Creamy Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats
Chocolate, banana, and peanut butter overnight oats perfectly toe the line between a healthy and decadent breakfast treat. They’re made with just a handful of inexpensive ingredients, prepped in just minutes, tastes like dessert, but are loaded with ingredients to keep you satisfied until your next meal. If you suffer from busy mornings (guilty!), then these meal-prep-friendly vegan overnight oats are a savior (alongside options like chocolate granola bars and chocolate chia pudding). Plus, they’re child-approved too!
What are Overnight Oats?
Overnight oats are simply a dish made with oats and a liquid (milk, juice, water. Many options also add a sweetener and chia seeds or yogurt for a creamier, thicker base) that are left to ‘soak’ and thicken overnight, with no cooking necessary. Then, the following morning, you can grab the jar from the fridge and dig in with a spoon. While similar to oatmeal, overnight oats require no cooking and retain more of the oats ’chewy’ texture and individual ‘grain’ consistency while still becoming thick and creamy. Even better, overnight oats recipes take just minutes to prep enough portions for a week of healthy breakfasts and have almost endless flavor versatility! For this peanut butter overnight oats recipe, I’ve combined three of my favorite flavors to make creamy but decadent overnight oats without yogurt, using banana to naturally thicken and sweeten the oats with no added sugar necessary. I then topped that off with a rich peanut butter chocolate ganache topping – to enjoy as a decadent meal prep breakfast, mid-day snack, or dessert! And if you want to try more oat-based vegan breakfast dishes, you might enjoy these healthy oatmeal chocolate chip bars, strawberry oatmeal bars, or baked banana oatmeal!
The Ingredients
The Banana Overnight Oats
Rolled oats: Old-fashioned oats/rolled oats are best for overnight oats (not steel-cut oats). Use certified gluten-free oats if necessary. Chia seeds: Overnight oats with chia seeds are thicker, and have added protein, fiber, and omega-3s. Mashed banana: Use a ripe or slightly over-ripe banana. This will thicken, flavor, and naturally sweeten the vegan overnight oats. Plant-based milk: Use your favorite dairy-free milk (almond, soy, cashew, coconut, rice, etc.). For a lighter option, you could use water, but the peanut butter overnight oats won’t be as creamy.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Ganache
Peanut butter: Use creamy peanut butter, it can be smooth or crunchy. If preferred, substitute it with another nut/seed butter, like almond butter, hazelnut butter, or sunflower seed butter. Coconut milk: This will make for the creamiest results over other plant-based milks. You can use full-fat or light canned coconut milk. Dairy-free chocolate: Use either semisweet or bittersweet chocolate. Use a sugar-free/keto chocolate, if preferred. Vanilla extract: Natural, pure vanilla will have the best flavor. Salt: Just a pinch enhances the flavors in the chocolate peanut butter overnight oats. Sweetener: (optional) Add a few drops of stevia/your liquid sweetener of choice.
Optional add-ins and recipe variations:
Yogurt: For creamier vegan overnight oats, use 50/50 of dairy-free yogurt (Like vegan greek yogurt) and milk. Zucchini: Finely shredded, drained zucchini will ‘hide’ in the flavorful banana overnight oats while adding extra nutrients. Add around ¼ cup (or more!). Coconut: Use unsweetened shredded coconut/flakes in the banana overnight oats mixture for texture, or sprinkle over the top as a garnish. Use ½-1 tbsp. Cacao nibs: For added crunch and an antioxidant boost, add a sprinkle of cacao nibs – around 1/2 tbsp. Banana slices: To top the chocolate peanut butter banana overnight oats. Fresh berries: Raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries would work to top this breakfast. I prefer to add them just before serving. Protein powder: Add ½ a scoop of your favorite unflavored, vanilla, banana, or peanut butter flavored protein powder to the chia seed oatmeal mixture. You’ll likely need additional liquid to make up for the absorbent powder. Cinnamon: Just a pinch to taste (added to the chia seed oatmeal mixture). PB&J: Swap out the ganache topping and instead add 1-2 tbsp of peanut butter to the oats and top with a berry compote.
Please read the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, measurements, complete recipe method, and nutritional information.
How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Step 1: Prepare the banana overnight oats mixture
Alternatively, you can use a small blender/food processor.
Step 2: Prepare the peanut butter chocolate ganache
Add the peanut butter (or nut/seed butter of choice), coconut milk, and dairy-free chocolate to a small heat-proof bowl. Either microwave for 30 seconds OR use a double-boiler to melt all the ingredients, stirring well to combine. Then, remove the ganache from the heat and optionally stir in the vanilla and salt.
