3-minute (banana) almond butter overnight oats that are creamy, nutty, and sweet. Made with almond milk (or any milk), it’s the perfect breakfast recipe!
Why You Will Love This Almond Butter Overnight Oats
- 💼 No-cook recipe perfect for busy mornings!
- ⏳ Done in less than 3 minutes!
- 🌱 Vegan-friendly, dairy-free, and naturally gluten-free!
- 🍯 Naturally sweetened with maple syrup
- 🥜 Perfect recipe for those with peanut allergies but who like nut butter!
- 😋 Customizable with fruits, nuts, or even cinnamon to make this Banana Almond Butter Oats your own!
Ingredients
- Rolled oats: The hearty base!
- Almond butter: Adds that nutty flavor and creamy texture to your oats.
- Maple syrup: Sub with any liquid sweetener such as agave syrup and honey.
- Almond Milk: Provides creaminess and helps bind all the ingredients together. Feel free to use any milk if you don’t have almond milk!
- Chia seeds (optional): Adds extra fiber and provides an extra bite to the oats.
- Banana (optional): The combination of banana and almond butter is so good! I highly recommend adding mashed banana (mixed into the oats) or sliced banana (as toppings) to this almond overnight oats!
Step-by-step Instructions
Stir: Stir all the ingredients together. It’s okay if the almond butter isn’t fully blended; they make delicious almond butter chunks! Then transfer to individual jars for easy storage!
Refrigerate: Chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours, overnight, or up to 3 days.
Add Toppings: Serve by adding more almond butter as a drizzle, and/or sliced banana. Feel free to add any other toppings such as fresh/dried fruits, chopped nuts, and seeds!
Top Tips
- Container: Use mason jars or small containers for easy, portable breakfasts. Or you can also prep a big batch in a big bowl, and scoop out however much you want on any given day!
- Sweeten to Taste: Adjust the sweetness by adding more or less maple syrup according to your preference. Feel free to add a bit of vanilla extract too for that vanilla aroma!
- Extra Creamy: Stir in a bit of yogurt (Greek yogurt, soy yogurt, almond yogurt, any kind will work!) or mashed banana for an extra creamy texture. Opt for the mashed banana if you want sweeter mashed banana overnight oats, or yogurt for some tang.
Toppings Suggestions
Almond Butter Drizzle: Cause we cannot get enough, right! Hahaha. Or feel free to drizzle some (vegan) Nutella, similar to what I did in my 5-Minute Nutella Chocolate Acai Bowl recipe
Banana: Either slice the banana for toppings, or mash and stir it in to get creamy banana almond oats!
Nuts or Seeds: Toasted or not, they’re great to add for the crunch!
Fresh Berries: Add fresh berries such as strawberries and blueberries just before serving to keep them from getting mushy. And if you’re a fan of fresh berries, you might like my Frozen Berries Overnight Oats recipe!
Granola: A handful of your favorite granola for added crunch, similar to what I did here in my 5-Minute Acai Breakfast Bowl recipe! Speaking of granola, you might also like my granola yogurt cups (6 variations!).
What is the Secret to Overnight Oats?
The ratio. Stick to a 1:1 ratio of oats to liquid (plant-based milk). If you follow this, the rest doesn’t matter as much and you will get a creamy and thick consistency.
And in case you’re wondering, overnight oats do not have to be made in glasses for them to turn out successful. You can make them in bowls, food containers, cups, you name them! And to help you troubleshoot, if your almond milk overnight oats are overly soggy, it could be that you’ve let them sit in the fridge for too long. And if it’s too runny, it means that you’ve added too much liquid.
Storage, Meal Prep, and Freezing Instructions
Storage: Store this almond butter overnight oats in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. But note that the texture may become softer after the third day.
Meal prep: Either portion the oats into individual containers or jars for easy grab-and-go meals, or just make one big batch in a big bowl/container.
Freezing: To freeze, portion the almond milk overnight oats into freezer-safe containers or bags for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving. Don’t forget to stir it just before serving for an even consistency!
I recommend freezing it immediately after mixing, without letting it sit in the fridge. This way, the milk will only be absorbed when you thaw them, preventing the overnight oats from getting mushy.
Is Overnight Oats Actually Healthy?
Oats, the main ingredient in overnight oats, are nutritious as it is a good source of fiber, high-quality protein, and minerals such as magnesium, copper, iron, and vitamin B. They are filling and can improve blood sugar and lower cholesterol levels, as cited in this Healthline article.
When it comes to gut health, many studies (including this one published in the Nutrients Journal) found that consuming oats benefits gut health which then impacts our overall health. Of course, we should be careful with the toppings that we put here, so we don’t ‘undo’ the health benefits of oats.
Is Almond Butter a Superfood?
Well, the term “superfood” does not actually exist when we’re talking about nutrition. It was a marketing term invented to boost sales of certain foods, as explained in two articles by Healthline. Having said that, considering superfoods as nutrient-dense foods, the same Healthline article lists nuts and seeds (including almonds) as a “superfood”. Meaning that almond butter that is made only with almonds (without additional sugar and oil) is also packed with many nutrients such as fiber, plant-based protein, and heart-healthy fats!
Almond butter has a creamy texture, which might be why a lot of people seem to be obsessed with it! And given that almond butter is usually more expensive than peanut butter, I’ll refer you to this Healthline article to learn more about the nutritional profile of peanut butter vs almond butter.
FAQ
Want More Healthy Breakfast Recipes?
Check out my two most popular YouTube videos: Flax Seed Pudding (3 Variations) and this Overnight Oats Weetabix Cheesecake. Or my 5-Minute Baked Oats (with 5 Variations) for another healthy but tasty breakfast!
Want to stick to overnight oats? No problem! Try my Oreo Overnight Oats, Cookie Butter Overnight Oats, or my Frozen Fruits (Mixed Berries) Overnight Oats.
Or are you looking for ways to use up your almond milk? Then try my 3-Ingredient Vegan Mac and Cheese for the ultimate comfort food!
Almond Butter Breakfast Overnight Oats (with Almond Milk)
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 Tablespoon almond butter plus 1 more Tablespoon to drizzle as toppings
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- ½ cup almond milk or any other plant-based milk
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds (optional, see notes)
- ½ banana sliced or mashed, for toppings (optional, see notes)
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients together. It's okay if the almond butter isn't completely dissolved as that will give you almond butter ‘chunks’.However, if you prefer smooth texture, mix the peanut butter and milk first, before adding the rest of the ingredients.You can do this in a large bowl, and then portioning them out later. Or do this in separate jars for an easy grab-and-go breakfast.
- Chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours, overnight, or up to 3 days in advance.
- Just before serving, drizzle 1 more Tablespoon of almond butter and add any desired toppings. Enjoy!
Notes
- For creamier oats, add yogurt and/or mashed banana! I find that ¼ cup of either yogurt/mashed banana works best, but feel free to adjust to your liking.
- The chia seeds will make the texture more solid and adds a bit of a bite to the overnight oats, but feel free to skip or substitute with flax seeds.
- If you’re using banana, you can either:
- Stir in some mashed banana with the rest of the ingredients (like what I did in the pictures)
- Slice the banana and use it as toppings!
- Note that it’s totally normal that the oats get a bit slimy because natural starch is released when oats are mixed with water.
Can’t stop making this haha it’s so good!