Move over boring make-ahead breakfast, we’re having tiramisu! And guess what?! It’s actually a really healthy choice. Packed with chia seeds, greek yogurt, and a healthy dusting of cocoa powder, these tiramisu overnight oats are going to shake up your breakfast routine in the best possible way.

Side view of a bowl of tiramisu overnight oats in a black bowl. A hand is holding the spoon with a spoonful of oats over the bowl. There is a mug with coffee in the background.

This recipe is…

If you’ve ever had tiramisu, the traditional Italian dessert marked by layers of lady fingers that are soaked in a little coffee, soft luscious mascarpone, whipped cream, and cocoa, you may know the pure heaven that exists in one of those fabulous bites.

Imagine that fabulousness …but in oat form …and, for breakfast. This is not a drill, and this is actually pretty darn close to the real thing in flavor (it’s actually about 100x easier to prep).

This is a great candidate for a make-ahead breakfast for the week! Five little servings of indulgent tiramisu oats packed with fiber, protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates to start your day off on a strong, tasty note.

Overnight oats are raw oats that have soaked overnight (or over several nights – they’re an excellent make-ahead option) and are ready to eat the following morning without having to heat or boil any liquid to cook the oats.

What is the difference between cooked oats and overnight oats?

The most obvious (taste-wise) difference between cooked and overnight oats is their temperature. Cooked oatmeal is served hot, while overnight oats are typically served cold (usually straight from the fridge). As far as method goes, overnight oats actually require zero cooking (just a bit of assembly) and traditional oatmeal is cooked on the stove (here’s how to make oatmeal on the stove) or in the microwave(here’s how to make microwave oatmeal).

Recipe Ingredients

Tiramisu overnight oat ingredients on a grey and white marble surface.

How To Make Tiramisu Overnight Oats

Hand holding a small, black spatula stirring oats, chia, and milk in a bowl.
Hand using a black spatula to spread yogurt over the top of the oat mixture in a bowl.
Hand using a black spatula to stir yogurt and maple syrup together in a small white bowl.
Top of the bowl dusted with cocoa powder.
  1. Combine the oats, milk, chia seeds, maple, espresso powder, and salt – to a mason jar or bowl, add the oats, milk, chia seeds, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, espresso powder, and salt. Stir to combine, then use the back of a spoon to smooth the top.
  2. Combine the yogurt and the rest of the maple – in a separate bowl, add the Greek yogurt and the other tablespoon of maple syrup, then stir to combine.
  3. Add the yogurt to the oat mixture – pour the yogurt over top of the oat mixture and use the back of a spoon to evenly spread it over the top (try your best not to let it mix with the liquid from the oat mixture – it’s ok if it does though!).
  4. Add a dusting of cocoa powder over top of the yogurt – use a mesh strainer (if you have one) to dust a layer of cocoa powder over top of the yogurt.
  5. Let sit overnight, then enjoy – place the oats in the fridge overnight, then enjoy!
Hand holding a spoon getting ready to take a scoop of overnight oats out of a bowl. There is a mug of coffee, measuring spoon with cocoa powder, and a measuring cup with dry oats also on the table.

Recipe Variations and Modifications

  • Skip the layers and mix everything together – the instructions for this recipe as written will create 3 distinct layers (oats, yogurt, and cocoa powder). If you don’t care to have the layers, you can absolutely mix all of the ingredients together in your mason jar or bowl, dust the top with cocoa powder, and still enjoy the same flavors.
  • Make it dairy-free – make this recipe dairy-free by using non-dairy milk and a dairy-free yogurt (like Forager, Culina, or Kite Hill).

My Favorite Containers For Overnight Oats

When it comes to containers for these overnight oats, you’ve got a couple of options. You can go with just-big-enough bowls (ours were 10 ounces on the dot) like we did here for an extra fancy twist. If you’re opting for an easy, on-the-go option, though, mason jars (THESE are the perfect size) are a great way to go!

Top down view of a bowl of overnight oats with a spoonful taken out of the top.
Are overnight oats healthier than cooked oats?

Good question! Overnight oats have actually been shown to have increased digestability (thanks to the overnight soak), and because they haven’t actually been boiled, there’s a theory that the oats (in overnight oats) actually retain more nutrients.

What kind of oats work best for overnight oats?

Steel cut and instant oats are great options for traditional oatmeal, but you’ll definitely want to grab old-fashioned rolled oats for overnight oats. Old-fashioned rolled oats soak up the liquid in the jar, creating a super creamy texture.

Do chia seeds thicken oatmeal?

Not only are chia seeds packed full of omega-3 fatty acids and fiber, they’re also incredibly effective at thickening oatmeal. When chia seeds combine with a liquid, they swell and become gelatinous, causing them to both remove some of the liquid (because it’s been absorbed) and take up more room in the container.

What is the minimum time for overnight oats?

The oats in your overnight oat mixture will start to swell within about an hour or so, but for the best texture and consistency, we recommend waiting at least 4 (ideally closer to 8) hours before consuming.

How far ahead of time can you make overnight oats?

Overnight oats are the ideal meal prep breakfast – they’re incredibly easy to batch assemble and last for a solid week in the refrigerator. There have been many a times that I’ve made a large batch of overnight oats on a Sunday and enjoyed them all throughout the work week! Do note that because this specific recipe includes a yogurt layer, there is a chance of some separation if the overnight oats sit in the fridge for too long, so if you are planning on prepping a week’s worth of tiramisu oats, I’d nix the layers and mix the oat and yogurt mixtures together during assembly.

How long do these overnight oats last for?

Stored covered in the refrigerator, these tiramisu overnight oats will last for up to a week

Tiramisu Overnight Oats Recipe

4.34 — Votes 30 votes
By Cassy Joy Garcia
Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 1 Serving
Move over boring make-ahead breakfast, we’re having tiramisu! And guess what?! It’s actually a really healthy choice. Packed with chia seeds, greek yogurt, and a healthy dusting of cocoa powder, these tiramisu overnight oats are going to shake up your breakfast routine in the best possible way.

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • To a mason jar or bowl, add the oats, milk, chia seeds, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, espresso powder, and salt. Stir to combine, then use the back of a spoon smooth the top.
  • In a separate bowl, add the Greek yogurt and the other tablespoon of maple syrup, then stir to combine.
  • Pour the yogurt over top of the oat mixture and use the back of a spoon to evenly spread it over the top (try your best not to let it mix with the liquid from the oat mixture – it's ok if it does though!).
  • Use a mesh strainer (if you have one) to dust a layer of cocoa powder over top of the yogurt.
  • Place the oats in the fridge overnight, then enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Steel cut and instant oats are great options for traditional oatmeal, but you’ll definitely want to grab old-fashioned rolled oats for overnight oats. Old-fashioned rolled oats soak up the liquid in the jar, creating a super creamy texture.

Nutrition

Calories: 516kcal | Carbohydrates: 75g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 93mg | Potassium: 694mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 215IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 479mg | Iron: 4mg

Additional Info

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Servings: 1 Serving
Calories: 516
Keyword: overnight oats, tiramisu overnight oats

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