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Vanilla “Ice Cream” Overnight Oats
Thick, creamy, and remarkably reminiscent of melted vanilla ice cream, this breakfast pudding turns morning routines upside down. Rolled oats and chia seeds soak overnight in milk, absorbing a generous splash of vanilla and a touch of maple syrup while you sleep. It's a fantastic make-ahead meal that acts as a blank canvas for your favorite toppings. You'll love how easily it adapts to whatever fresh berries, toasted nuts, or nut butters you have on hand.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (112g) old-fashioned rolled oats
- ¼ cup (43g) chia seeds
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ⅔ cups (400ml) regular or unsweetened nondairy milk
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup, honey, or brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ cup mix-ins of your choice (see Tips & Tricks; optional)
Instructions
- 1Combine the oats, chia seeds, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Pour in the milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract, stirring well to ensure everything is fully mixed and to prevent the chia seeds from clumping.
- 2Portion the oat mixture evenly into four lidded jars or containers. Secure the lids and refrigerate overnight so the oats can absorb the liquid and thicken into a pudding-like consistency.
- 3When you're ready to eat, give the chilled oats a quick stir. Top with fresh fruit, toasted nuts, or a dollop of yogurt just before serving.
Notes
- Storage: The base oat mixture will keep in the refrigerator for up to one week. You can store it in individual jars or keep it tightly covered in the original mixing bowl.
- Flavor tip: For the most authentic ice cream flavor, use a high-quality pure vanilla extract and real maple syrup.
- Toppings: Mix-ins like toasted nuts, fresh fruit, or seed butters are best added just before eating so they don't get soggy.
- Peanut Butter Banana: Stir 1/4 cup of mashed banana and 1 tablespoon of peanut butter into a single serving.
- Berries and Cream: Mix 1/4 cup of mashed berries or jam into a portion, finishing with vanilla Greek yogurt.
- Peach Cobbler: Stir 1/4 cup of chopped peaches, a pinch of cinnamon, and a pinch of ground ginger into a serving, then top with granola.
Recipe Details
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