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These decadent Chocolate Overnight Oats are an easy and wholesome make-ahead breakfast that tastes like dessert! Vegan and Gluten-Free.
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The Breakfast That Tastes Like Dessert!
Overnight oats recipes are plentiful on my blog because they’re the most perfect make-ahead breakfast ever. It’s no surprise that they’ve been a weekly staple for me since college; I love their quick 10-minute prep times and experimenting with new fun flavors, like pineapple, lemon poppy seed, and pumpkin spice.
But if you’re like me and will take any excuse to eat chocolate, this Chocolate Overnight Oats Recipe is for you. With rich chocolate flavors and a texture that’ll remind you of chocolate pudding, it has everything any chocolate lover could ever need or want in a sweet breakfast! Plus, it’s easy to make with less than 10 wholesome ingredients and is secretly packed with complex carbs and fiber to help keep you full and satisfied until lunch.
What You Need for Chocolate Oats
You need less than 10 simple and wholesome ingredients to put this chocolatey breakfast together. Eating dessert for breakfast has never been easier!
- Oats: I make most of my overnight oats recipes with a 50-50 mix of instant oats and rolled oats for a creamy and hearty texture. You can stick with one or another, though. Instant oats will make the oatmeal more creamy, while rolled oats add more of a chew. Do not use steel cut oats—they’re better off in hot breakfasts, like my Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats recipe.
- Cocoa Powder: it’s what makes the oats rich and chocolatey! You can also use cacao powder for a slightly sweeter flavor.
- Chia Seeds: use chia seeds OR ground flaxseed to make the texture extra thick and creamy.
- Chocolate: there’s no such thing as too much chocolate, which is why we need to fold a few tablespoons of mini dark chocolate chips, chopped chocolate chunks, or cacao nibs into the oats.
- Milk: opt for thick and creamy non-dairy milk, like cashew, oat, or soy milk.
- Yogurt: any plain and unsweetened dairy-free yogurt will make the oats creamy and slightly tangy. If you’re all out of vegan yogurt or prefer not to use it, replace it with an equal amount of milk.
- Maple Syrup: the sweetness balances the subtle bitterness from the cocoa powder. Agave, cane sugar, or coconut sugar also work well as substitutes.
How to Make Chocolate Overnight Oats
- Add the oats, chia seeds, and mini chocolate chips to a large bowl. Sprinkle the cocoa powder over top, then mix until well combined.
- Add the milk, yogurt, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt to the bowl. Mix until mostly combined, then set aside for 5 minutes. Stir again and set aside for another 5 minutes.
- Transfer the chocolate oatmeal to jars and refrigerate overnight. Top as desired the next day and enjoy!
Caitlin’s Cooking Tips
- Prevent cocoa clumps in the oat mixture: Cocoa powder has the tendency to clump together when it’s added to wet batters. To prevent clumps, I recommend tossing the oats in the cocoa until they’re coated. Some cocoa may clump at the top of the mixture when you add the wet ingredients, but it will absorb after resting for 5 minutes.
- The best oats with the perfect consistency: There are two methods I use to achieve the perfect consistency in this chocolate oats recipe: (1) I use a 50-50 mix of quick oats and rolled oats for a chewy yet hearty texture and (2) a mix of creamy non-dairy milk and yogurt makes every spoonful luxurious. Copy these methods and it’ll feel like you’re eating pudding for breakfast!
Serving Suggestions
A jar of chocolate chip overnight oats comes in handy any time of day! Enjoy them for a quick and easy breakfast, a pre- or post-workout snack, or when you need an afternoon pick-me-up.
The complex carbohydrates and fiber in the oats should keep you full for a few hours but you can add toppings to make each serving feel more substantial. Fresh or frozen fruit (bananas, berries, etc.), a drizzle of nut butter, shredded coconut, chopped nuts, vegan whipped cream, a drizzle of this Vegan Nutella, or extra chocolate chips are all tasty options.
