Chai Spiced Overnight Oats Recipe
This healthy chai spiced overnight oats recipe with cold brew coffee is a deliciously spiced breakfast treat made the night before.
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This chai spiced overnight oats recipe is filled with warming spices and adds a splash of coffee for the ultimate weekday breakfast.
For YEARS Bry and I have been eating my Peanut Butter Overnight Oats recipe almost every week day. Sure, there are mornings where I’ll throw in a jar of Protein Strawberries and Cream or Peach Crisp oats, but usually it’s the OG PB ones.
That was until I made this recipe.
Filled with warming spices and lightly sweetened with maple syrup, these healthy chai overnight oats are my ideal make ahead breakfast recipe.
These overnight oats are made without yogurt, so they can easily be heated in the morning if you prefer a hot breakfast. Plus, you can also make a dirty chai version by adding a few splashes of cold brew concentrate.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Packed with warming chai spices.
- Filled with healthy fats, fiber, and protein = filling breakfast!
- Lightly sweetened with pure maple syrup.
- Made the night before for an easier morning.
- Perfect for meal prep.
Frequently asked questions about making overnight oats
I do, but you don’t have to eat overnight oats cold. Personally, I love how thick and batter-like cold oats are.
However, if you prefer a warm breakfast, you can warm them in the microwave in the morning.
Yes, overnight oats can be a very nutritious breakfast. Let’s take a look at the ingredients and some of the nutrients they provide:
Oats: Fiber, protein, manganese, phosphorus, copper, thiamine, zinc, iron, and magnesium.
Chia seeds: Omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, magnesium, manganese, calcium, and phosphorus.
Spices: Antioxidants, anti-inflammatory plant compounds, small amounts of minerals.
Almond butter: Protein, healthy fats, fiber, vitamin E, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and riboflavin (vitamin B2).
Oat milk: Fiber, vitamin A*, calcium*, vitamin D*, vitamin B12*, riboflavin*, phosphorus*.
*Depending on whether your oat milk is fortified. My go-to milk is Oatly Low-Fat (basically oat milk but doesn’t have any fat added to it).
Plus, oats are one of the only known food sources of avenanthramides — a family of antioxidants that are being studied for their role in protecting against heart disease and colon cancer.
>>Get all you need to know about the health benefits and uses of oats in my ingredient guide!
Old fashioned rolled oats are the best type of oats to use for overnight oats. These are the ones that take 5 minutes to cook, rather than 1 minute.
Unlike quick-cooking oats, old fashioned ones retain a chewier texture so that you won’t end up with mush. On the flip side, I don’t recommend using steel cut as they won’t soften enough.
Ingredients Used to Make Chai Overnight Oats – No yogurt required!
- Old fashioned rolled oats: My go-to brand is Bob’s Red Mill Old Fashioned. If you can’t stand mushy textures, check out their Extra-Thick Rolled Oats.
- Chia seeds: In addition to providing important nutrients, the unique gelling properties of chia seeds helps with thickening.
- Chai spice: I make my own blend, which you’ll find below. But you can also buy a premade blend. If in a pinch, pumpkin pie spice will also work.
- Almond butter: Use a natural, unsweetened almond butter. Cashew butter will also work, just don’t use peanut butter as it’s too overpowering.
- Oat milk: I love the slightly sweet flavor of oat milk with the spices, but almost any milk will work. Coconut is the only one I’d be cautious of as it could change the flavor quite a bit.
- Pure maple syrup: To help balance out the spices, I recommend adding just a touch of maple syrup. You could also use honey, or nix it altogether if you really don’t like sweet breakfasts in the morning.
- Vanilla extract: Just a splash helps add a sweetness to this recipe and balances out the chai spices well.
- Cold brew concentrate (optional): For a jar of dirty chai overnight oats, add 2 tablespoons of cold brew concentrate into the mix.
How to make a homemade chai spice blend
Making a homemade chai spice blend is SUPER easy! All you have to do is combine a few spices in a jar and store it for up to 1 year.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 teaspoon cardamom
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 3 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
I’ve also made this blend without allspice and it still turned out delicious. But I do think it tastes best when you have all of these ingredients.
Do you have to use cold brew concentrate?
Nope!
While cold brew concentrate will give you a concentrated coffee flavor (as redundant as that is), you can still get that coffee flavor by using brewed coffee instead.
In fact, this is a great way to use up those last few drops in your coffee pot.
Instead of adding 2 tablespoons of concentrate, you’ll want to reduce the oat milk to 1/4 cup and add 1/4 cup of brewed coffee to keep your oats nice and thick.
If you prefer thinner oats, then keep the oat milk at 1/2 cup and just add the 1/4 cup of coffee.
Tips for making this Healthy Chai Spiced Overnight Oats Recipe
- Use old fashioned rolled oats, not quick or instant!
- Stir with a butter knife, not a spoon. It may sound weird but it really does incorporate the nut butter better.
- Do not leave out the almond (or cashew) butter! It really does add such a good flavor and texture. Plus it helps make this recipe super filling.
- Go light on the coffee and add more to taste in the morning. Depending on how strong your cold brew concentrate is, 2 tablespoons may be too bitter, or not strong enough. I recommend starting with 1 tablespoon to start and adding more in the morning if needed.
- For thinner oats, add an extra splash of oat milk in the morning. You can also leave out the chia seeds, but that will also reduce the nutritional value of this healthy breakfast recipe.
- For more filling oats, add up to 1/4 cup of Greek or plant-based yogurt. You can also add an extra tablespoon of nut butter or a few tablespoons of a plant-based protein powder.
>>Get more tips on how to make the best healthy jar of overnight oats!
More healthy chai-spiced breakfast recipes to try
Looking for more ways to put your chai spice to good use? Here are some healthy chai-spiced breakfast recipes to try out:
- Coconut Chai Granola Bars from Healthy Aperture
- Warm Chai Chia Seed Pudding from A Saucy Kitchen
- Chai Quinoa Breakfast Bowl from Grateful Grazer
- Gluten-Free Banana Chai Blender Pancakes from Lively Table
If you tried this Healthy Chai Spiced Overnight Oat Recipe or any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below!
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Chai-Spiced Overnight Oat Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- ½ teaspoon chai spice or more to taste
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
- ½ cup unsweetened oat milk or milk of choice
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
- 2 tablespoons cold brew concentrate
Instructions
- In a mason jar, combine the oats, chia seeds, chai spice, vanilla extract, pure maple syrup, oat milk, almond butter, and 1 tablespoon of cold brew concentrate. Using a butter knife, stir the mixture until fully combined.
- Place a lid on the jar and refrigerate for at least 3 hours and up to 5 days.
- In the morning, taste and adjust the amount of cold brew concentrate to taste. Enjoy cold or heat in the microwave for 60 to 90 seconds.
Notes
Don’t forget to pin this recipe for later!
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