13 New Oat Recipes That Taste Like Dessert for Breakfast

a recipe photo of the Banana Cream Pie–Inspired Overnight Oats
Photo:

Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Try our new dessert-inspired oat recipes for breakfast. From overnight oats to oatmeal bars, these nutritious recipes are a sweet start to any day. Recipes like our Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats and our Lemon-Blueberry Breakfast Cookies are so tasty, you’ll want to make them again and again.

01 of 13

These Overnight Oats Taste Like a Slice of Strawberry Cheesecake

a recipe photo of the Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser

These overnight oats are chock-full of classic strawberry-cheesecake flavors—from the rich cream cheese layers to the sweet strawberry base, this feels like dessert for breakfast in the best way possible. If strawberries aren’t at their peak, swap them out for raspberries, blueberries or chopped stone fruit like peaches or nectarines.

02 of 13

White Chocolate Reese's Peanut Butter Cup-Inspired Overnight Oats

a recipe photo of the Reese’s White Chocolate Peanut Butter Egg-Inspired Overnight Oats

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Catherine Jesse, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Put a twist on your overnight oats with these jars inspired by the flavors of a popular candy. The white chocolate shell mimics the exterior of the peanut butter cup for a fun breakfast. Don’t skip the peanuts on top as they add a nice crunch. Feel free to swap in any milk or nut butter you prefer.

03 of 13

Oatmeal-Raisin Breakfast Bars Are Better Than the Cookies

a recipe photo of the Oatmeal-Raisin Breakfast Bars

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser

Enjoy dessert for breakfast with these delicious oatmeal-raisin bars! Made from common pantry essentials, these breakfast bars offer a subtle sweetness and can be enjoyed warm from the oven or stored for several days, providing a hassle-free grab-and-go breakfast option.

04 of 13

Lemon-Blueberry Breakfast Cookies

a recipe photo of the Lemon-Blueberry Breakfast Cookies

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser

Cookies for breakfast? Yes, please! These grab-and-go breakfast cookies contain a medley of dried fruit, oats, nuts and nut butter to start your morning off right. Feel free to use a different unsweetened dried fruit in place of the blueberries, or swap out the cashew butter for almond or peanut butter for a different flavor profile.

05 of 13

Banana Bread Overnight Oats

a recipe photo of the Banana Bread Overnight Oats

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Nicole Hopper, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines

Ripe bananas add natural sweetness to these healthy overnight oats. If you keep ripe bananas in your freezer, this recipe is a great way to use them—but skip using a previously frozen banana for the slices in the oat mixture, as the texture isn’t ideal. Feel free to swap the walnuts out for another nut, if you prefer.

06 of 13

Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal

a recipe photo of the Carrot Cake Oatmeal

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell

This dessert-for-breakfast baked carrot cake oatmeal is seasoned with aromatic ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg—just like the classic dessert. A dollop of vanilla yogurt stands in for traditional cream cheese frosting. Want a dairy-free alternative? Substitute the milk with oat milk or almond milk, and choose dairy-free yogurt for topping.

07 of 13

Almond Joy-Inspired Overnight Oats

a recipe photo of the Almond Joy Overnight Oats

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle, Food Stylist: Renu Dhar

These meal-prep-friendly overnight oats have all the flavors of an Almond Joy candy bar. Coconut is highlighted in each bite, from the canned milk and extract in the oat mixture to the flaked coconut on top. Coconut cream and shredded coconut can be substituted for the milk and flaked coconut, respectively. The chocolate-covered almonds and chocolate shell re-create the iconic look and taste of the candy bar.

08 of 13

Banana-Oatmeal Muffins

a recipe photo of Banana-Oatmeal Muffins

Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

These oatmeal-banana muffins strike the perfect balance of spice and sweetness. The oats soften while baking, making these muffins moist, tender and filling enough for breakfast. The riper the bananas, the sweeter the muffins will be. Browned bananas yield the strongest flavor, but yellow with some spots works just as well. If you don’t want to make muffins, bake the batter in a loaf pan until a wooden pick in the center comes out clean.

09 of 13

Tiramisu-Inspired Oatmeal Cakes

a recipe photo of the Breakfast Tiramisu-Inspired Oatmeal Cakes

Photography: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Kelsey Moylan, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco

These breakfast oatmeal cakes draw inspiration from tiramisu, featuring a batter infused with the classic flavors of coffee and cocoa powder. Hiding in the center is a dollop of lightly sweetened mascarpone cheese that melts into every bite. Opting for old-fashioned rolled oats ensures a firm, sturdy texture, as quick or instant oats may turn mushy during baking. Enjoy these cakes on the go with coffee or a shot of espresso.

10 of 13

Banana Cream Pie-Inspired Overnight Oats

a recipe photo of the 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.

11 of 13

Triple-Berry Blended Oats

a recipe photo of the Triple-Berry Blended Oats

Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Oats blend seamlessly with berries and offer a good dose of fiber in this easy breakfast. For blending, old-fashioned rolled oats are best because of how they soften and soak up the liquid, giving the dish a creamy, luxurious texture. If you are using frozen berries, give them a head start by breaking them up in the blender first before adding the rest of the ingredients.

12 of 13

Carrot Cake Oatmeal Bars

a recipe photo of the Carrot Cake Oatmeal Bars

Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Enjoy these delightful carrot cake oatmeal bars, perfect for a snack or dessert alongside a steaming cup of coffee. Made with a blend of shredded carrots, oats and a hint of brown sugar, these easy bars capture the essence of carrot cake, while offering a boost of fiber and less sugar than cake. Portable and convenient, these bars can be enjoyed on the move. To make these bars gluten-free, opt for gluten-free oats.

13 of 13

Brownie Batter Overnight Oats

a step in making the Brownie Batter Overnight Oats

Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Love dessert for breakfast or breakfast for dessert? This brownie-batter overnight oats recipe is a delicious way to start or end your day. The melted chocolate shell on top is fun to eat, plus adds texture and sweetness. If you want to skip the melted chocolate topping, stir the chocolate chips and cocoa nibs directly into the oats.

EatingWell.com, April 2024

Was this page helpful?

Related Articles