Banana Bread Overnight Oats (Print View)

Creamy oats blended with bananas, warm cinnamon, and walnuts for a hearty, make-ahead morning start.

# Components:

→ Oats Mixture

01 - 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup milk, dairy or unsweetened plant-based
03 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or non-dairy alternative
04 - 1 ripe banana, mashed
05 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
07 - 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
08 - Pinch of salt

→ Toppings

09 - 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
10 - 1 small banana, sliced
11 - Additional maple syrup or honey for drizzling, optional
12 - Pinch of ground cinnamon, optional

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl or jar, combine oats, milk, yogurt, mashed banana, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir thoroughly until well combined.
02 - Divide the mixture evenly between two jars or containers.
03 - Cover and refrigerate overnight for at least 6 hours, allowing the oats to soften and absorb the flavors.
04 - In the morning, stir the oats thoroughly. Add additional milk if a thinner consistency is preferred.
05 - Top each serving with chopped walnuts, banana slices, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a sprinkle of cinnamon as desired.
06 - Serve chilled or at room temperature immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Zero morning stress: your breakfast is literally sleeping in your fridge, waiting to be eaten.
  • It tastes like banana bread but won't leave your kitchen smelling like burnt edges and regret.
  • The texture gets better overnight as the oats soften and absorb all that cinnamon-vanilla magic.
02 -
  • Don't skip the salt—it sounds weird, but just a pinch amplifies the banana and cinnamon flavors so you actually taste something interesting instead of sweetness alone.
  • The banana must be ripe and mashed well or you'll have chunks instead of a smooth, creamy base; frozen-thawed bananas work beautifully if fresh ones aren't cooperating.
03 -
  • Make all your jars at once on Sunday, and you've essentially given yourself the gift of an entire week of peaceful mornings—this genuinely changed how I approached meal prep.
  • Toast your walnuts briefly in a dry pan before chopping them, and they'll stay crunchier and taste bakery-quality; it's five minutes that transforms everything.
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