Apple Pie Overnight Oats (High Protein, Vegan)

Name: Apple Pie Overnight Oats (High Protein, Vegan)
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 130 min
Ingredients: 1 cup rolled oats; 1/2 cup non0dairy yogurt; 1/2 cup Oatmilk; 3 tbsp coconut sugar; 2 tbsp ground flaxseed; 1 tsp cinnamon; 1/2 tsp nutmeg; 1 medium apple; 1 tsp vanilla extract

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Apple Pie Overnight Oats are sumptuous and creamy – with crisp sweet apples and hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, this easy oats recipe – with only 8 ingredients – tastes just like apple pie. Enjoy this high protein meal-prep breakfast without any of the cooking. With 9 grams of protein per serving, this recipe is vegan, gluten-free, low calorie, and low fat.

oats with apples in glasses on a white table

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🌟 WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS
🍎 INGREDIENTS
📋 INGREDIENT NOTES & SUBSTITUTIONS
🔪 INSTRUCTIONS
💭 FAQS
🍮 VARIATIONS
👩🏻‍🍳 EXPERT TIPS
🌡️ STORAGE
🥞 MORE BREAKFAST RECIPES
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

Apple Pie Overnight Oats; the perfect marriage between sweet and spice. With classic apple pie flavor, this recipe was inspired by my long-time love affair with easy overnight oats like these Blood Orange Overnight Oats with strawberries and chia seeds.

And don’t you just love anything made with oats – and anything you can make overnight? If so get your drool on with this Sweet Potato Oatmeal and Overnight Chia Pudding, which top my list of all-time favorite breakfast recipes.

TIP: this recipe pairs perfectly with my Vegan Blueberry Lemon Muffins. Or if you’re into something more savory, try this tasty tofu scramble, a satisfying vegan breakfast idea that’s also high in protein.

🌟 WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

Easy – literally takes only minutes to prepare. Then toss in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours or overnight.
Versatile – make it with, or without yogurt. Add or substitute with other varieties of fruit, such as banana or strawberry. Take advantage of fall spices and add other flavors such as cardamom, ginger or cloves.
Good for the planet – according the the journal Nature Food, researchers found that switching to a plant-based diet could reduce annual agricultural production emissions by 61%. Additionally, converting former cropland and pastures to their natural state would remove another 98.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by the end of the century. This carbon profit would help significantly to keep the planet from warming more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Healthy for you – oats are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. They’re naturally gluten-free and whole grain. In addition, studies suggest that oat consumption helps prevent diseases such as atherosclerosis, dermatitis, and some forms of cancer.
Diet-friendly – suitable for most diets, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, low calorie, low fat, high protein, and high fiber.

🍎 INGREDIENTS

labeled ingredient list for apple pie overnight oats

📋 INGREDIENT NOTES & SUBSTITUTIONS

Rolled oats – I use Bob’s Red Mill as they contain 7 grams of protein per serving, are vegan, gluten-free, and 100% whole grain. I have also made overnight oats with Quaker Oats.
Non-dairy yogurt – I use vanilla, non-dairy yogurt in this recipe which adds a nice protein boost to the oats, as well as give them a creamier, thicker texture. You can substitute plain with any other flavor.
Apple – apples in this recipe are a matter of preference. If you like crispy and sweet, go for Honeycrisp. If you like juicy and a mild sweetness with hints of vanilla, choose Gala. Red Delicious are crunchy and best in uncooked recipes. Granny Smith are green, tart and juicy, perfect for applesauce.
Oatmilk – my favorite Oatmilk in the whole wide world is made by Planet Oat. For this recipe, I use the extra-creamy version. I love that it makes these Apple Pie Overnight Oats super creamy and delicious. However, any plant milk that you have on hand will do.
Ground flaxseed – adds a subtle, nutty flavor to any recipe. Vegan and loaded with essential fatty acids, ground flax seeds pack these oats with a powerful nutritional punch, providing 3 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber per serving. You can purchase them whole and grind them yourself, or ground, and skip the extra step. You may also choose to omit, which won’t impact the deliciousness of this recipe.
Vanilla extract – adds a buttery smooth, extra sweet flavor. You may substitute with paste from ½ a vanilla bean, or another favorite extract such as orange or almond.
Coconut sugar – sweetens the pie, if you will! I use an organic brand by Better Body Foods, which you can find on Amazon by clicking on the above link. You can also omit added sugar completely and replace with maple syrup or agave nectar.
Spices – What’s an apple pie without cinnamon and nutmeg? Feel free to add other favorites, such as cardamom or cloves.

