make sure it is vegan!)
swap almond butter for another nut or seed butter

Vegan overnight oats in jars with cherries on top.

Overnight Oatmeal FAQs

Do I have to eat my overnight oatmeal cold?

Absolutely not! You can pop them in the microwave for a minute or so and have them warmed up if you prefer. Some people love them chilled and that is fine as well!

I don't have any fancy jars, what can I use?

You do not need mason jars or anything fancy I promise. Don't go out and spend more money if you don't have them already. Any sort of tupperware or pyrex dishes are great. You can even just make them in a bowl and cover them with foil or plastic wrap.

How long will this oatmeal last in the fridge?

I have eaten my overnight oatmeal up to 5 days after making them. These vegan overnight oats should hold up just fine for that long. So you can make several batches at once and have plenty for the week.

Can I use steel cut oats?

I actually get this question a LOT. While the answer is yes, you could, I am actually not a fan. The steel cut oats are just too chewy for me even after sitting overnight. If you are a fan of that texture, go for it, but they will not be soft.

Other Overnight Oatmeal Recipes:

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