These creamy chocolate overnight oats are an easy breakfast that tastes like dessert! This chocolate oatmeal is vegan, gluten-free, and sweetened just enough with cocoa powder, banana, and maple syrup. I add walnuts and chia seeds to make these overnight oats extra filling.
This post is brought to you in partnership with California Walnuts. As always, all opinions are my own!
Whenever I'm craving a hearty and tasty breakfast, I turn to overnight oats recipes. They're crazy easy to put together, they're awesome for meal prep, and they're also packed with good-for-you ingredients. These chocolate overnight oats are one of my favorites. I have a massive sweet tooth and am a giant chocolate lover, so chocolatey oatmeal is pretty much my ultimate morning meal. This overnight version just happens to be a breeze to make ahead!
Go-To Overnight Oats for Chocolate Lovers
- Sweet and satisfying. I sweetened my chocolate overnight oats with bananas and a hint of maple syrup to round out the dark cocoa flavor. You can adapt the sweetness to taste.
- Meal prep magic. Chocolate overnight oats are the best make-ahead breakfast! Divide the oats into portions and chill them overnight. They're ready to grab and go in the morning.
- Stay fuller for longer. These overnight oats are so hearty and they taste like dessert! I can eat a portion in the morning and it's more than enough to keep me feeling full until lunch.
And even better, we're celebrating American Heart Month this February with our friends at California Walnuts and bringing you two delicious and nutritious recipes. Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally [3], and my goal is to share recipes that are not only delicious but also help you make small changes in your diet to support that gorgeous heart of yours!
Ingredients You'll Need
I wanted to make sure these overnight oats used simple ingredients while maximizing flavor. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for specific amounts.
- Rolled oats – I find that rolled oats work best in overnight oats as they are thick enough to soak up some of the liquid, but they still retain their shape and texture.
- Banana – I wanted to cut down on added sugars as much as possible in this recipe, so we're relying on bananas to help us out with the sweetness.
- Chia seeds – These help to absorb some of the liquid and thicken the overnight oats up a bit.
- Cacao powder – Because I know we all love chocolate, we're adding just a bit of cacao powder for the flavor! If you don't have cacao powder, you can also use unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Maple syrup – Even with the banana, I found the chocolate flavor a bit bitter, so I added a touch of maple syrup. If you find the banana is enough, feel free to leave this out.
- Milk – Depending on your dietary needs, you can use whatever type of milk works best for you. I personally used walnut milk here, but 1% would also work well if dairy is okay for you.
- Walnuts – And finally… walnuts! In this recipe, they're bringing a much-needed crunch and extra heartiness.
Walnuts Are Amazing for Heart Health
Okay, so…let's talk walnuts and why they're so awesome! I'm excited to be partnering with California Walnuts in today's post to celebrate American Heart Month. As you may or may not know, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. [3]
As a heart-healthy food [1] – certified by the American Heart Association's Heart-Check program [2] – walnuts are a nutritious and convenient option to support heart health and are a go-to nut for me in cooking, baking, and snacking.
- Fiber: Walnuts are a great way to get more fiber into your diet, with 2 grams of fiber per 1-ounce serving
- Protein: Eating 1 ounce of walnuts will get you 4 grams of protein
- Omega-3 and ALA Fatty Acids: Walnuts are the only nut with an excellent source of omega-3 ALA fatty acids – 1 ounce of walnuts contains 2.5 grams of
- Decreases heart disease risk: Eating walnuts as part of a healthy diet may help decrease your risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death globally [3]
And aside from the nutritional benefits of walnuts, they're also SO easy to add to your diet. From eating a handful as a snack, incorporating them into your favorite trail mix, adding them into cookies or brownies, or even using them in a savory pasta, they're delicious every way!
How to Make Chocolate Overnight Oats
If you're new to overnight oats, one of the things I think you'll love is how easy they are to make. Our recipe right here uses just 3 simple steps:
- Mash the banana. We'll start by mashing our banana in a bowl until it's as smooth as possible.
- Add remaining ingredients. Add the rest of your ingredients (minus your toppings) and stir it all together.
- Let them sit. Overnight oats need a bit of time to soak (hence the “overnight” part) so that the oats can soften and they can thicken up. You can leave them for a few hours or keep them in your fridge for multiple days!
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally speaking, most overnight oats recipes follow a 1:1 ratio of oats to liquid. So, if you have 1/2 cup of oats (without chia seeds), you'd use around 1/2 cup of liquid. Since I'm adding chia seeds, banana, and cacao powder to these chocolate oats, I use a little bit more liquid, as those ingredients will soak some up as well.
Nope! You actually eat overnight oats raw. But don't worry, they don't taste raw at all. Since they soak for 4+ hours, everything is nice and soft. However, you can also totally heat them if you're not a fan of eating cold breakfasts!
Meal Prep Your Overnight Oats
Whether you want to make them the night before or make a big batch on Sunday for the week ahead, these chocolate overnight oats are excellent for meal prep. I, for one, am all about saving time, so if I can make my breakfast the night before, I'm all for it.
This recipe makes two servings, but you can totally scale the ingredients. Mix it all in a big bowl, then divide your portions into individual containers. I like using these wide-mouth mason jars. They fit the perfect amount and will keep the oats airtight!
How to Store
- Refrigerate. Store these overnight oats airtight in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Want to learn more about American Heart Month or why walnuts are such a heart-healthy food? [2], Here are some studies that you might find interesting!
- Walnuts may help lower blood pressure for those at risk of heart disease
- The effects of walnut consumption on blood lipids and other cardiovascular risk factors
And as always, I hope you enjoy this delicious recipe! If you end up making it, please share a photo with us on Instagram by tagging @simplyquinoa and @calwanuts ❤️
More Oatmeal Recipes
Chocolate Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1 banana
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 4 teaspoons cacao powder
- 4 teaspoons maple syrup
- 1 1/3 cups walnut milk (or milk of choice)
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 2 tablespoons coconut yogurt
Instructions
- Cut the banana in half. Mash that in a mixing bowl.
- Add the oats, chia seeds, cacao powder, syrup, milk and 2 tablespoons of walnuts into the container as well. Stir everything together then divide between two containers and place in the fridge. Let sit for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- When ready to serve, top your serving with 1 tablespoon of coconut yogurt, 1 tablespoon of chopped walnuts and 1/2 of the rest of the banana (sliced!). Enjoy!
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