Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats You’ll Crave Every Morning in 20min

You know those mornings when you’re scrambling to get out the door, but your stomach’s growling like a bear? That’s when my favorite lifesaver – Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats – comes to the rescue. I stumbled upon this magic trick years ago when my toddler decided 5 AM was playtime (bless him). Now it’s my go-to breakfast that practically makes itself while I sleep. The best part? You probably have everything you need in your pantry right now. Just toss rolled oats with some milk, fresh apple, and cozy cinnamon, then let your fridge do all the work. Wake up to a creamy, dreamy breakfast that tastes like apple pie – minus the guilt and the morning chaos.

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Why You’ll Love These Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats

Let me count the ways this breakfast will change your mornings:

• Zero morning stress: Your future self will thank you when breakfast is ready before your alarm even goes off
• Apple pie vibes: That warm cinnamon and sweet apple combo tastes like dessert (but it’s totally acceptable to eat at 7 AM)
• Customizable magic: Throw in whatever you’ve got – nuts, seeds, yogurt – it’s like a breakfast science experiment
• No cooking required: Perfect for summer mornings when turning on the stove feels like torture
• Kid-approved: My picky eater actually eats this (major parenting win)

Seriously, it’s the breakfast equivalent of finding money in last winter’s coat pocket.

Ingredients for Overnight Oats with Apple and Cinnamon

Here’s everything you’ll need for my foolproof overnight oats – I promise it’s all simple stuff you might already have:

• 1/2 cup rolled oats (not instant – they’ll turn to mush)
• 1/2 cup milk (any kind works – I’ve used everything from almond to coconut)
• 1/2 apple, grated (trust me, grating makes all the difference)
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (the good stuff – none of that sad, flavorless powder)
• 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (optional, but so worth it)
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds (my secret for extra thickness)

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Ran out of something? No worries. Swap dairy milk for any plant-based version – almond gives a nice nutty flavor. No chia seeds? Flaxseeds work too, or just skip ’em. For apples, I love Honeycrisp when they’re in season, but any crisp variety will do the trick. The key is using fresh-grated apple – that juice makes the oats magical.

How to Make Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats

Okay, let’s get to the good stuff. Making these overnight oats is easier than forgetting to set your alarm (which, let’s be real, happens to me way too often). Here’s exactly how I do it:

1. Grab your favorite jar or container – I use a mason jar because it makes me feel like a Pinterest mom (even if my kitchen’s a mess).
2. Dump in the oats and milk – Give it a quick stir so the oats start getting friendly with the liquid.
3. Toss in that freshly grated apple – This is where the magic happens. Don’t skip grating – those juicy bits make the oats extra creamy.
4. Add your cinnamon and sweetener – I usually do a little taste test here and adjust if needed.
5. Mix like your life depends on it – Seriously, get everything well combined so no dry oats are left hanging.
6. Pop it in the fridge overnight – Minimum 6 hours, but I’ve left it up to 24 when I got distracted by toddler chaos.
7. Give it a good stir in the morning – The oats will have soaked up all that goodness and turned into breakfast gold.

That’s it, You’ve just meal-prepped breakfast without breaking a sweat. Now go get your beauty sleep – your future well-fed self will thank you.

Topping Ideas

Want to take your oats to the next level? Here are my favorite ways to jazz them up:

• Crunchy walnuts – Because everything’s better with a little crunch
• Dollop of Greek yogurt – Extra protein and creaminess? Yes please
• Extra cinnamon sprinkle – For when you really want that apple pie vibe
• Drizzle of almond butter – My secret for feeling fancy on busy mornings

Tips for Perfect Overnight Oats with Apple and Cinnamon

Here’s my hard-earned wisdom after many (many) batches of overnight oats:

• Seal it tight: A proper lid prevents your oats from tasting like last night’s leftovers (trust me, nobody wants onion-flavored oats)
• Sweeten after chilling: The flavors mellow overnight, so wait to add extra honey until morning
• Grate the apple fresh: Pre-grated turns brown and sad – do it right before mixing for maximum apple magic
• Shake it up: If you remember before bed, give the jar a quick shake to redistribute all that cinnamon goodness

Follow these, and you’ll have breakfast perfection waiting when your alarm goes off.

Storage & Reheating

Here’s the beautiful thing about these overnight oats – they practically store themselves. I always make a couple extra jars because, let’s be honest, some mornings require backup breakfasts. Keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days – any longer and the apples start getting a little too friendly with the oats (not in a good way).

No reheating needed – that’s the whole point. These taste amazing cold straight from the fridge. If you’re like me and prefer your breakfast at room temp, just pull the jar out 10 minutes before eating.

Now, about freezing – I’ve tried it when I got overzealous with batch-making. The texture changes a bit (the oats get softer), but it still works in a pinch. Thaw overnight in the fridge and give it a vigorous stir in the morning to bring it back to life. Pro tip: Skip the chia seeds if you’re freezing – they turn into little gelatinous surprises.

Nutritional Information

Now, I’m no nutritionist, but here’s the scoop on what’s in this magical breakfast jar. Keep in mind these numbers can change depending on what goodies you toss in – my husband always adds extra nuts (and therefore extra calories, but who’s counting?). For the basic version using 2% milk and just a drizzle of honey, you’re looking at:

• Calories: About 250
• Fat: 5g (mostly the good kind from chia seeds)
• Protein: 7g – not bad for something that tastes like dessert.
• Fiber: 7g (thanks to our oat and apple friends)
• Sugar: 15g (natural from the apple plus your sweetener of choice)

The best part? Unlike those sugary cereals, this keeps you full until lunch without the mid-morning crash. My kids do better in school when they start with this instead of toast, and I swear it gives me more patience for toddler tantrums – that counts as a nutritional benefit, right?

FAQs About Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats

Your Turn to Try These Overnight Oats

Alright, breakfast champion – now it’s your turn to give these apple cinnamon overnight oats a whirl. I’d love to hear how your version turns out. Did you add a crazy topping? Swap in pears instead of apples? Forget the lid and end up with mystery fridge flavors? (No judgment – we’ve all been there.) Drop your creations or questions in the comments below. And if this recipe saves your sleepy morning like it’s saved mine, share it with that friend who’s always rushing out the door with just coffee – they’ll thank you later.

These Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats create a breakfast you’ll genuinely crave every morning—ready in just 20 minutes of prep for days of cozy, satisfying meals. If you love make-ahead breakfasts, you’ll also enjoy our Pumpkin Spice Overnight Oats or our Cake-Like Baked Oats. Tag us on Facebook to show us your morning creation Find more easy breakfast ideas in our breakfast recipes collection.

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