Chocolate Overnight Oats
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Published Mar 27, 2024, Updated Jun 29, 2024
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Have dessert for breakfast with this simple chocolate overnight oats recipe! It takes about 5 minutes to prep with just 7 ingredients and it’s the perfect healthy make-ahead breakfast option.
Chocolate lovers rejoice because today I’m sharing this new chocolate overnight oats recipe! I already have a few chocolatey overnight oat recipes on the blog, but I wanted to share a super simple, basic chocolate version.
Just like with all of my overnight oats this recipe is super simple to whip up and is perfect for meal prep. Plus, it tastes like you’re having dessert for breakfast, which I’m all for!
Why I Love This Recipe
- Effortless preparation – Simply mix the ingredients the night before and wake up to a ready-to-eat breakfast.
- Healthy indulgence – Enjoy the flavors of dessert for breakfast with the benefits of whole grains, fiber and antioxidants from the cocoa powder.
- Perfect for meal prep – Overnight oats are the perfect breakfast recipe to meal prep for the week. I love prepping a double or triple batch over the weekend so I have a few breakfasts ready to go.
Ingredients Needed
You only need 7 simple ingredients to whip up this recipe. I bet you already have most, if not all of the ingredients in your kitchen right now. Here’s what you need:
- rolled oats – rolled oats are the best for overnight oats. Instant/quick oats and steel cut oats don’t work well because they don’t absorb liquid the same way rolled oats do. My fave brand is Bob’s Red Mill gluten free old fashioned rolled oats.
- unsweetened almond milk – for soaking the oats and creating the perfect consistency. I like using unsweetened almond milk, but feel free to use your favorite dairy or non-dairy milk (coconut milk, oat milk, cashew milk, soy milk, etc.).
- cocoa powder – adds a rich chocolate flavor, making breakfast feel like a decadent treat.
- chia seeds – for added fiber, protein and healthy fats. Chia seeds also absorb some liquid, making the end result a little thicker.
- maple syrup – for natural sweetness. Adjust the amount to suit your taste, or substitute with another sweetener, like honey, if preferred.
- pinch of salt – enhances the chocolate flavor and balances the sweetness.
- vanilla extract – this is optional, but I love the slight vanilla flavor it adds to these oats.
How to Make Chocolate Overnight Oats
This recipe couldn’t be any easier to make. Just mix your oats, almond milk, cocoa powder, chia seeds, maple syrup, salt and vanilla in a bowl or jar. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
The next morning, stir the mixture, adding more almond milk if needed. Top with chocolate chips and/or nut butter and enjoy!
Brittany’s Recipe Tips
- Add protein: For a protein-packed version add 1 scoop of your favorite chocolate protein powder to the mixture before letting it set in the fridge. If you do add protein powder, you’ll need 1/4 cup extra milk, possibly more if you use a plant-based protein powder since it soaks up more liquid.
- Add more liquid if needed: In the morning if your oats are too thick, feel free to add more almond milk to thin the mixture out.
- In a rush? You should be able to get by with only letting the oats soak for 2 or so hours.
Chocolate Overnight Oats Topping Ideas
The topping ideas are endless for this overnight oats recipe! Here are some topping ideas to try:
- Fresh fruit: Top your oats with a handful of fresh fruit like banana slices, strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries.
- Nut butter: A drizzle of almond butter, peanut butter or cashew butter not only adds richness creaminess, but it adds some protein. For a nut-free option use tahini or sunflower seed butter.
- Nuts/seeds: Sprinkle chopped almonds, walnuts or pecans on top for a satisfying crunch and a boost of healthy fats. For a nut-free option go for sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds.
- Chocolate: For the chocolate lovers, adding extra chocolate shavings or mini chocolate chips if never a bad idea!
- Coconut flakes: Chocolate + coconut = a match made in heaven so topping your oats with coconut flakes would be delicious.
- Granola: A sprinkle of your favorite granola can add a delightful crunch and extra flavor to each bite. Try this protein granola for a protein boost.
- Yogurt: Top your oats with a dollop of Greek yogurt for a tangy contrast to the sweet and rich chocolate oats, adding a creamy texture and protein boost.
How to Store
Overnight oats are great for meal prep. Feel free to double, triple or quadruple this recipe for the week on Sunday so you have an easy and healthy breakfast ready to go throughout the week!
When stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator overnight oats should last for up to 5 days. They will soften more the longer they sit so I find they’re best on days 1-3, but they’re still safe to eat on days 4 and 5.
More Overnight Oats Recipes
- How to Make Overnight Oats (start here!)
- Chocolate Banana Overnight Oats
- Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
- Chocolate Chip Overnight Oats
- Vanilla Overnight Oats (MUSH Copycat)
- Blueberry Overnight Oats
- Kefir Overnight Oats
Be sure to check out the full collection of overnight oats recipes and all my oatmeal recipes here on EBF.
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Chocolate Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ¾ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 Tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup, more to taste if desired
- pinch of salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla, optional
Instructions
- Add oats, almond milk, cocoa powder, maple syrup, chia seeds, vanilla and salt into a bowl or mason jar. Stir well to combine. Seal the container with a lid and place in the fridge overnight.
- Take the container out of the fridge the next morning and stir the mixture. You’ll notice that the oats soak up a lot of the liquid so you may want to add a little more almond milk before serving.
- Top each with chocolate chips and nut butter, if using and enjoy!
Notes
- Want to add protein? Add 1 scoop of your favorite chocolate protein powder to the mixture before letting it set in the fridge. If you do add protein powder, you’ll need 1/4 cup extra milk, possibly more if you use a plant-based protein powder since it soaks up more liquid.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’d like to include Greek yogurt in this… thinking of trying 1/4 cup and 1/2 cup milk. Does that sound about right?
Hi Oralea! I haven’t added yogurt into the mixture of these, but I wouldn’t recommend cutting the amount of milk, I am afraid the oats won’t soften enough. You can however, add yogurt to the top when you are ready to eat, it makes them so creamy! Let me know if you give this a try and how it turns out for you!
So yummy! I made 3 jars fully intending to share with my family, but these are so delicious I almost don’t want to share. 🤣
YES! I know, these are SO good it is definitely hard to share. I am glad you are loving these, Meg. Thank you so much for sharing your review & star rating, I appreciate it!