If you’re looking for more overnight oats recipes that taste like dessert, you’ll also love these Carrot Cake Overnight Oats, these Raspberry Overnight Oats, and these Apple Pie Overnight Oats!
How to Store Overnight Oats
Store the chocolate overnight oats in the fridge for up to 5 days. I recommend dividing them into individual mason jars or airtight containers to make them easier to grab and enjoy for an on-the-go breakfast or snack.
Substitutions and Variations
- Add Protein Powder: You can add 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder to the dry ingredients in this recipe. Reduce the cocoa powder to 1 tablespoon and the maple syrup/sweetener to 2 to 3 tablespoons.
- Gluten-Free Option: Not all oats are inherently gluten-free because they’re often processed with wheat products. Read the nutrition labels beforehand and buy certified gluten-free oats if you need this recipe to be gluten-free.
- Mocha Overnight Oats: Add one shot of espresso or 1 teaspoon of espresso powder for a delicious chocolate and coffee flavor!
- Chocolate Strawberry Overnight Oats: Fold 1 cup of chopped strawberries (or raspberries) into the overnight oats before portioning into jars.
- Chocolate and Peanut Butter Overnight Oats: Combine 2 tablespoons of peanut butter with the wet ingredients for chocolate PB overnight oats.
- Banana Chocolate Overnight Oats: Fold 1/2 cup of banana slices into the oats before portioning into jars.
Recipe FAQs
The oats need to be soaked for a minimum of 4 hours. You can also leave them in the fridge for up to 5 days.
If you prefer to eat your oatmeal warm, heat as much oatmeal as you plan on eating in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stove. I’d recommend adding a splash of water or almond milk to help loosen the consistency.
The oat mixture will look runny at first but will thicken as it chills in the fridge overnight. If the oats are still too runny, mix in 1 to 2 teaspoons of ground flax or chia seeds, or reduce the amount of liquid the next time you make this recipe.
Enjoy! If you make this recipe and decide to share it on Facebook or Instagram, don’t forget to tag me @FromMyBowl + #FromMyBowl! I would also love it if you could leave a comment below with a recipe rating! Thank you for the support 😊
Chocolate Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 2 cups quick-cooking or rolled oats* gluten-free if necessary
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder or cacao powder
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds or ground flaxseed
- 2-3 tablespoons mini chocolate chips or chopped chocolate optional
- Pinch of salt
- 2 cups creamy non-dairy milk
- 1/2 cup plain unsweetened dairy-free yogurt or sub with more milk
- 2-4 tablespoons grade A maple syrup plus more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Topping suggestions: fresh or frozen fruit nut butter, chocolate chips, etc.
Instructions
- Dry Ingredients: Add the oats, chia seeds, and mini chocolate chips (if using) to a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle the cocoa powder over the top of the oats, then use a spatula to mix well until the cocoa is evenly distributed (this reduces clumping).
- Wet Ingredients: Add the milk, yogurt, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt to the bowl and mix well until mostly combined; some of the cocoa may clump at the top. Let sit for 5 minutes, then stir in again to fully incorporate the cocoa. Let sit for another 5 minutes, to thicken.
- Store & Serve: Transfer the oatmeal to jars or other containers, then store in the fridge for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. Top as desired and enjoy cold or warm; leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Non-dairy Milk: I recommend using a thick and creamy milk, like cashew, oat, or soy milk.
- Oats: I like to use 50-50 mix of instant oats and rolled oats for a creamy and hearty texture! Instant oats will make the oatmeal more creamy, while rolled oats add more of a chew.
I just hate eating regular oats with some milk and dry fruits and all that stuff. Making this overnight chocolate oats is super easy and fun to do. Just takes 15 mins to add the ingredients and mixing. A huge thanks to you for making and posting this delicious recipe. Much love and progress to you
Thank you so much for the review, Mayank! Glad you liked it.
Literally the best overnight oats recipe I’ve ever had (and I’ve made quite a few)! It’s creamy, got some texture with the chocolate chips and is perfectly balanced flavor-wise!
Thank you so much, MK! Glad you enjoy it.