Learn how to make overnight oats! These chocolate peanut butter overnight oats taste like a peanut butter cup for breakfast! Ultra creamy, hearty, overnight oats are topped with peanut butter, chocolate shell, and sprinkle of sea salt. They can be made vegan, high protein, & gluten free and make a great meal prep!
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If I had one word of advice when it comes to eating a healthy breakfast, it’d be to focus on protein. Not only does it help you feel satiated and satisfied, but it was a huge factor in helping me go through my day without constantly thinking about food. I try to aim to get 30g of protein at each meal, especially breakfast. So when it comes to finding an easy, healthy breakfast option, these protein overnight oats are my go to!
Once you get the hang of making overnight oats, the possibilities, variations, & customizations are endless! You can mix-in things like vanilla, cinnamon, or cacao powder or top them with fresh fruit, chia jam, granola, chopped nuts or seeds, chocolate chips, or coconut!
If you love overnight oats, you have to try my creamy strawberry chia overnight oats recipe! Or if you’re more of a chia pudding fan, these lemon blueberry chia puddings with yogurt are TO DIE FOR. The lemon cashew cream on top is chefs kiss!
Why you’ll love these chocolate peanut butter overnight oats
- They make an easy meal prep breakfast for the week!
- Overnight oats make a great breakfast option for toddlers and kids!
- Vegan, gluten free, and refined sugar free.
- Packed with protein, healthy fats, and fiber to keep you full all morning.
- Tastes like dessert 😉
- Made with nourishing ingredients.
- Overnight oats make an easy, on the go breakfast.
- They’re versatile so they never get old.
Does oatmeal make a complete breakfast?
Totally! You just have to do them right. Often, oats are topped with fruit, have added sugar, and are lower in protein and healthy fats which can cause blood sugar spikes and not make you feel your best. Adding in a source of protein, healthy fats, and fiber is a great way to combat this!
These peanut butter chocolate oats contain a good dose of fiber, have 30g of protein, and a serving of healthy fats so you’ll not only feel good after eating them but you’ll stay full and satisfied!
How to make peanut butter overnight oats
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Overnight oats containers or mason jars
- Spatula
Best containers for overnight oats
There are so many different options to store overnight oats in! Here are some of my favorites:
- Overnight oats container with lids & spoons
- Beautiful glass mugs with bamboo lids & spoons
- 16oz glass containers with lids
- Wide mouth 16oz mason jars
Ingredients for overnight oats
Find the complete ingredients/steps in the recipe card below!
- Oats: A great energizing, slow burning carb source that is also packed with fiber and nutrients! Old fashioned rolled oats work best here! Quick oats may not turn out chewy enough. I recommend organic sprouted oats as these are easier on digestion!
- Milk: Any non-dairy or dairy milk will work. You can use canned coconut milk for extra creamy overnight oats.
- Coconut yogurt: You can also use greek yogurt if you aren’t dairy-free. Greek yogurt will also add some extra protein to the recipe, which is great! Opt for a THICK yogurt.
- Protein powder: This is optional! I find having a breakfast with at least 30g of protein is what keeps me feeling my best. I like to add it as an easy protein source, but you can also leave it out. I like to use Macro Mike protein powder as it tastes like dessert while being made with clean ingredients (You can use my code “amb-dani” for a discount on any order!
- Chia seeds: Chia seeds really elevate overnight oats and create an extra thick and creamy texture. Chia seeds are also nutrient dense and packed with fiber which is great for digestion.
- Peanut butter: You can also use cashew butter or almond butter. Sunflower butter is a great nut-free option! If you want the true peanut butter cup flavor, stick to peanut butter! I like to use organic peanut butter that is just peanut butter or peanut butter and sea salt.
- Chocolate chips: I like to use Hu Kitchen chocolate chips as they are refined sugar free. Dark chocolate is actually packed with magnesium and antioxidants, so there IS some nutritional benefits from adding it! You can use my code “Danishealthyeats” for a discount on any order!
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together all of the overnight oat ingredients until smooth.
- Divide the oats amongst your jars and place them in the fridge for an hour or so to thicken up.
- Once they’re pretty thick, add a tablespoon of peanut butter to the top of each one (You can also just swirl it into the oats if your peanut butter doesn’t spread easily).
- Melt the chocolate in a small bowl and top each one with a little of the chocolate, tilting the jars or using a spoon to spread it out evenly. Top with a little sea salt (seriously, makes it so good!)
- Place the jars back in the fridge overnight or at least 3-4 hours before enjoying.
Overnight oats FAQ’s
- What if my oats turn out too thick for my liking? Simply add more milk and mix it up! Add a little at a time, as you can always add more if needed but can’t fix the oats if they turn out too watery.
- How long do overnight oats last? I like to prep them for 2-3 days and think they are best during that time frame!
- Are oats gluten free? I recommend using a certified gluten free brand if that is a worry for you! I highly recommend One Degree Organics sprouted gluten free oats.
- Can you use quick oats? I don’t recommend it. The texture doesn’t turn out as chewy and they’ll be much softer. If you prefer that, go for it!
- Can you use steel cut oats? I have never had success using steel cut oats 🙁
- Are overnight oats made without dairy? They can be made dairy-free by using a dairy free milk and vegan yogurt option!
Can I eat peanut butter overnight oats warm?
Of course! That’s the beauty of these peanut butter cup oats. Simply warm them up in a small pan, adding milk as needed until you reach your desired texture. Once it’s warmed through, add the oats to a bowl and top with peanut butter and a drizzle of melted dark chocolate.
You can also just cook raw oats according to the directions, adding in the ingredients listed below at the end, still drizzling the peanut butter and chocolate over top.
flavor and serving variations
- Make chai oats by adding in cinnamon and chai spices.
- Top overnight oats with fresh fruit or chopped nuts.
- Make overnight oats with almond butter and mix in shredded coconut for an almond joy flavor.
- Sub more yogurt for the nut butter in this recipe and stir in some blueberries and lemon zest for blueberry lemon oats.
- Make carrot cake oats by using almond butter, stirring in some finely shredded carrots, cinnamon, pinch of nutmeg, and chopped walnuts.
More healthy breakfast recipes to try
- Coffee protein shake (with peanut butter & chocolate!)
- Strawberry chia overnight oats
- Lemon blueberry chia pudding with yogurt and lemon cashew cream
- Strawberry cheesecake yogurt parfait
- Cinnamon roll smoothie
- Cinnamon roll baked oatmeal
- Vegan protein cheesecakes
Peanut Butter Cup Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup organic rolled oats
- 3 tbsp THICK coconut yogurt or greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 tbsp peanut butter
- 1 scoop of your favorite protein powder or collagen *Can omit. If using, use a flavor you love as it'll affect the flavor of the oats.
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey *can also use monk fruit for sugar free option
- 1/2 cup milk, of choice *more if needed
- 1/2 tbsp peanut butter
- 2 tbsp dark chocolate chips or quality milk chocolate *see notes
- 1/2 tsp coconut oil *optional, but your chocolate shell will be harder to break if you omit it!
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients with a whisk until no lumps remain. Depending on if/the type of protein you use, you may need to add a little extra milk. You don't want the oats to be too thick at this point as they'll soak up moisture as they soak overnight. Add an extra tbsp or so as needed (don't worry about being precise, they'll turn out!)
- Pour the oats into your jar. You can let them soak for an hour or so until they thicken a bit or you can just add the peanut butter now.
- Place a lid or cover over the oats and let them soak at least an hour until they've thickened up.
- In a small bowl, melt the chocolate until smooth. I like to heat it in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between each, until smooth. Pour the melted chocolate over the oats, spreading it out. I like to top mine with some flakey sea salt.
- Place back in the fridge for another 2-3 hours or overnight before enjoying.
