Brownie Batter Overnight Oats Recipe

Chocolate for breakfast? Yes, please! These easy Brownie Batter Overnight Oats are a delicious, decadent breakfast treat and the perfect way to start your morning routine. And they're a healthier breakfast than you might think. They also make a delicious and healthy dessert!

Why I Love This Recipe

My boys love chocolate for breakfast. To be honest, so do I. Matter of fact, the boys come running to the refrigerator anytime I make these. And with these decadent brownie batter overnight oats, I don’t have to feel bad about it. And neither do you.

The delicious overnight oats are a great healthy breakfast choice that only takes 5 minutes to make and is healthier than any of those sugar-laden chocolate cereals. They’re also great for meal prep or a grab-and-go meal.

They’re also tremendously versatile and can be topped with anything from fresh berries, to peanut butter, to a drizzle of chocolate syrup and some chocolate chips. Okay, so I really like chocolate for breakfast. I guess that’s where my boys get their sweet tooth.

• Less than 5 minutes to prep the night before
• Next day in the morning, breakfast is served!
• Chocolate for breakfast? Yes, please!
• My boys basically SPRINT to the fridge in the morning when this is waiting for him
• Breakfast, yay! Dessert, yes!

Brownie Batter Oats Ingredients

This easy breakfast recipe only calls for simple ingredients you probably already have!

Milk - any variety; use chocolate milk if you really love chocolate.

Oats - use rolled oats for best texture results.

Cocoa powder - Use regular or dark.

Protein powder - Great for a nice boost of protein.

Sweetener - pure maple syrup adds the perfect deep flavor that really complements the chocolate, but honey or agave nectar works too for a natural sweetness.

Toppings - Milk, semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips add extra indulgence to this recipe and/or top with a dollop of peanut butter!

How to Make Chocolate Brownie Overnight Oats

These brownie batter overnight oats are so, so easy to make in just 3 easy steps, and they’re great for meal prep! 

Step 1

Combine all ingredients in a bowl (minus chocolate chips) and give them a good stir to mix well. 

Step 2

Transfer to a mason jar and seal tightly. 

Step 3

Place in the refrigerator overnight.

Optional: Top with chocolate chips if desired just before serving.

Recipe Notes for Delicious Oats

• Leave a little room in the overnight oat jars so the oats have some space to expand overnight.
• Use rolled oats instead of quick-cook oats or steel cut oats.
• If the oats get too thick overnight, add a little additional milk before eating.
• Try this recipe with chocolate milk or a sprinkle of chocolate chips for more intense chocolate flavor to your oats.
• To make vegan overnight oats, use a plant-based milk like oat milk or soy milk and a whey-free, vegan protein powder.

How to Serve Overnight Oatmeals

This easy brownie lovers breakfast recipe makes for the perfect grab-and-go meal prep breakfast for busy mornings.

You can also serve a jar of overnight oats as part of a larger, complete breakfast. Serve it with a stack of delicious pancakes, some blueberry apple muffins, or with some scrambled eggs and bacon. You can also set out the overnight oats with a toppings bar for everyone to choose their own. See below for some great ideas!

Indulgent Toppings for Overnight Oats

Use your favorite toppings and mix-ins to add a personal touch to your oats. The options are almost limitless. These are just a few of my favorite additions.

• Crunchy or creamy peanut butter, almond butter, or other nut butters
• Fresh fruit and berries!!
• Nuts - crushed cashews, peanuts, or almonds are great add-ins to go with your chocolate overnight oats. 
• Seeds - sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds or flax seed, etc.
• Add a little extra chocolate protein powder for an extra protein boost.

How to Store Overnight Oats

Store prepared overnight oats in a well-sealed mason jar or other airtight container in the coldest part of your refrigerator. Stored properly, overnight oats can be kept for up to 5 days. That’s almost a whole week of easy breakfasts made in just a few minutes! 

Can You Use Quick Oats for Overnight Oats

“Old-fashioned” oats, also called rolled oats, are best for this recipe. Rolled oats just seem to absorb the perfect amount of liquid to achieve the absolute best texture of overnight oats. 

Using instant oatmeal in an overnight oats recipe usually results in an almost pasty result like oat porridge. The quick oats become very thick and somewhat gloopy. 

On the other hand, steel-cut oats end up not absorbing enough of the liquid and have a chewy, kind of dense texture the next morning.

Best Milk to Mix With Protein Powder

Any kind of milk will mix well with a good protein powder. You can use any dairy or dairy-free milk for coconut milk to almond milk to blend with protein powder and with this recipe!

Baking Cocoa vs Cocoa Powder

The terms baking cocoa and cocoa powder are often used interchangeably. One element to remember is that sometimes, sometimes, cocoa powder will be sweetened.

Another factor to remember is that Dutch chocolate is less alkaline than traditional cocoa powder. Basically, that means it won’t react with baking soda when using it for baking and baking powder should be used. Also, cocoa powder is similar to cocoa powder, but not as processed.

How Many Chocolate Chips in a Tablespoon?

This is not an easy question to answer. I feel it’s like asking “How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?” The powers that be over at Google say there are 25 chocolate chips to one tablespoon, which is the recommended serving size. (Insert laughing emoji) 

But then there’s the question of standard chocolate chips, mini chips, chunks, etc. 25 chips sounds good to me, but 35 sounds better.

More Overnight Oats Recipes

Banana and Blueberry Overnight Oats
Strawberry Shortcake Overnight Oats
Mulberry Overnight Oats