~ Loaded with protein from creamy Greek yogurt and crunchy nuts, and bursting with flavor from sweet cranberries and juicy apples, this deliciously easy and hearty breakfast takes just 10 minutes to prep and is ready when you are! ~
This Recipe Is: • Ready in 30 Minutes or Less (Plus Chilling) • Make Ahead • Vegetarian • Gluten Free •
OhMyGoodness. Where in the world has summer gone?
I mean, yeah, I get that the “official” end of summer is in late September. But we’re less than two weeks from school starting. And when you’re a kid … or a mom … well, that sure feels like the end of summer!
So what did you do with your summer? Anything fun??
I remember when I was younger … that feeling of the “endless days of summer.” There was soooo much time. It seemed like there was an eternity between the end of one school year and the beginning of another.
There was time to sleep in. Time to swim. Time to go to the park and have a picnic. Time to play.
Well, times … they are a’changin’ … ’cause our summer was B-U-S-Y.
(I wonder if my mom thought summers were busy, too. She, of course, was the one who shuttled me to the pool or park or a friend’s house to play.)
My kids had a summer jammed full with lots of super-fun activities. In addition to the pool and friends’ houses, there was a summer musical production and lacrosse camps and field hockey camp and my cousin’s wedding (where we didn’t eat ribbon Jell-O) and and and …
It’s all been an absolute blast – tons of friends at everything!
But as you may have guessed, most of these super-fun activities start early in the morning. Which works for some … but notsomuch for my “morning-isn’t-my-favorite-part-of-the-day” kiddos.
So ya know what we needed to get us through the morning slump? Yep! An awesome breakfast to kick-start the day!
Something with whole grains and protein. Hmmm … maybe something with fruit. Definitely something that doesn’t take a long time to make on a hectic morning. And something that can maybe be eaten on the go. Ohhh … what if it can even be prepped the night before?? Is it too good to be true?
Nope. It’s totally true!
I’m talking overnight oatmeal. The breakfast that will revolutionize your morning, and maybe your entire life (hey, a girl can dream!).
It’s healthy.
It’s delicious.
It’s reeeaaalllllyyy simple.
And it can be eaten in the car (or minivan – if you’re me). Unless you’re driving – then please enjoy your breakfast at the safety of your kitchen table (mandatory safety disclaimer 😀 ).
Overnight oats have so many things going for them. You can toss ’em together the night before. In fact, they’re best when made then (hence the name “overnight”!) – the oats have time to soften and absorb all the deliciousness.
Hectic evening? This entire recipe takes less than 10 minutes from start to finish … and you’ve got breakfast for several days!
Well, if you’re lucky. ‘Cause it might not last that long. I tend to take a serving, and when that’s gone … maybe a tad more. Ok, just another bite. Mmmm … so yummy!
My husband loves overnight oats for his second breakfast after a long run. And overnight oatmeal is something both my kids can actually agree on. (And friends, if that’s not a total win, I don’t know what is.)
Creamy Greek yogurt envelops crisp, tart apples and hearty grains. Protein-packed walnuts add the perfect crunch and pair beautifully with just a hint of cinnamon. Dried cranberries are a fun pop of sweetness that ties the whole breakfast together.
Wanna make it? Got 10 minutes? Yeah … I do, too!
Need More Super-Quick Breakfast Ideas? You’ll Love:
- 10-Minute Almond Joy Oatmeal
- Easy, Healthy Applesauce Granola (Make it ahead for easy breakfasts all week!)
- Farmers’ Market Overnight Breakfast Egg Casserole (Feeds a crowd!)
- 10-Minute Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
- Our List of Top 10 Healthy Make-Ahead Breakfast Recipes
10-Minute, No-Cook Overnight Oats with Apples, Cranberries and Cinnamon
Ingredients
- 1 Granny Smith apple, chopped (see note)
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats (see note)
- 1 cup nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup nonfat milk
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions
- Place all ingredients in a large bowl.
- Stir thoroughly to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate several hours, or overnight.
- Serve chilled.
Recipe Notes
Apple: We enjoyed this recipe best with Granny Smith apples, but did test it with other varieties. We loved the flavor profile that developed from the tart apple combined with the sweet cranberries. But, you can use your favorite apple or whatever variety you happen to have on hand.
Oats: For best results, do not use quick oats in this recipe. The consistency of quick oats isn't hearty enough to withstand overnight refrigeration. By morning, the quick oats will have broken down, and will be paste-like. Throughout our testing, we found that old-fashioned oats are truly the best for overnight oatmeal recipes.
Natashalh says
September 13, 2014 at 9:20 pmOh, man – this looks awesome! I love oatmeal, but you really had my attention with Greek yogurt. It’s pretty much my favorite ingredient ever. All the other ingredients are pretty high on the favorites list in my house, too. Thank you for sharing this!
Visiting from SNF =)
Avery says
October 31, 2015 at 10:07 pmLooks super good! I’m anxious to try it, just curious if I’d have to change anything to heat it up? I have super sensitive teeth so cold food hurts.
Gourmet Getaways says
May 14, 2016 at 1:44 amWow! You have some great overnight oats recipes!