These Gingerbread Overnight Oats are a healthy make-ahead breakfast with all the classic flavors of a delicious gingerbread cookie. Made with warm and cozy spices, molasses, hearty old fashioned oats with maple syrup and perfect for busy holiday mornings. Gluten-free, refined-sugar free, dairy-free and vegan friendly.
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Easy Gingerbread Overnight Oats Recipe
Looking for quick and easy breakfasts for busy winter mornings? These Gingerbread Overnight Oats come together in less than 5 minutes and are made with simple pantry-friendly ingredients! They sort of remind me of gingerbread cookies but are made with wholesome ingredients and just perfect for mornings when you don’t feel like turning on the oven.
It’s a healthy no cook oatmeal recipe made with hearty rolled oats and cozy gingerbread spices. Gingerbread Oats are a delicious and nutritious Christmas breakfast option for the holiday season and are completely dairy-free, refined sugar-free, vegan and gluten-free.
What are overnight oats?
Overnight oats are just uncooked old fashioned oats that you soak with liquid overnight. They require less than 5 minutes of prep time and are super easy to customize and I love that you can make a batch on meal prep Sunday with your favorite flavors.
This Gingerbread Overnight Oatmeal recipe is a twist on classic gingerbread cookies in easy breakfast form. My family loves anything with gingerbread and this oatmeal recipe is just perfect for mornings when you don’t feel like turning on the oven.
Ingredients you need
All you need to make our easy gingerbread oats are just a few simple pantry ingredients:
- Oats: we use gluten free old fashioned rolled oats – we do not recommend using Instant Oats or Quick Oats. For a grain-free option, use an equal mix of roughly chopped sliced almonds and coconut flakes.
- Chia seeds: Chia seeds give overnight oats that thick pudding-like texture and add extra fiber but feel free to leave swap with hemp seeds, ground flax seeds or them out if you aren’t a fan.
- Milk: Use your favorite dairy or dairy-free milk you like or have on hand. We usually like to use unsweetened almond milk but coconut milk, cashew milk all work great for a vegan option.
- Optional sweetener: Use your favorite: maple syrup, coconut sugar, monkfruit sweetener or honey (if not vegan)
- Cinnamon: for flavor.
- Molasses: to add sweetness and that classic gingerbread flavor. We like unsulphured blackstrap molasses but you can leave this out if you prefer.
- Vanilla Extract: balances out the sweetness.
Other Optional add-ins
- Dairy-free Yogurt – You can add a combination of milk and yogurt to make your oats extra creamy .
- Fruit: Have fun with your toppings. Add fruit that won’t get mushy directly into the mason jar or toss them on directly on top of the oats when you’re ready to eat.
- Nut butter: add a spoonful of almond butter, cashew butter, peanut butter or sunflower seed butter for healthy fats and flavor.
- Chopped nuts: chopped pecans, walnuts or sliced almonds would add a great crunch.
How to make Gingerbread Overnight Oats
These Gingerbread Oats are one of the easiest breakfasts that even your kids can help you assemble the night before. .
- Mix the wet ingredients: In a large bowl, add the almond milk, yogurt, maple syrup, molasses (if using) and vanilla and mix until well combined.
- Stir in the dry ingredients: Stir in the oats, chia seeds and spices. If you like your oatmeal creamier, you can add more milk and less if you like them on the chunkier side. Taste and add more maple syrup if you want it sweeter.
- Pour into containers and chill: Pour into a 8 oz. mason jar, resealable container or a bowl and place in the fridge for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Serve and enjoy: Enjoy cold or heat up in the microwave or stove-top. Top with a dollop of vegan yogurt or whipped coconut cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon, some granola and a cookie, if desired. Serve and enjoy.
Flavor Variations
- Add some chocolate chips or stir in some cocao powder
- Top with some sliced bananas
- Top with some fresh strawberries
Storage and make ahead tips
Double or triple the batch and divide into separate mason jars or resealable containers.
