Eggnog Overnight Oats Recipe | We are not Martha (2024)

FAQs

What is the trick to overnight oats? ›

If you don't add enough liquid, your oats will be dry and clumpy in the morning, making them less enjoyable to eat. Make sure to add enough milk or yogurt to fully cover your oats and give them a creamy consistency.

Not adding the correct amount of milk

Adding too little milk will prevent the oats from expanding enough. This will leave them tasting too crunchy and uncooked. Conversely, if you add too much milk, you're going to end up with a much soupier consistency than you want.

As Best points out, "some of the worst ingredients that are mistakenly added to healthy overnight oat recipes include chocolate sauce, sugar, syrup, and dried fruit."

Whatever you do, steer clear of the worst offenders: dried fruit with added sugars, like Craisins or dried pineapple. "These are almost always made with added sugar, if not also an artificial sweetener, says Pennsylvania-based RD Gina Consalvo. "Always choose a fresh fruit instead." Need hard proof?

Add some extra seeds and stuff (or not)

If you want your overnight oats to have a thicker, slightly tapioca-like texture, chia seeds will do that while also adding some healthy protein. Add about 1/4 the amount of oats you added. (So if you're starting with 1/2 cup of oats, add 2 tablespoons of chia seeds.)

The Bottom Line

Making oatmeal a regular part of your menu can potentially lower your disease risk, help your gut health thrive, make bowel movements easier and keep you feeling fuller for longer. If you're ready to start your morning with a bowl of oats, try our Cinnamon-Roll Overnight Oats.

Easy Overnight Oats Ingredients

Yogurt: Greek yogurt lends richness, flavor, and lots of protein to help you take on the day. Oats: Make sure to use rolled oats. Honey: Honey lends subtle sweetness.

Milk: You can make overnight oats with any kind of milk — dairy or non-dairy. If using non-dairy milk, it's best to stick with unsweetened. Greek yogurt: Not only does Greek yogurt make overnight oats more filling, but it also gives the oats a super-creamy texture.

Try adjusting the liquid until the oats reach your desired consistency. If the product is too soupy, try decreasing the amount of milk used on the next cup or adding yogurt. If the product is too dry/clumpy, try adding more milk.

Why are my overnight oats like glue? ›

It's normal for overnight oats to become slightly slimy due to the starches in the oats releasing in liquid over time. ... Too much milk mixes with starches from the oats to make a gluey slime, and this was the texture that I didn't like.

Or do I have to wait overnight? Waiting overnight allows the oats and chia seeds to fully hydrate and soften the oatmeal. We recommend waiting four to five hours for the best experience, but some customers do enjoy eating it immediately for a more textured, chewy oatmeal.

But, anything from whole to skim milk works, or a non-dairy option like soy milk, almond milk, or another option that you prefer. Here you can see (on the right) the more soupy-liquid version is the overnight oats before they have soaked overnight.

In a large glass jar, combine the oats, milk, yogurt, maple syrup or honey, chia seeds, vanilla cinnamon, and sea salt. Stir well to make sure all the ingredients are combined. Cover with a lid and place in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, remove from the refrigerator and stir.

Just like with regular stove top oats, there are some classic add-ins like vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, maple syrup (or honey) and a pinch of sea salt that really elevate the flavor and make overnight oats super tasty.

Yogurt: Give your oats an extra boost of protein with a scoop of your favorite Greek yogurt. Tip: While you can add the mix-ins the night before, I like to portion them out separately as pictured, but wait to add them until right before serving. That way my oatmeal is extra fresh and not soggy!

Yogurt: Greek yogurt lends richness, flavor, and lots of protein to help you take on the day.