Banana Overnight Oats

This is the perfect recipe to bring out the kid in all of us.

One of my favorite childhood memories was coming home from school to the smell of freshly baked banana bread. There is something magical about the aroma of warm bananas and walnuts wafting through the air as I dropped my backpack and ran into the kitchen. The very thought still makes my mouth water.

This banana overnight oats recipe delivers those same amazing flavors, spoonful after spoonful. The best part you ask? Aside from the delicious flavor; you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen or turn on that oven on a hot day, and it only takes minutes to prepare. Not only does this dish bring back those wonderful childhood memories, it allows for some extra tasty flavor combinations. With that being said, I do recommend that you use old-fashioned rolled oats instead of the steel-cut or quick oats. The old-fashioned rolled oats seem to “puff up” more and give a better mouth feel and texture.

Why I Love These Oats

Despite what you might have heard, a healthy breakfast doesn’t have to take all morning. These banana overnight oats are perfect for those “on the go” mornings where every second matters. Even if you are not in a hurry you can’t go wrong with such a healthy and delicious breakfast.

Good fats from the peanut butter, antioxidants and fiber from the whole grain oats, potassium from bananas, and vitamin D from the milk. These are just some of the many health benefits and vitamins included in this recipe. Oh and did I mention that those antioxidants and vitamins combine to give you even more incredible health benefits? Surprise, they do! Like helping to regulate blood pressure, or decreasing your risk of heart disease and cancer. Additionally, the amino acids help to boost your mood and could also help preserve your memory.

Ingredients

2 ripe bananas
2 tablespoons peanut butter optional, or a handful of walnuts
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup almond milk or milk of choice
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
2 teaspoons maple syrup or to taste

How to Make Banana Overnight Oats

Step 1: Mash the bananas until smooth and divide them between two jars.

Step 2: Add 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/2 cup milk to each jar and stir.

Step 3: Mix in 1/2 cup rolled oats per jar, seal with lids, and refrigerate overnight or for at least 6 hours.

Step 4: Stir the oats before eating, adding milk or maple syrup to taste. Warm up if desired.

FAQs & Tips

Can I make them ahead of time and store them?

Absolutely! Since this easy recipe only takes a few minutes to prepare, you can make multiple servings at one time. Then store them in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to four days.

How can I make this vegan?

By using a dairy-free yogurt or making sure to use a nut or oat milk you can have a delicious vegan version, and keep all of the flavor.

What if I’m allergic to nuts?

Allergic to nuts, no problem! There are several brands of “peanut butter” on the market today that are nut-free while keeping that same great flavor. Another option is to omit the nuts and peanut butter altogether.

Do the bananas turn that ugly brown color?

Thankfully mixing everything keeps the bananas from turning brown. Just be sure you don’t have any chunks just sitting on top exposed to the air.

Serving Suggestions

As tasty as these banana overnight oats are we all need a little variety in our lives. That is one of the best things about this recipe is how truly versatile it is. The add-ins and flavor options are plentiful. You can easily switch out the peanut butter for a silky smooth almond or other nut butter. Toss in an extra pinch of cinnamon or a dash of vanilla to add even more dimension.

Try adding chia seeds for an extra kick of protein or different nuts, like almonds and pistachios. I love adding in fresh berries. Strawberries and bananas go together like peanut butter and jelly and are a classic pairing. You can even add a little decadence by shaving dark chocolate over the top.

If your oats are not as soft as you would like try adding in a little more milk or water to get that perfect consistency. If you like a bit of tang over sweetness then I suggest using a Greek yogurt. It has another benefit of adding a little more protein as well.