Looking for a quick easy breakfast you can take on the run? Try this tropical overnight oats recipe!
You can use any combination of oats, liquid (cow milk, coconut milk, water, or juice), fresh or dried fruit, and nuts – the recipe below even has a little dark chocolate! Prep breakfast the night before, warm in the microwave if you like, or just grab the jar from the fridge and go. Now you have no excuse for skipping breakfast!
Why “overnight”? You may have heard me talk about the benefits of soaking your grains. The folks at Nourished Kitchen suggest you can “enhance the nutrient profile” of your grains and make them easier to digest by soaking overnight (read all about that here). You may warm the milk slightly, add all other ingredients, cap the jar and leave it on the counter. If the thought of warm milk left out overnight makes you squeamish, pop the jar in the fridge.
The basic overnight oats recipe is as follows: 1/2 cup oats, 1 cup liquid, a small amount of the toppings of your choice like nuts, and fresh or dried fruit, plus 1 tsp spices (I like cinnamon, cardamom, clove, and nutmeg) a pinch of salt, and if you like a splash of acid like yogurt, apple cider vinegar or lemon juice.
I recently played my favorite game of “what’s in the fridge/ pantry” and came up with this combination of fruit, nuts and coconut milk and it was delicious!
Here are the tropical oats before going in the fridge…
…and the next morning, ready to eat! They puff up a bit as the grains absorb the liquid.
Below is my recipe for pineapple dark chocolate coconut overnight oats. Try it and if you like it or have feedback please leave a comment below.
Pineapple Chocolate Coconut Overnight Oats
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1 cup full fat coconut milk
- 2 tsp ground chia seeds
- 2 tsp ground flax seeds
- 2 Tbsp chopped dark chocolate
- 2 Tbsp chopped pecans
- 2 Tbsp shredded (unsweetened) coconut
- 1/3 cup chopped pineapple
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- pinch of sea salt
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
Directions:
- Put all ingredients into a glass jar and shake well to combine. Seal with a lid and place in fridge overnight.
- You may enjoy oats as is, or if they are too thick for your liking thin with a few spoonfuls of milk, yogurt, or juice. I prefer my oats warm so I heat mine for one minute in the microwave before eating.
Anne McCranie is a Portland (Sellwood), Oregon based Personal Trainer and Licensed Massage Therapist. She offers this recipe to tickle your taste buds. Please see your medical professional for specific dietary advice.