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.
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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.
What are Overnight Oats?
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
- ½ cup of old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup of milk of choice (both dairy and non-dairy milk will work here)
- 2 tablespoons of chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, divided
- 1 teaspoon of espresso powder
- Pinch of salt
- ½ cup of Greek yogurt, plain, full-fat
- Cocoa powder, for dusting
How To Make Tiramisu Overnight Oats
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!).
- 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.
- Let sit overnight, then enjoy – place the oats in the fridge overnight, then enjoy!
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!
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Stored covered in the refrigerator, these tiramisu overnight oats will last for up to a week
More Favorite Oat Recipes
Tiramisu Overnight Oats Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup milk of choice non-dairy or regular
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup divided
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder
- Pinch of salt
- ½ cup Greek yogurt plain, full fat
- Cocoa powder for dusting
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
Nutrition
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I don’t have espresso powder…could you use instant coffee?
Hi Sarah! Absolutely you could! Use 1.5 teaspoons of instant coffee vs the 1 teaspoon of espresso powder, and you should be good to go!
Wow, I just read the article about Tiramisu Overnight Oats, and I absolutely loved it! The way the steps and details were explained was so simple and helpful. I tried making the recipe, and it turned out to be fantastic! Tiramisu Overnight oats are such a convenient and delicious breakfast option, especially for busy mornings. Plus, I used True Elements Rolled Oats for this recipe, and they worked perfectly. I’m definitely going to make this again and again. Thank you for sharing such an awesome recipe!
Aweee that is so kind, Jenil! We are so incredibly happy you enjoyed it!