So overnight oats. I was a little hesitant to post this recipe because the whole overnight oatmeal thing is a little… two years ago? In fact, the first overnight oats recipe I ever posted on the blog was back in 2015, this Almond Butter and Carob number. Throwing all notions of being a “cool” and trendsetting food blogger out the (kitchen) window, I decided I just had to post this because it’s just so darn delicious.

The idea for this recipe came to me when I was making my very favorite banana bread donuts. My daughter and I couldn’t keep our sneaky little spoons out of the batter! I thought, I need an excuse to just eat this. Looking at the ingredients; oats, bananas, cinnamon, a touch of maple syrup… a delicious overnight oats recipe really wasn’t too much of a stretch. To make it a super nutritious breakfast option, (and not just an excuse to eat something that tastes exactly like banana bread donut batter) I added protein and omega 3 rich hemp, chia, flax seeds, and walnuts. The result is thick, filling, nourishing, and soooo tasty.

There’s a reason overnight oats are still popular, they’re easy and awesome! I hope you give this one a try, friends.

Banana Bread Batter Overnight Oats – Vegan and Gluten Free

makes one large or two small servings

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1 – 2 tbsp chia seeds
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• pinch of sea salt
• optional nuts/seeds: 2 tsp flax seeds, 1 tbsp hemp seeds, handful of chopped walnuts
• 1 cup cashew, almond, or other dairy free milk of choice
• 2 tsp maple syrup or to taste (can sub other sweeteners)
• 1 ripe and spotty banana
• To serve: splash of dairy free milk, walnuts

Instructions:

1. Combine oats, chia seeds, cinnamon, sea salt, and optional nuts/seeds in a 16 ounce or larger jar. Add dairy free milk and maple syrup and stir well. Allow to set in the fridge overnight or for at least two hours.
2. Before serving, peel your ripe banana and mash very well in a small bowl. Mix the mashed banana into the oats, add a splash of dairy free milk and top with walnuts.

Alternatively, you can add the mashed banana before letting it sit in the fridge overnight, but I don’t like second day banana, so I like to add mine right before eating.