See recipe card for quantities.

🔪 INSTRUCTIONS

steps 1 and 2 in making overnight oat recipe

1. To a medium bowl, add rolled oats, non-dairy yogurt, spices, flaxseed, vanilla, and coconut sugar.

2. Pour in oatmilk.

3. Give ingredients a good stir. Cover, and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight (for best results).

4. Remove apple pie overnight oats from refrigerator just prior to serving.. Chop or slice apple on a cutting board. Grab a couple jars and begin layering the ingredients, (as pictured in the stop motion video below), starting with oats, then apples, then more oats, with a final topping of apples. Serve immediately and enjoy!

💭 FAQS

Are overnight oats healthy for you?

Yes. Overnight oats use rolled oats, which are more raw in nature, as opposed to instant oats, which are heavily processed. Because rolled oats are less processed, they have higher nutritional value than processed oats. Rolled oats are loaded with fiber and protein, vitamins and minerals, and are gut-friendly. A good rule of thumb is, the more processed a food item is, the less nutritious it will be.

What fruit is best for overnight oats?

That depends upon your preference. Kiwi, banana, plum and pear are all good substitutes for apples. For more information about variations, see the section immediately following this one.

Why do people put yogurt in overnight oats?

Not only does yogurt boost the protein punch in these oats, but it softens them quicker, makes them creamier and thicker and adds additional flavor. You can opt to omit yogurt and substitute for a bit more oatmilk.

What is the best liquid for overnight oats?

The purpose of adding liquid to overnight oats is to soften them. I’ve used oatmilk, almond milk, and soy milk in overnight oats and all three work. Because I prefer the taste of oatmilk, this is what I use for this recipe. And, combining non-dairy yogurt and plant milk is even better for softening.

2 glasses of overnight oatmeal topped with apples on a white table

🍮 VARIATIONS

Make them gluten-free – to ensure these oats are gluten-free, use certified gluten-free oats.
Warm them up – these Apple Pie Overnight Oats are fantastic right out of the refrigerator, but for an extra special treat, warm them in a small saucepan or the microwave before layering then with applies in jars.
Make them kid-friendly – kids tend to want to eat things that appeal to them visually, and let’s face it, apples may not. Change that by adding some vegan chocolate chips , or white choco chips, and coconut whipped cream to the mix.
Get a little nutty – palm oil-free almond butter or cashew butter are great additions to overnight oats, albeit they add additional calories.

overnight oats in glasses topped with fresh apples

👩🏻‍🍳 EXPERT TIPS

It’s best to serve this Apple Pie Overnight Oats recipe immediately following preparation. Once apples are exposed to air, they begin to oxidize and turn brown. They will still be ok to eat, but may look less appealing. You can prevent this by squirting a squeeze of lemon juice over the apples prior to adding to the recipe.
I’ll let you in on a little secret: most overnight oat recipes don’t really need to be refrigerated overnight. Once they absorb the liquid, which usually occurs within 2 hours, the oats will be soft enough to eat. However, placing them in the fridge overnight is a super-convenient way to prepare them.
Serve this overnight oats recipe for breakfast or dessert, either way you’re getting a high protein, nutrition-packed meal.

overhead view of apple pie overnight oats on white table

🌡️ STORAGE

Store apple pie overnight oats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can store the entire recipe in a glass container or individual servings in tightly sealed jars.

FREEZING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

2 glasses over oats with apples side by side on a white table

🥞 MORE BREAKFAST RECIPES

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