This recipe is not only an easy meal-prep idea for busy mornings. It’s also a great way to use cookie butter! And this cookie butter overnight oats recipe has just enough sweetness that there’s no need to add any more sugar.
This recipe is based off of my Healthy Cinnamon Cookie Butter recipe, but any homemade or store-bought cookie butter will also work here.
Please leave me a comment and recipe rating below if you try these!
The Nutritional Benefits of Overnight Oats
While my cookie butter uses Kodiak brand cookies, this cookie butter overnight oats recipe does have a few exceptionally heart-healthy ingredients that make it a great breakfast option. Let’s review these foods.
Old-Fashioned Oats
The health benefits of oats come in the form of whole grains. Study after study shows that eating 2-3 servings of whole grains each day in place of refined grains significantly lowers total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin levels. This because whole grain oats are high in fiber, including beta-glucan.
And the benefits of whole grain don’t just stop at heart health. They also help to prevent digestive health issues, certain types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes (1, 2, 3).
It’s important to also keep in mind that the quality of your grains matter. Meaning you should make it a point to eat grains in their “whole” form versus more processed grains for better overall health. Some examples of whole grains include:
- brown rice
- barley
- oats
- corn (including popcorn)
- quinoa
- bulgar
Ground Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds are known for their plant-based source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). This is an omega-3 fatty acid.
ALA is associated with aiding and preventing inflammation, promoting brain health, and vascularity.
Consuming 1.1 grams of ALA per day is recommended for women and 1.6 grams per day for men (4). For reference, 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed has about 2.2 grams of ALA. One important thing to remember is that you must grind the flaxseeds in order for your body to absorb the nutrients.
Other sources of ALA include hemp, chia seeds, walnuts, canola oil, linseed, and soybean oil (5, 6).
Almond Butter
Almond butter is a popular alternative to peanut butter. It has a bolder and nuttier flavor compared to peanut butter.
Almond butter is also rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids that are beneficial to heart health. Additionally, almond butter has iron, calcium, fiber, and antioxidant vitamin E.
Berries
There are many health benefits to adding berries to your diet.
They provide fiber, vitamins A and C, magnesium, polyphenols (including anthocyanin), and other micronutrients (7, 8). They reduce oxidative stress and provide health benefits to healthy individuals as well as those with metabolic disease risk factors (9).
Ingredients
Okay, here are all of the ingredients you will need to make this incredible cookie butter overnight oats recipe.
Old-fashioned oats– Old-fashioned oats work perfectly for overnight oats. They soak up the liquid just enough to get the right texture without being mushy. You can also use instant or quick oats for a smoother, less chewy result.
Cookie butter– The 1 tablespoon of cookie butter in this recipe is all you need to add a little sweetness. If you don’t have cookie butter, don’t worry. Check out the variations and substitutions section below for options.
Milk– I use 1% milk in this recipe however you can use whatever milk or milk substitute you prefer. See variations and substitutions below for more options.
Ground flaxseed– I love adding ground flaxseeds to oatmeal and baked goods for the added omega-3 fatty acids which promote cardiovascular health and brain health. Barlean’s is my favorite brand for flaxseeds and omega-3 emulsions!
Mixed berries– I like a variety of berries for color and flavor. Here I use blueberries and strawberries.
How To Make Cookie Butter Overnight Oats
This is as simple as it gets with only 5 minutes of prep work. The perfect meal for a single or busy person. Follow these simple steps to enjoy your overnight oats the following morning.
1. Assemble Your Oats
First, gather your ingredients and add them to a container or bowl. It’s best to use a container with a lid so you can store it in the refrigerator. Or you can do what I sometimes do and cover it with plastic wrap.
2. Wait Overnight
After covering you container or bowl, place your oats into the refrigerator overnight, or at least 4 hours. This allows that milk to soften the oats enough.
3. Enjoy!
The next morning, remove the lid, stir the ingredients in the bowl to incorporate all ingredients together if you like, and enjoy!
You now have a healthy and hearty breakfast ready to go!
