Sweet & creamy overnight oats with water and no milk! Jam, yogurt, and water create an irresistible cold oatmeal to enjoy on busy mornings. No milk necessary!
There's no question about it, mornings with kids are hectic. If I can peel them out of bed, I'm doing great, much less make everyone scrambled eggs with bacon.
Overnight oats is a welcome breakfast on busy mornings. Since the 5 minutes of prep work is done the night before, all you have to do is enjoy!
Why you'll love it
- It's easy to customize to fit your taste-buds & dietary needs. Vegan? Use vegan yogurt! Gluten-free? Use gluten-free oats. Keto? Use sugar-free jam!
- You don't need milk! This overnight oats recipe is made with water, yet it's still creamy & undeniably delicious.
- It only takes 5 minutes to make, with no mess or cleanup! Just mix, pour, and chill.
- It's a nutritious on-the-go breakfast with whole grains and protein. Oats are rich in fiber, complex carbs, and antioxidants, while the Greek yogurt provides protein.
Ingredients
- Rolled Oats - Old fashioned oats are what you're looking for. Steel cut oats are too hard and instant oats absorb moisture too quickly. If you're gluten intolerant, be sure to purchase oats with a gluten-free label.
- Water - There's no need to use milk in this recipe! If you do have milk and want to use it instead, that's fine too. Any plant-based milk or dairy milk works great.
- Yogurt - I used unsweetened Greek yogurt, but any type of yogurt works great. If you're dairy-free or vegan, use unsweetened vegan yogurt.
- Jam - I used seedless raspberry jam, but you can use whatever you have on hand or choose your favorite. Strawberry, blueberry, peach, and apricot are great options!
- Maple syrup - For extra sweetness! Start with a teaspoon, then add more if you like it sweeter.
- Berries (optional) - For a naturally sweet & nutritious topping!
How to Make Overnight Oats
Overnight oats are super simple to make! Each recipe is a little different, but the method is the same. You mix the oats with liquid, then refrigerate overnight. The oats absorb the water or milk and thicken into cold oatmeal.
Overnight Oats Ratio
What is the correct overnight oats to water ratio? The short answer is it depends on what's in it.
Typically the ratio of oats to liquid is 1:1. So if you use ½ cup of rolled oats, you'd need ½ cup of milk or water. But that ratio changes if you add things like cocoa powder, protein powder, or chia seeds. These ingredients absorb more liquid and thus make the oats thicker.
It also depends on the texture you prefer. Some people like thicker oats, while others prefer them thinner. For this recipe, I used thick yogurt and jam so I upped the water to ⅔ cup.
How to Make Overnight Oats with Water
In a medium bowl, combine the rolled oats, water, yogurt, jam, and maple syrup.
Stir the mixture until everything is well mixed together.
At this point, you can just cover the bowl and stick it in the fridge, or transfer the mixture to a small glass with a lid. Refrigerate overnight.
In the morning, top with a little bit more jam and fresh berries! Sometimes I add walnuts or granola for some crunch.
Variations
- Toppings: Try chopped pecans, walnuts, pistachios, shredded coconut, fresh berries, granola, jam, sliced bananas, nut butter, dried fruit, pepitas, sunflower seeds, cacao nibs, or chocolate chips. The toppings are half the fun!
- Jam: Change the flavor with one simple swap. Use any flavor of jam you like. Blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, apricot, cherry, or peach are great options.
- Sweetener: I used maple syrup, but honey, light agave, sugar, or brown sugar can all be used. Start with a teaspoon and add more to taste.
Recipe Tips
- For thick oats, reduce the water to ½ cup.
- The oats will look soupy at first. The oats absorb the liquid in the fridge overnight.
- Wait until the morning to add your toppings. Otherwise they won't be fresh.
FAQs
Yes! As long as you add liquid for the oats to absorb, you're good! Water doesn't add any flavor though, so it's best to add other ingredients too. Yogurt, nut butter, sweeteners, and jam are all great additions!
It depends on what's in them. Typically the ratio of oats to liquid is 1:1, but some ingredients absorb more liquid than others. If you add cocoa powder, chia seeds, or protein powder, it's best to add extra liquid. It also depends on how thick you like your oatmeal.
If you forgot to prep your oats the night before, don't sweat it! Just swap the rolled oats with quick-cooking oats and chill for 30 minutes. Quick-cooking oats are thinner than rolled oats, and absorb liquid very quickly.
While oats do not contain gluten, they are processed in facilities with gluten-containing grains. For this reason, it's important to purchase oats that are labeled gluten-free. The risk of cross contamination in regular oats is very high.
More Overnight Oats Recipes
Jammy Overnight Oats with Water
Equipment
- bowl or glass
- Measuring cups & spoons
Ingredients
- ½ cup old-fashioned oats Make sure the oats are labeled gluten-free if you're gluten-intolerant or celiac
- ⅔ cup water
- ¼ cup greek yogurt or yogurt of choice
- 2 tablespoons raspberry jam or jam of choice
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the oats, water, yogurt, jam, and maple syrup.
- Stir until everything is well incorporated. Transfer the mixture to a small glass and cover. Chill in the fridge overnight.
- Top with a spoonful of jam and fresh berries. Enjoy!
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