Breakfast & Brunch Healthy Cereal Recipes Healthy Oatmeal Recipes Overnight Oatmeal 12 Overnight Oat Recipes That Taste Like Dessert For Breakfast By Dillon Evans Dillon Evans Dillon Evans fell in love with cooking at a very young age. He remembers the novel experiences of microwaving a bowl of oatmeal without his parents' permission and asking to make his mother's morning pot of coffee. These moments became catalysts for his interest in cooking and baking. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on January 16, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Make a batch of these overnight oat recipes at night so you always have breakfast ready to go in the morning. From tart and fruity to nutty and spicy, these overnight oats are inspired by the flavors of your favorite dessert recipes. Try dishes like our Carrot Cake Overnight Oats and Banana Cream Pie–Inspired Overnight Oats to bring a sweet and nutritious twist to the start of your day. 01 of 12 Carrot Cake Overnight Oats Carrot cake for breakfast? We say yes! These carrot cake overnight oats taste just like the classic dessert—complete with a frosting-like layer—but with far less added sugar. We like layering some of the frosting in between layers of oats, but you can just dollop it all on top if you prefer. View Recipe 02 of 12 Lemon-Blueberry Overnight Oats Photographer: Stacy K. Allen, Props: Julia Bayless, Food stylist: Ana Kelley These lemon-blueberry overnight oats are layered with creamy oats and a sweet blueberry syrup, with a garnish of fresh blueberries and lemon zest to bring the flavors together. Frozen blueberries work well too, but to get the right texture for the syrup you will need to use 2¼ cups frozen blueberries, 3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons maple syrup and 1½ tablespoons lemon juice. View Recipe 03 of 12 Tres Leches-Inspired Overnight Oats Tres leches, which is Spanish for "three milks," gets its name from the three types of milk that are used to soak the classic cake: whole milk, evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk. Here, we use those milks to hydrate oats, creating a creamy, satisfying breakfast. A sprinkle of cinnamon adds a nice touch of spice, while sliced strawberries provide a pop of color. Tres leches cake is usually topped with whipped cream—if you want to re-create that creaminess, try topping these oats with some plain yogurt for a breakfast-friendly twist. View Recipe 04 of 12 Apple Pie-Inspired Overnight Oats Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Skyler Myers, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco There's no better way to usher in fall than apple pie-inspired overnight oats in the morning. Prep and store this easy breakfast ahead of time to have on hand for busy work and school mornings. You can substitute any nondairy milk for the reduced-fat milk, or try kefir if you want your oats extra tangy. View Recipe 05 of 12 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup-Inspired Overnight Oats Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle These overnight oats re-create the flavors of a popular candy. The chocolate is used in two ways—stirred into the oats, and melted on top to mimic the shell of the peanut butter cup. Flaky sea salt on top balances the sweetness. We use crunchy peanut butter, but creamy peanut butter, almond butter or sunflower butter would work just as well. View Recipe 06 of 12 Banana Cream Pie–Inspired Overnight Oats Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Start your day with a breakfast that feels like a treat—these layered overnight oats offer a delightful blend of banana, cinnamon and a touch of vanilla to elevate the taste. Right before enjoying, a finishing touch of crumbled graham crackers adds a pie-like charm to this easy breakfast. For the best results, use ripe bananas: their skin should be brown in spots and they should feel a little soft when you squeeze them. View Recipe 07 of 12 Tiramisu-Inspired Overnight Oats Photographer: Sara Baurley, Food Stylist: Julia Levy, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Tiramisu, a classic Italian dessert, serves as flavor inspiration for these overnight oats. Instant espresso powder adds a touch of bitterness to the dish, which gets balanced by the sweetness of the maple syrup. We top each serving with yogurt for some tanginess, but you could also try swapping in ricotta. A dusting of cocoa powder on top serves as a nod to the dessert's iconic look. These oats are meal-prep-friendly, but if you find your oats becoming too dry as they sit in the fridge, add more almond milk until they're loosened to your desired consistency. View Recipe 08 of 12 Apple Crumble Overnight Oats Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless Creamy oats combine with cinnamon-scented apples in this fall-inspired grab-and-go breakfast. Cashew butter adds a mild flavor and creamy texture. Try almond butter in its place to give this a nuttier twist. To make these overnight oats dairy-free, swap out the milk for unsweetened oat milk or almond milk. View Recipe 09 of 12 Cinnamon-Roll Overnight Oats It takes just minutes to assemble this healthy no-cook breakfast, and you'll have meal-prepped grab-and-go breakfasts on hand for the rest of the week. View Recipe 10 of 12 Caramel Apple–Inspired Overnight Oats Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle, Food Stylist: Amanda Stanfield This easy, meal-prep-friendly recipe takes all the flavors of a caramel apple and imparts them into breakfast. Applesauce ensures the texture is creamy yet light while also providing balance to the sweet-tart flavor of the oats. If you don’t have Granny Smith apples on hand, Fuji, Gala or Honeycrisp apples work as well. Crushed honey-roasted peanuts mimic the coating of a caramel apple, but any salty-sweet nut would be delicious. View Recipe 11 of 12 Key Lime Pie–Inspired Overnight Oats Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl Who doesn’t love Key lime pie for breakfast? These creamy overnight oats taste just like the iconic dessert, complete with a crumbled graham cracker topping. A tangy Key lime–flavored yogurt mixture sits on top of the oats. Be sure to stir it in just before adding the topping to best preserve the texture of the oats. If you can’t find fresh Key limes, you can use regular lime zest and bottled Key lime juice, or use a mix of 1 part lemon juice and 2 parts regular lime juice. View Recipe 12 of 12 Pumpkin Cheesecake Overnight Oats With pumpkin, ricotta and a little maple, this easy overnight oats recipe tastes like dessert, but it's actually good for you! Plus, it's perfect for a quick, on-the-go healthy breakfast. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit