Banana Bread Overnight Oats (Printable version)

Creamy oats with banana, walnuts, warm spices for an easy, make-ahead breakfast.

# What you need:

→ Oats Mixture

01 - 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup milk, dairy or unsweetened plant-based
03 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or non-dairy alternative
04 - 1 ripe banana, mashed
05 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
07 - 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
08 - Pinch of salt

→ Toppings

09 - 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
10 - 1 small banana, sliced
11 - Additional maple syrup or honey for drizzling, optional
12 - Pinch of ground cinnamon, optional

# Steps to follow:

01 - In a medium bowl or jar, combine oats, milk, yogurt, mashed banana, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
02 - Divide the mixture evenly between two jars or containers, ensuring equal distribution of ingredients.
03 - Cover and refrigerate overnight for at least 6 hours, allowing the oats to soften and fully absorb the liquid and flavors.
04 - In the morning, stir the oats thoroughly. Add additional milk if a thinner consistency is preferred.
05 - Top each serving with chopped walnuts, banana slices, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a sprinkle of cinnamon according to preference.
06 - Serve the overnight oats chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • It's the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it breakfast that actually tastes like dessert for breakfast without the guilt.
  • No cooking involved means you can make it half-asleep and still end up with something delicious and filling.
02 -
  • Don't skip mashing the banana thoroughly—chunks left unmashed will stay firm and won't distribute flavor evenly through the oats.
  • The oats thicken significantly overnight, so what seems too runny on day one is usually perfect by morning; trust the process instead of adding less milk.
03 -
  • Toast your walnuts in a dry skillet for two minutes before chopping—the flavor intensifies and you'll taste them in every bite instead of just crunch.
  • If your milk is cold from the fridge, the oats take slightly longer to soften, so use room-temperature milk or add an extra hour to your chilling time for the creamiest result.
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