The Best Ways To Make Overnight Oats Without Milk
Overnight oats are one of the simplest and most nutritious breakfast choices you can make. This inspired method means you can prepare a healthy, satisfying breakfast in minutes, and it is ready to eat while you enjoy your morning coffee.
In fact, we’re such a fan of overnight oats we think they can be eaten at any time of day!
But what is the best way to make overnight oats without milk? You can use other dairy products such as yogurt, or non-dairy milk like almond milk or coconut milk. Alternatively, overnight oats can be made with fruit juices or purees such as mashed banana or apple juice. You can even make overnight oats with water instead of milk; they just won’t be as creamy.
Have we got your tastebuds tingling at the thought of overnight oats? We’ve got some great ways to make overnight oats without milk, so you’ll never get bored with so many great flavor combinations on offer!
What Are Overnight Oats?
Oats have been a breakfast staple for many centuries, and these delicious and nutritious grains have traditionally been served in a variety of different ways.
One of the most popular oat dishes is oatmeal, also known as porridge. This is where the oats are cooked slowly in milk or water, turning them soft and creamy.
However, knocking up a batch of oatmeal can be time-consuming and messy, and oats have fallen out of favor in the busy day-to-day lives of so many people. At least until the genius idea of overnight oats was born!
How Are Overnight Oats Made?
Overnight oats are made by adding a liquid (normally milk) to a serving of oats, then leaving them overnight in the refrigerator, where the liquid is slowly absorbed by the oats.
The result is a soft, creamy breakfast blend, ready to eat straight from the fridge.
The idea behind overnight oats is to make the oats soft enough to eat without cooking them. The oats absorb most of the liquid in the mix, but the remainder turns thick and creamy — just like oatmeal!
The joy of overnight oats is that, as no cooking or heating is involved, many other ingredients can be added to them. These include seeds, nuts, chopped fruits, jams, and sweeteners such as honey or syrup.
Overnight oats can be eaten cold, or for a winter warmer they can be gently heated in the microwave.
The other advantage to them is that they can be prepared up to five days in advance, so you can make up a batch of breakfasts on a Sunday evening to be ready for the week ahead.
You can either make up one large batch and scoop it out when you want a serving, or create individual breakfast pots for all the family. This is a great way for everyone to personalize their overnight oats to exactly how they like them!
The basis of any batch of overnight oats is the mix of oats and liquid, but this would get quite dull after a few days. So, many people like to add a range of different ingredients to overnight oats to create a different breakfast every day.
Here are some of the most common ways to spice up overnight oats:
- Fruit can be added in pretty much any state — fresh, dried, frozen, or pureed.
- Seeds and nuts are great for adding texture and crunch.
- Nut butter (such as almond butter) makes the oats even more creamy.
- Chia seeds absorb moisture and create an intense creaminess.
- Overnight oats can be sweetened with honey, syrup, or sugar.
Is It Possible To Make Overnight Oats Without Milk?
It is absolutely possible to make overnight oats without milk! If we look at the concept behind overnight oats, we can see that the idea is to take dried oats and turn them soft by adding a liquid.
So, we can switch the traditional cow’s milk used to make oatmeal, and replace this with various other liquids to create overnight oats!
This means you can replace dairy milk with non-dairy alternatives, ideally for anyone who is lactose intolerant or following a vegan diet.
Different liquids will create different textures in overnight oats, so you may need to adjust the quantities accordingly to account for this.
However, you can use other ingredients such as chia seeds to help recreate the creaminess of overnight oats made from cow’s milk.
When substituting other liquids for milk, it is also important to bear in mind that it may affect how far in advance you can make the oats. Fruit-based alternatives will not last as long as milk and are best made just a day or two in advance.
The Best Ways To Make Overnight Oats Without Milk
So, are your tastebuds tingling at the thought of overnight oats?
Whether you’re looking for a close substitute for cow’s milk in overnight oats, or want to mix it up and use something completely different, we’ve got some great ideas here for you!
1. Yogurt
The best way to make incredibly creamy overnight oats without milk is to swap it for yogurt instead!
Yogurt gives the oat mix an incredibly decadent, smooth, velvety texture and is perfect for when you crave a deluxe version of this delicious breakfast treat.
The great thing about yogurt is that you can choose the perfect yogurt to suit your tastes. Greek yogurt has a classic tangy flavor, whereas fruit-flavored yogurts can turn your oats into something resembling a dessert.
You can also use plant-based yogurts in place of milk to make dairy-free overnight oats. Overnight oats with yogurt can be made up to five days in advance, just like the standard milk version.
As yogurt is thicker than milk, you should adjust the ratios in your overnight oats accordingly. You also need to add water, as yogurt alone is too thick to fully soak the oats — a ratio of one-third yogurt and two-thirds water will work well.
2. Orange Juice
Soaking oats in fruit juice will be a whole new revelation when it comes to the world of overnight oats! Orange juice overnight oats have a fresh and zingy flavor and will get your day off to a great start.
Use ¾ cup of orange juice for every cup of rolled oats to create the perfect consistency. The oats need to soak for at least 9 hours to become soft and creamy, so this is definitely one to make the night before.
However, overnight oats with orange juice do not keep as well as the milky version, so don’t be tempted to make up a large batch in one go.
By the third day they may be mushy and unpleasant, so stick to making up enough for a day or two at a time.
