Apple Pie Overnight Oats is one of my absolute favorite breakfasts. Old fashioned or rolled oats are transformed with all the flavors you remember from grandma’s apple pie. This delicious breakfast recipe is built in individual containers, stored in the fridge, and can be used as an easy grab-and-go breakfast on busy mornings. Make this recipe on your meal prep day, and have breakfast for the week.
What are “Overnight Oats”?
So typically, “overnight oats” refer to oats that aren’t cooked; instead, they steep in milk. As the oats absorb the milk, they plump up and essentially “cook.”
Why is oatmeal good for you?
Oats contain a type of soluble fiber, called beta glucan, which lowers blood glucose and cholesterol levels, thus reducing risk of heart disease and diabetes. Beta glucan also promotes healthy gut bacteria and intestinal health (Mayo Clinic Health).
Frequently asked questions about Apple Pie Overnight Oats
What kind of apples should I use for Overnight Oats?
It is apple-picking season here in the Midwest. If available in your area, here are some apple varieties that would work great for apple pie overnight oats:
- Granny Smith – firm, tart and the gold standard for baking
- Golden Delicious – balanced sweet/tart flavor
- Jonagold – sweetness amplified by baking
- Honeycrisp – ultra-crisp and sweet
- Braeburn – crisp and doesn’t get mushy
- Pink Lady – sweet and tart apples, hold their shape
- RiverBelle – sweet and crisp, great for baking or snacking
Should I heat overnight oats before eating?
I usually eat them room temperature but sometimes warm them up when I get to work.
How long do they last in the fridge?
These last for a week in the fridge, but this is my go to breakfast Monday – Friday and I usually don’t keep them in the fridge for longer than 5 days.
How do you make overnight oats?
The ingredients for these oats are broken down into three layers:
- the apple pie filling
- the oat layer
- the yogurt layer
The apple pie filling requires the following ingredients:
- 3-4 apples (yields 4 cups when diced)
- cornstarch
- ground cinnamon
- sugar
- vanilla extract
- ground nutmeg
- ground cloves
- salt
- water
The oat layer contains the following ingredients:
- old fashioned (or quick-cooking) oats
- milk of choice
- vanilla extract
- cinnamon sugar
The Greek yogurt layer (optional) contains the following ingredients:
(This layer is optional, but I like to add Greek yogurt to overnight oats for the protein. It helps me and the kiddos stay full and reach my daily protein goals.) Next, mix 3 cups of plain nonfat Greek yogurt with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon sugar, and stir together. Add 1/2 cup of the yogurt as a layer of each oat container.
How do I make Apple Pie Filling?
First, start out with 3-4 apples. I recommend using a sweet variety like Gala, Honeycrisp or RiverBelle for this. Those are some of my favorite types of apples.
Peel the apples, remove the core, and dice them. Do this until you get 4 cups total.
Any sweet/tart and crisp apple will do and you can adjust the sugar accordingly, I usually use a full cup of sugar for tart Granny Smith and slightly less for a sweeter apple such as Honeycrisp.
Apple Pie Layer
Ingredients
- 4 cups apples peeled diced, approximately 3-4 apples
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp cloves
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- pinch salt
- 3/4 cup water divided
Instructions
- Peel, core, and dice the apples.
- Add apples to a pan with the cinnamon, sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
- Make a cornstarch slurry with 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1/4 c water.
- Add slurry to mixture.
- Stir to coat the apples with the spices, and then add remaining water.
- Cook the apple mixture for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
- The apples should be tender, but not mushy. The sauce should thicken, similar to apple pie filling.
- After approx 10 minutes, remove from heat and set aside to cool.
Overnight Oats
Ingredients
Overnight Oats – Base
- ½ cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 tbsp sliced almonds optional
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- ½ c Greek yogurt optional
- ½ cup milk of choice for a very thick consistency or up to ⅔ cup milk for a thinner consistency
- drizzle maple syrup or honey optional
Instructions
- In a mason jar or container, combine the old-fashioned or rolled oats, cinnamon, chia seeds and yogurt. Slowly add the milk and mix into the oats to combine.
- Place the lid on the container and refrigerate overnight, or up to 5 days. When you are ready to serve, add a drizzle of maple syrup or honey if you’d like, and enjoy chilled or warm.
