Apple Cinnamon Cranberry Overnight Oats

Apple Cinnamon Cranberry Overnight Oats only take a few minutes to prep the night before. You’ve got a hearty, convenient, healthy, and oh-so-tasty breakfast ready the next morning!

Yes, I’ve been living under a rock. I’m finally on the overnight oats bandwagon and I simply can’t get enough! Made with simple basic ingredients, pantry staples and fresh fruit, prepped in 10 minutes, and made the night before, these healthy and delicious overnight oats will make your mornings brighter. This recipe is perfect for back-to-school busy mornings. This is a recipe you can feel good about feeding your kids and they will love the flavor too. It tastes almost like you’re eating apple pie for breakfast – but much healthier!

This apple cinnamon cranberry overnight oats recipe is made with crisp apples, warm fall spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, toasted pecans and chewy dried cranberries. Add those tasty ingredients to the creamy oats mixture and you’ve got a healthy breakfast perfect for any morning or snack!

I’ve always been a fan of oatmeal. I’m embarrassed to admit I would often buy the packet of oatmeal because it was so convenient. But it wasn’t until I started having kids that I wanted to cut back on processed products, added sugars and ingredients that I couldn’t pronounce. We were never people to eat a lot of packaged and processed food anyway, but once the babes started coming, I began to pay more attention to ingredients statements and nutrition panels to prioritize healthy eating.

Cue this overnight oatmeal recipe. Oats are incredibly nutritious and easy on the wallet. They are often a staple ingredient in healthy recipes. I start by adding old-fashioned rolled oats into a mason jar. A few other good-for-you ingredients like Greek yogurt and flaxseeds or chia seeds and I’m on my way to a filling breakfast that is healthy, affordable, and incredibly delicious. Did I mention that this recipe is highly versatile? Toss in whatever fruit you have on hand, honey or pure maple syrup to naturally sweeten it and you’re done. I also like to add nut butter and spices to enhance the nutritional profile and flavor of these simple make-ahead overnight oats.

Since overnight oats are good for up to five days in the refrigerator, you can meal prep these on a Sunday night and have your breakfast ready for the whole week. I always include an overnight oat recipe in my weekly meal plans. Most people eat their overnight oats cold, but I prefer mine heated up. I make my easy overnight oats recipes in resealable containers, like mason jars. I pop the lid off, put them in the microwave for about 90 seconds, and boom, breakfast is served!

How to Make Overnight Oats in 4 Simple Steps

The night before, put everything (except for the apple, pecans and dried cranberries) into a mason jar and stir. Top oats mixture with diced apple, pecans, dried cranberries, and screw on the mason jar lid.

Next, refrigerate overnight. Go to sleep knowing you kicked your day off to a good start with a tasty, healthy breakfast.

Wake up, give those ingredients one more stir and eat away. Or, if you prefer your overnight oats warm like I do, pop in the microwave for 90 seconds or so. 

Next, conquer the day because you just ate a hearty breakfast with flavorful important nutrients. You go, girl!

How Long Do Overnight Oats Need to Soak?

Ideally, your overnight oats would soak overnight (8 or so hours). This time frame allows the oats to soften and the flavors to deepen, creating creamy and delicious overnight oats. You can let them soak for 2-4 hours and dive in. With a quick soak, the oats are not as soft as an overnight soak and they tend to have a little more liquid and chewy texture versus a creamy texture.

How Long Do Overnight Oats Last in the Refrigerator?  

Overnight oats can last up to 5 days in the refrigerator. I usually make a few jars at a time to have multiple healthy breakfasts ready during the week.

Overnight Oat Ingredient Substitutions

I think the best version of this recipe is the one I’m posting below. However, you might have dietary preferences or restrictions, like gluten sensitivity. Below are some common substitutions that would work well for this recipe:

Make it vegan overnight oats: Use non-dairy milk like unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk; use plant-based yogurts like Siggi’s or Oatly brands; and use pure maple syrup or date syrup or coconut sugar for a sweetener.

Make it gluten-free overnight oats: Use certified gluten-free oats such as Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Old Fashioned Rolled Oats.

Make it sugar-free overnight oats: exclude the sweetener completely or use mashed or pureed fruit (such as bananas, berries, unsweetened applesauce) or nut or seed butters in the base recipe.

I hope you enjoy this healthy and easy breakfast that has great flavor and only minutes of prep!

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