Apple Pie Overnight Oats

Refresh your fall breakfast game this fall with Apple Pie Overnight Oats! Made with sweet, crunchy apples and warm spices, this comforting breakfast is so good it could double as dessert.

This Apple Pie Overnight Oats Recipe combines favorite fall flavors and wraps them in a surprisingly nutritious bow. With a foundation of warm spices, crunchy and juicy apples, and creamy overnight-soaked oatmeal, it’s hard to go wrong with this comforting and nutritious breakfast. Bonus points for being so easy to make, and meal prep friendly.

When sweetened with maple syrup, crunchy nuts, and nutty flaxseed, the apples and overnight oats are elevated to new comfort-food heights. Long gone are the days of boring bowls of oatmeal, and in are the days of enjoying nutritious spin-offs of your favorite foods!

For more healthy oat-based recipes, check out my Perfect Oat Flour Pancakes, Oat Bran Muffins, Homemade Apple Instant Oats, and––not a breakfast but––Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Ingredients

Rolled Oats: Sometimes sold as “old-fashioned oats,” these hearty whole grains are the best pick for overnight oats. If desired, make this recipe gluten-free by using certified gluten-free oats, but do not use steel-cut or quick-cooking oats.

Apples: Choose your favorite sweet and crispy apples, such as Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Fuji, or Opal.

Pumpkin Pie Spice: A spice blend with the perfect balance of warm spices! Use pre-bought or homemade.

Nondaiy Milk: To keep cinnamon apple overnight oats dairy-free and vegan, use unsweetened soy milk or another non-dairy option, though this recipe can be made with any kind of milk that fits your diet and preferences.

Maple Syrup: This naturally sweetens the overnight oats and apples, giving them a pie-like flavor. Use pure maple syrup if possible, though you can substitute agave syrup if needed.

Dates: For added sweetness and delightful, chewy texture! Medjool dates are best, but Deglet Noor dates also work.

Chopped Nuts: Walnuts or pecans add a nutty and indulgent finish. If desired, you can toast them before adding them.

Ground Flaxseed: For an extra boost of nutrition and a nutty finish. Grind your own flaxseeds, or use flaxseed meal with a good expiration for the freshest flavor.

How to Make Apple Pie Overnight Oats

• Combine dry ingredients. Add the oats, ½ tsp of the pumpkin pie spice, and salt then stir.

• Add wet ingredients. Pour the nondairy milk, 2 teaspoons of the maple syrup, and half of the chopped dates to the jar. Gently stir to combine.

• Make apple topping. In a small bowl, combine the apples, other half of the dates, remaining pumpkin pie spice, and remaining maple syrup. Stir well. 
• Add apples. Transfer the seasoned apple mixture to the jar, topping the oats.

• Refrigerate. Cover the oats and chill them in the refrigerator for 6 hours up to overnight.

• Stir in flaxseed and nuts. Before serving, stir the ground flaxseed and chopped walnuts into the overnight apple oats. Enjoy cool or heat the oats in the microwave for 1 minute before enjoying. 

Jenné’s Recipe Pro-Tips

• Chop apples finely. For juicy and sweet fruit in every bite, I recommend dicing the apples into 1/4-1/8 inch pieces so they can distribute evenly throughout the oatmeal mixture.
• Cover before refrigerating. Prevent the overnight oats with apples from drying out as they soak by covering them with a lid or plastic wrap.
• Use rolled oats. Steel-cut or quick-cooking oats don’t absorb the right amount of liquid, so they do not work well in this recipe. Always use rolled oats (also known as “old-fashioned oats”).

Recipe Variations

Enjoy your own twist on this apple overnight oats recipe by making any of the following additions or swaps!

• Protein Power: Add extra staying power by stirring 1/2 scoop of vanilla or unflavored protein powder with the oat mixture. Use a plant-based variety to keep the oats vegan.
• Cha Cha Chia: Enjoy an extra boost of nutrition and filling fiber by adding 1/2 tablespoon of chia seeds to the oatmeal mixture.
• Positively Pear: Swap diced pears for the apples for a different but similar fall flavor. Season with ground cinnamon instead of pumpkin pie spice, and add a generous pinch of ground cardamom.
• Awesome Apple Cinnamon: Use 1/2 teaspoon each of ground cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice blend to make apple cinnamon overnight oats. Combine the spices before stirring 3/4 teaspoon into the oats and the remaining with the apples.

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy the overnight oats, cool or warm, with flaxseed meal and chopped walnuts or pecans stirred in. They make a fantastic, filling and nutritious breakfast, post-workout snack, or afternoon pick-me-up with any of the following drinks and sides:

• Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Latte
• Oat Milk Shaken Espresso
• Sweet Potato Latte

Meal Prep Tips

Prepare for a well-fueled week by prepping this overnight oats recipe ahead of time! Here’s how to do it:

• Multiply the ingredients as needed. You can make the batch as large or small as you need it.
• Combine the dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, 2/3 of the pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Mix well.
• Divide the oatmeal mixture among containers. Scoop a generous 1/2 cup of the mix into each jar.
• Make the apple topping. Add the chopped apples, chopped dates, remaining pumpkin pie spice, and 1/3 of the maple syrup to a microwave-safe mixing well. Stir well to combine. Cook the apple mixture for 45 seconds for every time batch multiplication (i.e., for 1 1/2 minutes if doubled, 2 1/4 minutes if tripled, etc.) or until the apples are just tender.
• Add the apple topping to containers. Divide it among the jars of oatmeal.
• Cover and store. Add the lids to the prepared jars and store for up to 5 days.
• Add liquids. The night before you plan to enjoy it, pour 3/4 cup of milk and 2 teaspoons of maple syrup into the jar of oatmeal and apple mixture. Cover and let the overnight oats with apples rest for 6 hours up to overnight. Enjoy as desired!

A few notes: I recommend making this recipe up to 5 days in advance; any longer and the apples will break down. When meal prepping, the apples need to be cooked so they can store longer without turning brown. Add the milk and maple syrup to the oats the evening before you plan to enjoy them for the perfect consistency and fresh flavor!

Storage Directions

• Refrigeration: Once prepared, apple overnight oats keep covered in an airtight container for 2-3 days. Though they can safely be kept longer, their texture can break down and become undesirable beyond this point.
• Freezing: If desired, you can freeze the oats in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. The apples may have a slightly different texture upon defrosting, but they will still be tasty.

More Spiced Apple Recipes

• Creamy Apple Smoothie
• Apple Spice Pancakes
• Vegan Apple Tart with Walnut Crust
• Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Mix
• Apple Cider Cupcakes
• Apple Nutmeg Mocktail