Home Kitchen Banana Bread Overnight Oats

Is it too soon for another oatmeal post? I hope not because I eat oatmeal on most mornings and I’m always looking for fun new ways to flip the script on my regular breakfast.

How is it possible I’ve lived on this earth for thirty-fuh something years and NOT make overnight oats? Like it never dawned on me to throw oatmeal plus milk plus whatever else into a bowl and then leave it in the fridge overnight. OVER-FRIGGIN-NIGHT-OATMEAL!!! Sorry to shout, but my mind is kind of blown. Because A regular here the fact that not a single stove-top burner needs to be turned on to cook this oatmeal. I KNOW! It’s crazy, yet I’m sure you’re sitting there thinking about how you’ve been making overnight oats for decades and how I’m late to the party. Well, you’re right… I’m late. So darn late.

Over coffee, my friend Nichole was telling me how she’s been doing the whole overnight oats thing for breakfast lately and I sat there, slack-jawed while thinking; holy-baby-Jesus-in-a-manger! I need to jump on this. If you follow me on instagram, you’ve probably seen my bowls of oatmeal slash bowls of fruit with a side of oatmeal. A regular here my oatmeal, especially loaded with lots of goodies and this is banana bread oatmeal doesn’t disappoint!

I made this batch at noon and only popped it into the fridge. The milk softens and plumps the oats only like they would on the stove top! Nichole eats her overnight oats straight from the fridge. Um, I can’t do that. I cannot even comprehend cold oatmeal, it simply doesn’t compute.

To me, oatmeal = warm = fireside, so I reheat mine and load it with toppings. Naturally.

I decided I needed to use up the ripe bananas I had and was inspired to do a riff on banana bread, but in oatmeal. Complete with walnuts, spices and chia seeds for a little extra nutritional oomph. Here’s how to do it…

Start by smashing up a banana. I use a fork to get the job done.

Then add in two tablespoons dark brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, a pinch of salt and about 1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground nutmeg (simply eyeball it!).

Next give it a short mix, breaking up any clumps of sugar.

Then add in the 1/2 cup of thick-cut oats, 1/4 cup chopped walnuts and the teaspoon of chia seeds.

Looking good already!

Then lastly only add in the 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract and a cup of whole milk.

That’s it!

Stir and cover the bowl tightly and pop into your fridge for the night and you’ll have breakfast ready and waiting for you in the morning. What could be better (or easier) than that?

This oatmeal makes for a short breakfast option when you have little time to spare in the morning. After reheating mine, I like to add a sprinkle of dark brown sugar, a few slices of banana, more chopped walnuts, a little more chia seed and fresh blueberries. Worth the pot.

And the go-to part? These banana bread overnight oats tastes simply like banana bread (!!!).

It’s the dependable oatmeal that has ever happened to me. Overnight.

Enjoy! And if you give this Banana Bread Overnight Oats recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!

My cookbook: 120 Wholesome Kitchen-made Recipes Made Unfussy is now available! CLICK HERE for details and THANK YOU in advance!

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