This Chocolate Overnight Oats recipe is simple to make, healthy, and absolutely delicious as well!
These oats are so chocolatey and sweet you’ll think you’re eating dessert, not breakfast! Even better, this recipe uses only medjool dates for sweetness, meaning no refined sugars!
Due to the combination of both oats and chia seeds, this recipe is also super filling, so you’ll definitely feel satisfied after digging into this breakfast!
What are Overnight Oats?
Unlike typical oatmeal which is cooked with hot water or milk, making overnight oats does not involve any cooking! You simply mix the rolled oats with liquid and then let them soak in the refrigerator overnight. The end result is oats that have thickened and softened up, ready to grab and eat. Overnight oats are also great for meal prepping, as you can keep a large batch in the fridge, making for a quick breakfast you don’t have to prepare in the morning.
Cacao Powder and Cacao Nibs
Cacao powder is what you might call a “superfood,” created by cold-pressing cacao beans that have not yet been roasted. It’s packed with high amounts of calcium, iron, magnesium, and antioxidants. Cacao can also help lower blood pressure, relieve stress and fatigue, and keep your heart healthy. Cacao nibs have similar benefits to cacao powder, as they both come from cacao beans. The nibs are created by breaking dried beans into smaller pieces, making them a nutritious and minimally processed alternative to other chocolate products.
Are rolled oats good for you?
Rolled oats are a healthy whole grain made by steaming, rolling, flattening, and toasting oat groats. (Oat groats are the edible part of whole oat kernels.) Rolled oats are high in many necessary vitamins and minerals, including the B-vitamins, manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc. They are also very rich in fiber, making them great for digestive health. Specifically, oats contain a soluble fiber called beta-glucan. The beta-glucan makes oats excellent at promoting the feeling of fullness, and at lowering blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Overall, oats are a very nutritious breakfast option!
What are chia seeds?
Though these little seeds may not seem like much, they’re actually surprisingly nutritious! Chia seeds contain lots of fiber and protein, making them a very filling food choice. They’re also high in antioxidants, helping to protect your cells from free radicals, which may reduce the risk of heart diseases and cancers. Additionally, chia seeds are full of many important minerals, including iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. You can eat them dry by sprinkling over foods, or allow them to soften up first by combining them with liquid.
Chocolate Overnight Oats Ingredients
- Bananas
- Almond Milk : Can be substituted with any non-dairy milk.
- Cacao Powder
- Chia Seeds
- Medjool Dates : Can be substituted with any variety, however you may need to adjust the number of dates you use depending on their sweetness.
- Almond Butter : Can be substituted with any nut or seed butter.
- Rolled Oats
- Cacao Nibs : Can be omitted from recipe or substituted with chocolate chips.
How to Make Chocolate Overnight Oats
- Start by adding banana, almond milk, cacao powder, chia seeds, dates, and almond butter to the blender, blending until smooth.
- If the dates are slightly hard, soften by covering them with hot water for a few minutes. Though this isn’t a necessary step, softening the dates will help them blend with the rest of the ingredients more smoothly.
- Transfer the blended mixture to the jar or bowl you will be storing the overnight oats in.
- Then mix in the rolled oats and cacao powder, stirring until everything is evenly distributed.
- Finally, cover the mixture and place in the refrigerator, letting the oats soak overnight. (Or at least around 6 hours.)
- When you’re ready to serve, just add toppings of choice!
- If you take the finished oats out of the fridge and decide you’d like a more liquid consistency, simply add and stir in a little more almond milk.
Storage
Keep these overnight oats in a closed jar or bowl, and they will stay best in the refrigerator for around 3-4 days.
Can you eat these oats warm?
Yes! You can enjoy the convenience of overnight oats even if you prefer warm oatmeal! Before serving the oats, simply microwave or heat up the overnight oats on the stove until they reach your desired temperature.
Serving Suggestions
I often find that half the fun in making oatmeal is getting to fill your bowl with lots of fun toppings! Some of my favorites include…
- Fresh or frozen fruit (strawberries, raspberries, cherries, pomegranate, bananas, etc.)
- Nut or seed butters (peanut butter tastes great with these chocolate oats!)
- Chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds, etc.)
- Seeds (sunflower, hemp, chia, etc.)
- Any jams or spreads (my favorite is this Cherry Berry Jam)
- Cacao nibs or chocolate chips
- Crunchy granola
- Coconut flakes
I hope you enjoy these delicious chocolate oats as much as I do! Please let me know what you think!
Other Recipes You’ll Love!
- Chocolate Nice Cream
- Frozen Stuffed Dates
- Mango Peach Jam
- Cherry Berry Jam
- Vegan Parmesan Cheese
- Blueberry Chia Jam
Chocolate Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1 banana
- ½ cup almond milk can subsitute with any non-dairy milk
- 1½ tbsp cacao powder
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 2 medjool dates softened
- ½ tbsp almond butter can subsitute with any nut or seed butter
- ¾ cup rolled oats
- 1 tbsp cacao nibs optional
Instructions
- Add banana, almond milk, cacao powder, chia seeds, dates, and almond butter to blender, blending until smooth.
- Transfer blended mixture to jar.
- Add oats and cacao nibs, stirring everything together.
- Cover or close jar, then place in the refrigerator.
- Let oats soak in mixture overnight, or for at least 6 hours.
- Serve with toppings of choice.