Overnight oats are a brilliant time saving recipe for busy parents, they are also easy enough that children can help to make. We've put together a few recipes and some tips & tricks on how to make child friendly overnight that even fussy eaters can enjoy.

What are overnight oats

Oats are filled with heart-healthy fiber, antioxidants, healthy fat, and plant based protein. Oats are also budget-friendly, easy to customise with all sorts of flavours and different ways of cooking. Overnight oats are oats that have been soaked (you guessed it- overnight) in liquid such as water, milk or dairy free milk alternative. You can add all sorts of fun add-ins like fruits, jams, seeds and nut butters.

Which milk is best for overnight oats

Overnight oats can be made with water, milk, dairy free milk alternative - some recipes even recommend using juices. For making basic overnight oats you can use your family’s milk of choice. If you do want to explore different substitutes then check out our blog on which dairy free milk is best for oats.

Tips for Making Child Friendly Overnight Oats

There are a few things you can do to make oats more appealing to your little ones. We've listed a few tips for introducing overnight oats to your child's diet.

Make oats smoother

For picky eaters texture can be a big issue. If this is a concern for your child you can make overnight oats smoother by blitzing the oats with a blender first.

Serve warm or cold

You can serve overnight oats cold straight from the fridge or you can warm them up in the microwave or stove if your child doesn’t enjoy cold foods. Heating overnight oats is also perfect for winter when a tummy warming breakfast is ideal.

Let your child make their own overnight oats

Overnight oats are a great recipe to let your child help make as there’s no cooking and minimal cutting required. Gather all the ingredients beforehand and have your child prepare their own portion the night before. When they wake up they’ll be excited to try the special breakfast they made.

Let your child pick their favourite container

Overnight oats look great in mason jars or cute tupperware - letting your child eat their overnight oats in their favourite container or bowl will make the breakfast feel more personalised.

Let your child pick their favourite healthy topping

Toppings are the easiest way to get your child excited about overnight oats, let them pick their favourite topping or combine multiple. We’ve listed a few of the best toppings for overnight oats below.

Fruit toppings for overnight oats

• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Peaches
• Bananas
• Apples
• Pears
• Mango
• Shredded coconut
• Raisins
• Kiwi

Nuts & Seeds for overnight oats

• Almonds
• Pecans
• Walnuts
• Cashews
• Pumpkin Seeds
• Chia Seeds
• Almond Butter
• Peanut Butter

Sweet Things (a little goes a long way)

• Chocolate chips
• Chocolate spread
• Crushed biscuits
• Caramel
• Jam
• Brown Sugar
• Maple Syrup
• Honey
• Stevia
• Agave Nectar

How to make overnight oats

There are loads of specific overnight oats recipes but a basic formula for getting perfect overnight oats is:

Ingredients

• Rolled oats or quick oats
• The ratio is 1 cup dried oats to 1 ½ of your chosen liquid (Water, semi-skimmed milk, oat milk, almond milk etc.
• 1 teaspoon sweetener such as honey, syrup, sugar etc. (optional)
• Fresh fruit like apple slices, grapes, melons, berries, bananas, etc. are delicious in overnight oats. (optional)
• Dried Fruit such as dry raisins, apricots, bananas, dates. (optional)
• Nuts or seeds (optional)

Tools

• Bowl, tupperware or mason jar to combine ingredients
• Spoon/ knife for chopping toppings

Method

1. Put oats, liquid, sweetener and any fruits combined in the fridge overnight.
2. Add your desired toppings in the morning & enjoy!

Storage

You can make a large batch of these oats and store them in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Overnight oats really are a brilliant time saving recipe that are healthy and so tasty. There are loads of recipes out there for overnight oats that are great for adults and children alike. Check out some of our favourites including Mango & Coconut Overnight Oats and Pear & Blueberry overnight oats.