Storing Overnight Oats
Overnight oats are a great way to make sure you’re eating healthy all week long. You can do this too by making several portions of overnight oats to eat during the week.
These cookie butter overnight oats can be made ahead and kept stored in your refrigerator for up to 5 days. Just make sure to store them in an airtight container. In addition, you may want to add any berries or other fruits immediately before eating to prevent the berries from getting mushy.
Variations and Substitutions
Keep it Vegan– I did not specify what type of milk I used in the recipe card below, however I’ll tell you it was 1% dairy milk. I have also made this cookie butter overnight oats recipe using almond and soy milk which are also delicious. So feel free to use any plant-based milk of your choosing to make this recipe vegan.
Sweeter Options– I did not use any added sugars or artificial sweeteners in this recipe or my Healthy Cinnamon Cookie Butter recipe. However, if you want a sweeter oatmeal, try adding a small amount of regular sugar or a calorie-free plant-based sweetener like stevia or monk fruit extract.
Cookie Butter Substitutes– If you don’t have any cookie butter or don’t feel like making any, you can substitute peanut butter, almond butter, sunflower butter, hazelnut spread, or just leave it out completely.
Fruity Suggestions– You can use whatever fruit you like in this recipe. Other options that would taste amazing in this recipe are raisins, bananas, or other varieties of berries such as raspberries and blackberries. Frozen berries would also be perfect for this recipe since they’ll defrost in the refrigerator overnight and be ready to eat the next day.
FAQ For Cookie Butter Overnight Oats
You can however I’d suggest waiting overnight or at least 4-5 hours so the old-fashioned oats can soak up the milk and soften. Otherwise you will end up with chewy and harder-to-eat oats.
Yes, you can. If you know you are going to be eating this warm, you can omit the fruit during the assembly process and add them after warming them in the microwave. Warming everything together is fine as well. Heating your berries does destroy some of the beneficial components such as phytochemicals, vitamins, and mineral. However, it can also make other nutrients, such as lycopene, easier for your body to utilize.
Fun Fact: Microwaving is actually a good way to minimize the loss of nutrients!
Other Breakfast Recipes You’ll Love
- Mediterranean Diet Oatmeal (With Bonus Oats Review)
- Beet Smoothie for High Blood Pressure
- 5-Ingredient Healthy Banana Cinnamon Pancakes
- Avocado Peanut Butter Smoothie
- Healthy Green Tea Latte Recipe (Without Matcha)
- Turmeric Coffee: A Simple Recipe With Many Health Benefits
Cookie Butter Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ½ cup old-fashioned oats
- ¾ cup milk of choice
- 1 Tbsp cookie butter
- 1 Tbsp flaxseeds ground
- ¾ cup mixed berries roughly chopped
Instructions
- In an individual bowl or container, add 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats.
- Pour milk over oats and add additional ingredients on top.
- Stir to combine if you like.
- Place plastic wrap over the bowl or cover with lid and place in refrigerator overnight.
- The next morning, remove plastic wrap and stir to combine.
- Add any additional sweetener or toppings and ENJOY!
Video
Notes
- This is just sweet enough for me, however if you need to add any additional sweetener, try adding a teaspoon of one of the following: stevia, monk fruit, honey, maple syrup, or a little brown sugar.
- You can substitute other fruits and milks per your preference. For example, using almond or soy milk in place of the dairy milk.
- You can substitute the ground flaxseeds for chia seeds, nuts, or seeds.
Share With Me: Do you enjoy making overnight oats? What ingredients do YOU add to overnight oats? Comment below and let me know!
Feel free to pin this cookie butter overnight oats recipe to save and share with others!
Kiran Campbell is a registered dietitian and entrepreneur with 13 years of experience. She has a degree in psychology as well as dietetics. She is also a proud member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ and its Cardiovascular Health and Well-being Dietetics Practice Group among others. Kiran proudly presents and promotes the most up-to-date, science-based nutrition information on all things heart-related. She aims to serve not only individuals with heart disease, but also those wanting to protect against it. Learn more about Kiran by visiting her About Page.