5-Ingredient Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

Cinnamon rolls are my kryptonite, something about that gooey swirl of brown sugar and sweet cinnamon gets me every time. You know the smell I’m talking about… that warm, sugary cloud of cinnamony goodness that used to hit you the second you walked into the mall and passed Cinnabon? YUM.

As much as I love those big, cozy treats, Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats are more my speed most days. I’m feeding five people breakfast every morning, and years of experience tell me that a make-ahead, no-fuss recipe like this is a way better idea than waking up at 5 a.m. to make cinnamon rolls from scratch. (That’s what weekends, and my 4-ingredient crescent roll cinnamon rolls, are for.)

My kiddos are big overnight oats fans, apple cinnamon, pumpkin pie, blueberry, you name it, but there’s something about that cinnamon roll love that clearly runs in the family. They love this one, and I think you will too.

Ingredients

• Cinnamon Swirl: Do the swirl!  Just mix the powdered sugar and a bit of the yogurt together, pop it into a zip top bag and snip the corner.  The swirl just elevates that cinnamon roll feel for you.
• Yogurt: I like to use Greek yogurt for its 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

Cinnamon roll overnight oats are so simple.  Spend just 5 minutes putting them together at night and then have breakfast ready to go when you need it the next day. 

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 cinnamon and brown sugar.  Then mix up the yogurt and powdered sugar to make the signature swirl on top.  It’s the perfect icing on the proverbial cake.

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!

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.

Topping ideas for overnight oats

I love this recipe on it's own, but my family loves to customize their overnight oats. Here are some of their favorite toppings.

• Nuts (pecans or walnuts chopped finely)
• Raisins
• Mini Chocolate Chips
• Toasted Coconut
• Chopped Apple
• Pumpkin Puree
• Vanilla Granola

Variations

I love keeping these cinnamon roll overnight oats in the fridge—they’re easy to customize for guests or just tailor to what you’re craving.:

• Gluten-Free: Be sure to use certified gluten-free rolled oats (check the label to be sure!).
• Dairy-Free/Vegan: Swap in your favorite plant-based milk and yogurt. I love the vanilla-cinnamon flavor from Siggi’s plant-based line, but you can skip the yogurt altogether, just add a little extra milk so the oats still get soft and creamy.
• Extra Protein: Stir in a scoop of your favorite vanilla protein powder before refrigerating.
• Extra Decadent: Go all in with a swirl of homemade whipped cream on top. Just whisk heavy cream with powdered sugar until stiff peaks form, then pipe or dollop it on before serving.
• Brown Sugar Overnight Oats: Skip the cinnamon and let the brown sugar shine. It gives the oats a rich, molasses-y flavor.
• Cinnamon-Only Overnight Oats: Leave off the creamy swirl and top with a quick sprinkle of homemade cinnamon sugar.

📖 Recipe