Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats

Fall in Michigan means apple picking. And apple picking means applesauce. For years, I've been making my own applesauce from apples we picked ourselves. It's a fall family tradition that all five of us look forward to. And that love of applesauce led me to develop this apple cinnamon overnight oats recipe.

Applesauce has always been a staple in our house. Growing up my mom made it at the holidays, put a little cup of it in my lunch every day (you know, the ones with the foil lids), and it was on the table at most meals. We just love the stuff!

I'm all about getting a filling, good for you breakfast into my kiddos on even the busiest of mornings, and you can make it happen too! While, my family tends to gravitate to the warm flavors of overnight oats (think pumpkin pie oats and cinnamon rolls) there are so many ways to customize this recipe to your families taste.

Ingredients

• Applesauce: I love making my own homemade applesauce (spiced up with cinnamon of course) each fall. but you can just as easily use store bought applesauce. We like Mott's but use whatever your family likes. 
• Yogurt: I like to use Greek yogurt for it's creamy texture, but any yogurt you like will work.
• Oats: Old fashioned oats are the way to go here
• Milk: I typically use cow's milk, but either almond milk or soy milk will also work in this recipe.

Step by Step Directions

There are two ways to make this recipe.  The easiest method is to use applesauce to make apple cinnamon overnight oats (either homemade or store bought).  Another way is to quickly cook an apple pie like filling to use in the overnight oats. 

I first lay out my jars and find the lids and bands to go with them.  It’s the worst when you’ve made all of your jars, but can’t find the last lid.  Then, I measure out the oats into each jar.

Using a measuring cup, I pour the milk into each jar (dairy and plant based milks both work well here). 

After the milk is in, I add in the yogurt and the flavorings. In this case, I would add in the applesauce, a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg, a bit of brown sugar.  You can also stir in some chopped apples for a different texture if you like.

From there, all you need to do is put a lid on it and put it into the fridge. When you are ready to eat, open the jar, stir everything together and voila, breakfast is served!

Alternative method

If you don't have applesauce stocked in your pantry like we do (although I highly recommend it 😉), you can make a quick cinnamon apple pie filling on the stove and use that in place of the applesauce.

• Dice up an apple and put that in small frying pan with a few dashes of cinnamon and a Tablespoon of brown sugar and a pat of butter.
• Let the mixture cook over medium-low heat until the apples have softened.
• Be sure to stir the mixture to prevent it from burning.
• Once it's cooked down you can easily use it in place of the applesauce in this recipe.

Storage Tips and Helpful Tools

I don't always insist on having specific tools for my recipes, but when making overnight oats, these items come in really handy!

• Mason Jars: I like to use these 8oz wide mouth mason jars for my oats. I think they hold the right amount for a good breakfast.  The wide mouth jar allows easy access so that you can get to every last bite. Mason jars also stack well in the fridge which is great because the recipe will last in the fridge up to 5 days.
• Bulk Oats: Buy old fashioned rolled oats in larger quantities to save money. Try either the bulk bins at Whole Foods or another bulk food store, or get them from Costco.
• This 4 cup liquid measuring cup helps speed up the process and keeps me on track with how much milk I’m pouring into each jar.
• Dry goods scoop: I like this one because it connects to a container that is perfect for storing your oats in.

Flavor Variations

If my kiddos are like yours, they have definite opinions about what they want to eat. If someone isn't into apple cinnamon flavor, you can offer these ideas to them as a way to customize their own jar.

• Applesauce Overnight Oats: skip the cinnamon and double the applesauce. This is a great option for feeding babies and toddlers. Use baby oatmeal in place of the rolled oats for a smoother texture.
• Cinnamon Overnight Oats: Cinnamon is front and center if double the amount of cinnamon in each jar and skip the apple sauce. To make sure the oats are creamy enough, up the amount of milk you add to each jar and don't forget the brown sugar for a little bit of sweetness.
• Make it Vegan: Use a plant based milk and plant based yogurt. Siggi's makes a vanilla-cinnamon option that would work well.
• Banana Cinnamon Overnight Oats: trade out the applesauce for a cube of banana puree or half a mashed banana.

📖 Recipe