Name: Maple Pecan Protein Overnight Oats
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup rolled oats; 3/4 cup milk; 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder (the one I use); 1 tbsp maple syrup; 1/4 tsp cinnamon or pumpkin spice; 1/4 tsp vanilla extract, optional; Pinch of Salt; 3-4 pecans, chopped

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These protein packed overnight oats made with crunchy pecans and sweetened with maple syrup are the perfect breakfast for a crisp fall morning.

When most people think of fall flavors, they think they go pumpkin spice and cinnamon. But to me, the ultimate fall flavor is anything and everything maple. This fall, you can expect many maple inspired recipes, especially after my recent trip to Canada. Let’s start with these Maple Pecan Overnight Oats that are perfect for a busy weekday morning.

What You Will Need To Make Overnight Oats

The really nice thing about overnight oats is how simple the ingredient list is. You need a few staples such as oats and milk and the rest is completely up to you. You can add any other ingredients you have available to customize the flavor and you can change that day to day. In this case, the ingredient list is short and sweet. If you have dietary restrictions, there are substitutions listed below.

Rolled Oats: Old-fashioned rolled oats are the best option for overnight oats. The reason is that they soften to the desired consistency without getting soggy. You can also easily use gluten free rolled oats instead as well.
Milk: regular milk or a dairy free alternative will work!
Protein Powder: makes your breakfast a lot more satiating – you can easily swap this for greek yogurt as well.
Cinnamon: This will be the perfect dash of fall flavor to the oats!
Maple Syrup: This is the KEY INGREDIENT! It gives the oats a certain warmth and sweetness that will give delicious fall vibes.
Vanilla Extract: This is optional but it adds to the flavor and adds to the warm deliciousness of this recipe!

How to Make Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are a quick, easy, and delicious breakfast option! The night before a busy morning, throw together some of your favorite ingredients into a flavorful melody that will help you start your morning off right. These overnight oats will give you a flavorful start to your morning that will leave you feeling full late into the morning. It is definitely worth a few minutes of your day to whip up some of the simple overnight oats for the next morning! To show you how simple it is, I broke the recipe down into a few easy steps :

Add the oats, protein powder and milk to a container/mason jar and stir.
In a separate bowl, add cinnamon, vanilla extract, salt, and maple syrup, and stir everything together.
Pour the maple mixture into the oats and milk concoction and stir to combine.
Cover and refrigerate the mixture for a minimum of 6 hours (preferably overnight)

It’s as simple as that!

How Long Does it Last

Overnight Oats will stay good for about 5 days if kept in sealed containers in the fridge. If you want to prep the dry and wet ingredients separately, you can make more at a time and mix a bit of each of them together each night. This will last you longer and all you have to do is throw the two mixtures together each night. A quick 5-minute task!

Not Into Cold Oats? Make it Warm!

If cold oats are not your style, you can make the same recipe on the stovetop. In a pot, boil your milk. Add in the oats that you mixed with cinnamon and maple syrup. Turn down the heat and simmer until you get to your desired consistency!

Substitutions for Ingredients

Overnight Oats are a favorite for many people because they can be adjusted to any dietary needs or preferences! If you don’t do dairy, use nut milk, or vice versa. If you don’t like cinnamon, leave it out. The possibilities are endless. Overnight oats can be customized in so many ways, you could eat a different version of them every day if you wanted! Here are a few common substitutions that could be made to adjust for dietary restrictions.

Gluten Free: substitute the rolled oats for gluten-free oats
Vegan: swap the milk for almond milk
Nut Allergy: leave out the pecans and top with some granola for the crunch factor.