Vegan Overnight Oats, GF

Honestly, this recipe doesn’t even take 5 minutes to prep, and all you have to do is put it in the fridge overnight and eat it in the morning!

There are endless variations you can do with regards to flavour – this is a simple oatmeal raisin version but you could add raw cacao powder/cacao nibs for a chocolatey version, you could include mashed banana and walnuts for a banana nut version, you could add apple and sub maple syrup for the honey and boom, you have an apple maple version (and I would just add this on top of the oatmeal raisin recipe below, as cinnamon and raisins will go nicely!).

There are lots of versions on the web – most include Greek yogurt, so I wanted to make a vegan version that didn’t require you to go out and buy a vegan yogurt like soy or coconut milk yogurt which can be hard to find, expensive and – in the case of soy – not something I would recommend anyway.

The chia seeds take care of the thickening here so there is no need for yogurt – honestly, they do a great job on their own! This will be super thick (I usually thin it out with some extra milk in the morning) and I recommend using canned coconut milk (lowfat or regular is fine) or homemade almond milk with this, rather than cartons of store-bought almond or coconut milk – they tend to be thinner and more watery, and I like the creaminess of homemade almond milk and canned coconut milk.

Between the chia, the nut milks and then whatever other add-ins you include, you are getting a wealth of healthy fats and protein that will keep you full all morning long, along with the fibre from the whole grains. To make this completely gluten-free, just ensure you buy certified GF oats, or if you want to try this with buckwheat groats I’d love to hear how it turns out!

Vegan, GF Overnight Oats (oatmeal raisin version)

Serves 1

Ingredients:

1/3 cup rolled oats (certified GF if needing a GF recipe)
2 tbsp chia seeds
1/2 cup or so of light or regular canned coconut milk or homemade almond milk
1/2 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp raisins

Optional topping, as pictured at top:

2 tbsp gluten-free naturally sweetened granola (it adds a bit of crunch)
Any other add-ins or toppings you prefer, such as: pumpkin seeds, goji berries, sesame or sunflower seeds, ground flax seed, cacao nibs, chopped or crushed walnuts

Method:

1. Mix all dry ingredients in a mug and stir in milk and honey. Stir well and then put in the fridge overnight.

2. The next morning, eat straight out of the cup or transplant to a bowl and you can add more milk here if you want it thinner. I usually add another 1/4 cup or so of milk to thin it out. Add toppings if using and enjoy!