~ 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.
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
August 8, 2014 at 9:13 amWhat a great healthy breakfast – overnight oats are one of my favorite breakfasts, and I love how healthy this one is. I love Granny Smith apples, so I’m looking forward to September when my tree is ripe with them!
Two Healthy Kitchens says
August 8, 2014 at 12:58 pmI have to be totally honest … I’ve been eating these throughout the day! I can report, however, they are absolutely delicious at whatever time you actually eat them! 🙂
Gotta admit – I’m a teensy (read SUPER) jealous that you have a Granny Smith tree! I would LOVE to have my own apple tree … that would be so much fun!!!!! We do have several great orchards nearby, but to just walk out the back door and pick one – how amazing!! ~Gretchen
Gourmet Getaways says
August 8, 2014 at 4:33 amThis is one full and fun breakfast for me! Why, a lot of my favourites are in this oat fix!
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
Two Healthy Kitchens says
August 8, 2014 at 7:26 amHi Julie! We’re big (read BIG!) fans of overnight oats at my house! Mornings are too hectic, and honestly, I’m not really a morning person! I love taking a few minutes the night before to get breakfast going – it’s totally ready and absolutely delicious when we are rushing out the door! Love that it keeps us full alllllllll morning! 🙂 ~Gretchen
Kara Hoerr @ RD in the Midwest says
August 7, 2014 at 10:45 pmI love overnight oats and I love this rendition of it! I don’t know why I’ve never thought of adding apples into my already overloaded-with-cinnamon oatmeal. Yum! This will put me into the fall-mood stat! Thanks for sharing!
Two Healthy Kitchens says
August 8, 2014 at 10:03 amWe love those crisp bites of apples!! Even better – it’s a totally complete breakfast! Loads of whole grans, protein, and fruit … all in a ready-to-eat-as-you-run-out-the-door meal that will keep ya totally full for the morning! Hooray for no sugar crashes! 🙂 ~G&S
Ceara @ Ceara's Kitchen says
August 7, 2014 at 9:20 pmI love overnight oats (just had some for breaky in fact!) and I love your addition of cranberries, walnuts and cinammon – dee-licious! And I agree with your hubby, I dream of coming home to my overnight oats after a long run! I think they are one of my favourite post-run breakies! 😀
I also cannot get over where the summer has gone – it always goes by too fast! But as much as I love summer I always look forward to how beautiful Fall is and getting back into pumpkin season!
OH and I’ve decided on your confetti quinoa salad for my grandma’s birthday! Looking forward to it! Have a great weekend 🙂 !!
Two Healthy Kitchens says
August 8, 2014 at 11:50 amYay! We’ve got overnight oats here, too! My favorite part is that they are totally ready to go in the morning! And, like you, my husband loves that they are waiting for him after he runs. He’s usually starving and wants to eat something healthy to refuel with – these are perfect! 🙂
Fall is my favorite season, too! I just love the leaves and the crisp fall air!! And pumpkin anything gets me excited!!
Yay for confetti quinoa!! I can’t wait to hear how it turns out!!!! ~Gretchen
Debi @ Life Currents says
August 7, 2014 at 7:08 pmThis looks great! Thanks for sharing this recipe; I’m always on the look out for yummy new breakfast ideas. Have a wonderful couple of weeks, I’ll be away from computers for a little while, but I’m sure we’ll “chat” when I get back to it! 🙂
Two Healthy Kitchens says
August 8, 2014 at 10:01 amHi, Debi! You’re gonna love this recipe – it’s really quick and easy, and soooooo addictively delicious! As soon as Gretchen shared this particular version with me … I just kept CRAVING it! So, so ridiculously good! I hope you have a great couple of weeks – awesome to recharge and get away once in awhile (and high-five to you for totally stepping away from the computer, too)! We’ll catch ya once we’re all back in the swing of things in just a few short weeks! 😀 ~Shelley