These protein cinnamon roll overnight oats have all the flavors of a cinnamon bun but without all the added fat, sugars, and calories.

Originally posted 5/11/16; updated 10/16/18

Overnight oats are my go-to healthy breakfast during the week

Despite having possibly hundreds of breakfast recipes bookmarked or pinned, do you still find yourself eating the same things every day?

At least 5 days a week for the past year, Bry and I have peanut butter overnight oats for breakfast (and we still haven’t gotten tired of them).

But every once and awhile, I get food-envy of other bloggers’ overnight oat recipes, so I try switching things up. And every time I regret it.

Not because those recipes aren’t good – trust me there are SO many good overnight oats combinations out there – but because I just love my peanut butter oats so much.

So when I told Bry I wanted to make a cinnamon roll-flavored oats recipe he got very concerned that he also would have to go a day without our usual breakfast.

So, to be nice, that next morning Bry went off to work with his usual peanut butter oats while I went out of my breakfast comfort zone and tried these cinnamon roll oats. And boy did he miss out.

These protein cinnamon roll overnight oats are super filling

As I’ve talked about in other posts, breakfast is a very important meal for me.

Unlike people who wake up and can go hours before eating anything, I can’t function in the morning until I have something to eat.

And it better be filling. So when I went to make cinnamon roll oats, I knew they had to be high in protein to keep my hunger at bay.

Enter in vanilla protein powder and, of course, Greek yogurt.

Choosing a Protein Powder

There are a lot of protein powders out on the market. To decide which is best for you, check out this post I wrote for Lose It!

Briefly, the key is to do your research so you know exactly what’s in it.

For vegan powders, I like Sun Warrior, otherwise I’ve been loving Naked Whey’s line of whey-based powders.

What you need to make protein cinnamon roll overnight oats

• Rolled oats
• Chia seeds
• Cinnamon
• Plain Greek yogurt (the higher the fat content, the creamier your oats will be)
• Unsweetened almond or oat milk
• Vanilla protein powder
• Brown sugar

Orignially I was thinking about mixing cream cheese into the yogurt to replicate the addicting cream cheese frosting that is usually drizzled over cinnamon rolls.

However, I decided to just stick with the base recipe knowing I could add the cream cheese the next day if I felt the protein cinnamon roll overnight oats needed it.

The verdict: the plain Greek yogurt provides enough of a tang that I actually didn’t miss the cream cheese (and this comes from a girl who has could eat cream cheese straight from the tub).

Cinnamon Swirl on Top vs. Mixing It all Together

Previously I made these oats with a thick cinnamon swirl mixture.

However, after hearing back from many of you, I played around with the recipe.

I found that mixing everything together made for the best texture (although, it isn’t quite as pretty).

How to adjust the texture of protein cinnamon roll overnight oats

If you’re new to overnight oats, then it’s important to know that it can take a few tries to find the right texture for you.

Personally, I love my oats super thick. But I know that doughy, borderline paste, texture isn’t for everyone.

If your oats are too thick, here are some ways to adjust:

• Add more milk the night before or the morning of
• Reduce or leave out the Greek yogurt
• Try a different type or amount of protein powder

As protein powders all absorb liquid differently, the amount of protein powder to add is more of a guideline. Start with a small amount, mix, and add more protein if you want your oats thicker.

Or add more protein powder for the protein and then up the milk.

Reversely, if you oats are too thin, try reducing the milk or trying a different protein powder.

More High Protein Overnight Oat Recipes

• Peanut Butter Overnight Oats from The Healthy Toast
• Protein-Packed Overnight Oats 3-Ways from Lose It!
• Cold Brew Overnight Proats from Love and Zest
• Sugar Cookie Protein Overnight Oatmeal from Well Plated

If you make this recipe let me know what you think! Drop a comment below or tag TheHealthyToast_RD on Instagram! 

Print Recipe

Protein Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

While not as buttery and gooey as traditional cinnamon rolls, these overnight oats have all the flavors of a cinnamon but without all the added fat, sugars, and calories.

Prep Time10 mins

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cinnamon, Overnight oats

Servings: 1

Calories: 260kcal

Author: Kelli

Ingredients

• ½ cup original rolled oats
• ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt I used 2% fat
• ½ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk or milk of choice
• 2 tablespoons vanilla protein powder I used Sun Warrior
• 3 tablespoons of water or milk
• ½ – 1 tsp cinnamon depending on how strong you want the cinnamon flavor
• 1 tsp brown sugar

Instructions

• Combine oatmeal, chia seeds, Greek yogurt, and almond milk in a mason jar or other small container.
• In a small bowl, combine protein powder, cinnamon, and sugar. Slowly start adding water/milk until the mixture is thick but still liquid.
• Stir protein mixture into oats and place in fridge overnight. Enjoy in the morning!

Notes

Nutrition facts (will vary based on protein powder, milk, and yogurt used): 260 calories, 4g fat, 38g carbs, 6g fiber, 8g sugar, 19g protein