If you are adding other fruit to your orange juice overnight oats, think carefully about flavors that will work well with the citrusy tang of the juice. Fruits with similar flavor profiles include blueberries, peaches, and grapefruit.
Orange juice also lacks the sweetness of milk, but a few drops of vanilla essence or maple syrup will soon rectify this problem.
3. Almond Milk
Many people use non-dairy milk substitutes when making overnight oats, but which are the best ones to use? Top of the list for creaminess is almond milk, which is the perfect dairy-free alternative for making overnight oats.
The great thing about almond milk is that it is thick and rich enough to perfectly recreate the dairy-based version of this breakfast snack.
Almond milk also has a natural sweetness which means you can cut down on the amount of added sugar or honey you need to use.
When using almond milk to make overnight oats, you can follow the recipe exactly as you would when using cow’s milk. Simply swap the milk on a like-for-like basis, and sweeten it to taste just before you serve.
This is a great alternative if you crave the true flavor and texture of overnight oats, but need to avoid dairy products. Overnight oats made with almond milk are suitable for vegans and anyone who is lactose intolerant.
4. Apple Sauce
Another great dairy-free alternative for overnight oats is to use apple sauce. Apple sauce has a sweet, fruity flavor that works perfectly with rolled oats to create soft, velvety overnight oats.
Depending on whether you use homemade or store-bought apple sauce, you may need to add extra water to the mix to create the desired consistency. The sauce should almost be pourable, and not too thick and stodgy.
The great thing about using apple sauce for overnight oats is that the flavor works well with many different fruits, nuts, and seeds.
Add a few slices of strawberry and a handful of raspberries for a fresh, summery treat — you can even add some grated apple to really bulk out the fruitiness!
The only downside to using apple sauce to make overnight oats is that they won’t be quite as creamy as you’d like. However, you can add a spoonful of thick yogurt or Crème Fraiche to quickly turn your breakfast snack into a decadent treat.
5. Coconut Milk
Using coconut milk to make overnight oats is probably the closest you’ll get to the real thing! Coconut milk has a similar consistency to dairy milk, but it is slightly sweeter and can have a slight hint of coconut flavor.
Coconut milk also has some great nutritional benefits — it is a healthy source of fat and protein, and is packed full of essential vitamins and minerals. Overnight oats with coconut milk are the perfect way to set you up for a busy day!
This substitution is perfect for when you want to add other nuts and seeds to overnight oats, as the flavors work really well together.
Substitute coconut milk for dairy milk on a like-for-like basis, but cut down on any added sweeteners to account for the sweetness of coconut milk. These oats can be made several days in advance and can be enjoyed all week long.
6. Mashed Banana
Overnight oats with mashed banana are particularly popular with children, who love the fruity, sweet flavor of this breakfast treat.
This method works best with ripe bananas, and you can even use ones that have gone slightly overripe and mushy.
Peel and slice the banana, and pop the chunks into a bowl. Mash the banana chunks with a fork until you have a smooth banana puree. At this point, you can add your oats and stir them thoroughly into the banana pulp.
It may be necessary to add extra liquid to ensure the oats become perfectly soft. A splash of water may be sufficient, or you can use fruit juice or non-dairy milk instead.
Overnight oats with banana taste great topped with summer fruits, or a sprinkling of nuts and seeds. This version does not keep well, so stick to making enough for just one day at a time.
7. Fruit Smoothie
If you’re a fan of fruit smoothies, combining these with overnight oats is a surefire way to open up a whole new world of breakfast treats!
Pretty much any type of fruit smoothie recipe can be combined with oats and left to stand overnight.
The reason this method works so well is that most smoothies already contain a perfect balance of ingredients that will ensure your oats turn out soft, creamy, and absolutely delicious.
You can use store-bought smoothies, or play about with different recipes at home.
If you are aiming to cut out dairy products, look for smoothies that contain plant-based milk or yogurt. Alternatively, use smoothies that are made solely from fruit, with no added dairy products.
8. Apple Juice
Run out of milk to make your overnight oats? Reach for the apple juice instead! The sweet, fruity flavor of apple juice will blend perfectly with rolled oats to make them soft, chewy, and absolutely delicious.
The joy of using apple juice to make overnight oats is that the flavor will work with pretty much anything you want to add.
This means you can mix up a different combination of fruits, nuts, and seeds every day, so you’ll never get bored!
Overnight oats made with apple juice do not store well, so avoid making up a large batch for the week ahead. But since they are so quick to make, mixing up a batch every evening will soon become part of your daily routine.
9. Water
Overnight oats with water is one of the simplest ways to make this breakfast dish without milk! You won’t get quite as good results as with the other methods outlined here, but in a pinch, it is a good substitution.
The problem with using water is that the overnight oats will not have the same creaminess as when using milk or any of the other alternatives on our list.
We wouldn’t advise using water if you’re making simple overnight oats, as they will turn out bland and rather flavorless.
This method only works well when you’re making overnight oats with plenty of other flavorful ingredients to compensate for the lack of milk.
If you’ve got a few chia seeds to add to the mix, these will help to add some creaminess back into your breakfast snack. Some fruit puree and chopped nuts will also work well here.
Another great advantage to using water is that it is a fat-free alternative to milk, making it a healthier choice if you’re following a calorie-controlled diet.