Finally, pour the ganache over the chia oat mixture and leave the overnight oats to thicken for at least 2 hours or overnight. Optionally top with some peanuts or your favorite toppings, and then enjoy!
How to Store?
Store: These vegan overnight oats make for a fantastic meal-prep breakfast or snack. Once prepared, you can store these jars of peanut butter overnight oats in the refrigerator (covered) for up to 5 days. Freeze: I prefer to make overnight oats fresh since they take no time at all to prep. However, if you want to freeze them, do so in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Then, allow them to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before topping with additional toppings and serving. If you freeze overnight oats within a few hours of preparing them, then you can store them in the fridge for a further 3-4 days after thawing,
Should I eat overnight oats hot or cold?
Overnight oats are best enjoyed straight from the fridge. However, microwave them (for between 1-2 minutes) if you’d prefer a warm version.
Can I omit the chia seeds?
Absolutely. The overnight oats recipe won’t be as thick or hearty, but will still taste great. I recommend reducing the milk by a couple of tablespoons, too.
Are these peanut butter overnight oats healthy?
This overnight oats recipe toes the line between healthy and indulgent while packing in a good deal of health benefits thanks to the ingredients used. The oats will provide gut-healthy fiber (to keep you satisfied for longer) along with several vitamins, minerals, and even antioxidants. Meanwhile, the chia seeds are packed with plant-based protein, antioxidants, minerals, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids. These, combined, can support gut health, heart health, cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, and bone health! More so, you can use natural peanut butter with no added sugar or unnecessary vegetable oils/trans fats, to take advantage of the high amounts of plant-based protein, antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals it contains. If you are worried about the sugar content in the chocolate portion of this recipe, then feel free to use sugar-free (keto) chocolate instead!
Are overnight oats good for weight loss?
When eaten in moderation and alongside a healthy diet, overnight oats can keep you satisfied until your next meal and help to cut down on snacking.
For crunchier/ tougher overnight oats: Either soak them for less time (the 2 hours minimum rather than overnight) OR use a little less liquid in the recipe. If the oats aren’t sweet enough: I find that overnight oats with banana are sweet enough for me. However, if you have a sweeter tooth, feel free to add some of your favorite liquid sweetener: maple syrup, brown rice syrup, date syrup, liquid stevia drops, etc. For more peanut butter flavor: Add a spoonful of the nut butter to the banana overnight oats mixture, too. If it’s quite hard/solid, microwave it first. The optimal soaking time: While I recommend a 2hr minimum soaking time, overnight oats are best (and at their ‘proper’ consistency) with at least 7-8 hours of soaking time! For a lower fat version: You can experiment with using peanut butter powder instead of regular peanut butter.
More Vegan Oat Recipes
Raspberry oatmeal crumble bars Banana oat flour pancakes Chocolate oat breakfast bars Homemade nut-free granola Strawberry parfait Lemon Cheesecake Bars
If you try this chocolate peanut butter overnight oats recipe, I’d love a comment and ★★★★★ recipe rating below. Also, please don’t forget to tag me in re-creations on Instagram or Facebook with @elavegan #elavegan—I love seeing them.
title: “Peanut Butter Overnight Oats” ShowToc: true date: “2024-11-05” author: “Dorothy Davis”
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Peanut butter Overnight oats
If you are prone to hectic mornings, you absolutely have to make some on-the-go overnight oats! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, after all. And I can’t think of a better way to start my day than with hearty and wholesome overnight oats! These peanut butter overnight oats are a personal favorite, since they are packed with protein and flavor! Peanut butter oats are perfect for a make-ahead breakfast or snack so that you won’t have to be rushing around every morning for a healthy breakfast. All you have to do is add the ingredients to a jar and mix! Let the refrigerator do the work for you. In the morning top it off with all of your favorite toppings like banana and berries, or seeds and chopped nuts! If you aren’t a peanut butter fan, you can always substitute it with any of you favorite nut butters instead!
peanut butter overnight oats ingredients
Creamy Peanut Butter: The star of the show is definitely the peanut butter in these peanut butter overnight oats! Of course, if you prefer you can substitute any other creamy nut butter you prefer! Oats: Old fashioned oats work great here! They hold up to the liquid and get tender overnight for the perfect texture in the morning! Milk: You can use any kind of milk, including any plant-based milk! Chia Seeds: Chia seeds offer nutrition and create a silky texture. Vanilla Extract: For flavor! Maple Syrup: I like to naturally sweeten my oats with maple syrup. Feel free to use honey or agave syrup. For Serving: Top your overnight oats off with sliced bananas, fruit, more chia seeds or flax seeds, peanut butter drizzle and some mini chocolate chips for the works!
how to make this recipe
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