Overnight oats can be stored in an airtight container or mason jar in the fridge for up to 5 days. Beyond that, they might get too softy and mushy.
Be sure to add any toppings or nuts just before eating.
Freezer and Reheating Instructions
How to Freeze: If you want to store your overnight oats in the freezer, be sure to store in a freezer-safe resealable container with a lid. Overnight oats will last up to 3 months in the freezer.
How to Reheat: To thaw out ginger overnight oats without yogurt, leave them in the fridge overnight or on the counter.
Reheat in the microwave at medium-high to high for 30 seconds to 1 minute, depending on how warm you want them. The texture may be a bit softer than when they are made fresh.
To reheat overnight oats over the stove, simply pour them into a small pot over medium heat and allow to come to a boil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you eat Gingerbread Oatmeal hot or cold?
You can eat overnight oats hot or cold straight from the fridge. Enjoy cold overnight oats with yogurt and berries plus toppings of your choice.
Can Gingerbread Overnight Oats be heated?
Yes, you can eat reheat overnight oatmeal either in the microwave in a heat-safe container or pour into a pot and heat on the stove.
Does this gingerbread overnight oat recipe work with steel cut oats?
We specifically tested these instant oats recipes using old-fashioned rolled oats and not with steel cut oats.
Overnight Oats Variations
Carrot Cake Overnight Oats, banana, blueberries or for more Overnight Oatmeal options – Overnight Oat post with 9 fun flavors!
More easy oatmeal recipes:
These Gingerbread Overnight Oats are a healthy make-ahead breakfast with all the classic flavors of a delicious gingerbread cookie. Made with warm and cozy spices, molasses, hearty old fashioned oats with maple syrup and perfect for busy holiday mornings. Gluten-free, refined-sugar free, dairy-free and vegan friendly.
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk or your favorite milk
- 2 tablespoons dairy-free thick Greek-style yogurt , (or your favorite Greek yogurt for a non-vegan version),
- 2 Tbsps maple syrup , (or preferred liquid sweetener)
- 2 Tbsp molasses , to add sweetness and that classic gingerbread flavor. We like unsulphured blackstrap molasses but you can leave this out if you prefer.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups gluten-free rolled oats , (may sub with ground flaxseeds or hemp seeds), optional for extra fiber and to help thicken the oats
- 2 teaspoons chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- Dairy-free Greek yogurt or Whipped coconut cream (or regular whipped cream for a non-vegan version)
- Favorite granola
- In a large bowl, add the almond milk, yogurt, maple syrup, molasses (if using) and vanilla and mix until well combined.
- Stir in the oats, chia seeds and spices. If you like your oatmeal creamier, you can add more milk and less if you like them on the chunkier side. Taste and add more maple syrup if you want it sweeter. Pour into a glass jar(s) or container(s) and place in the fridge for at least 6 hours or overnight.
Enjoy cold or heat up in the microwave or stove-top. Top with a dollop of vegan yogurt or whipped coconut cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon, some granola and a cookie, if desired.
- Serve and enjoy.
How to store and meal prep
Double or triple the batch and divide into separate mason jars or resealable containers.
Overnight oats can be stored in an airtight container or mason jar in the fridge for up to 5 days. Beyond that, they might get too softy and mushy.
Be sure to add any toppings or nuts just before eating.
Freezer and Reheating Instructions
How to Freeze: If you want to store your overnight oats in the freezer, be sure to store in a freezer-safe resealable container with a lid. Overnight oats will last up to 3 months in the freezer.
How to Reheat: To thaw out overnight oats without yogurt, leave them in the fridge overnight or on the counter.
Reheat in the microwave at medium-high to high for 30 seconds to 1 minute, depending on how warm you want them. The texture may be a bit softer than when they are made fresh.
To reheat overnight oats over the stove, simply pour them into a small pot over medium heat and allow to come to a boil.
gabriela -
such an easy meal prep recipe! loved it!
Heather -
Loved this. Was so yummy!