Brownie Batter Overnight Protein Oats
Easy chocolate overnight protein oats that taste like brownie batter!
Incredibly delicious and the perfect healthy start to the day! Couldn’t be more perfect of a recipe.
—Caroline
Introduction
These brownie batter overnight oats are chocolate-packed, high in protein and make the perfect fuel on the go. These oats are extra thick, somewhere between cookie dough and brownie batter, though the consistency is easy to adjust.
Overnight oats make such a handy breakfast for busy mornings. They’re portable, adaptable to suit your dietary needs and preferences, can be eaten cold and take just minutes to prepare the night before.
Oatmeal lover? Try this chocolate version and get these Carrot Cake Overnight Protein Oats, Simple Creamy Banana Oatmeal and Baked Berry Protein Oatmeal on your list to try next.
Ingredients
The complete list of ingredients with measurements is located in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Oats: Overnight oats are best made with rolled oats or large flake oats but you can also use quick oats. Do not use steel cut oats.
- Milk: You can use any plant-based milk you enjoy such as almond milk, oat milk or cashew milk. You can substitute water if needed but they’ll be creamier with milk.
- Protein Powder: This recipe calls for a pea protein vegan protein powder. Most vegan protein powders are made form pea protein, so you could use brands like Vega, Kaizen, Orgain, PVL, KOS or Naked Nutrition. Pea protein absorbs a lot of moisture so its best for a thick, chewy texture.
- Cocoa Powder: You can use cocoa powder, dark cocoa powder or raw cacao powder.
- Optional: I like to add vanilla and salt to enhance the flavour. Depending on the protein powder used, you may also want extra sweetener. You can use stevia for sugar-free, maple syrup or honey.
Variations & Add-Ins
- For more heathy fats and thickening, add 1-2 tbsp chia seeds, ground flax or hemp seeds (hemp seeds won’t thicken but flax and chia seeds will).
- Use half milk and half yogurt for an even thicker, creamier texture.
- Add 2-3 tbsp shredded coconut for chocolate coconut overnight oats.
- Powdered peanut butter works well for peanut butter flavour without overdoing the calories. You can swap half of the protein powder for peanut butter powder, or add 2-3 tbsp peanut butter powder plus some extra milk.
- Zucchini Chocolate Chip Oats: Add up to 1/2 cup finely grated zucchini and 1-2 tbsp cacao nibs or mini chocolate chips.
- Mocha Oats: Add 1 tsp espresso powder and/or replace 1/2 cup of the milk with coffee.
- Chocolate Orange Oats: Add 1 tsp orange zest.
- Other spices that work well are 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper or 1/4 tsp nutmeg.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Combine all of the ingredients in a sealable jar or any airtight container and shake or stir well.
The recipe calls for 3/4 cup milk, 1/2 cup rolled oats and 44 g of protein, which is one scoop of Vega protein but may be more than one scoop for other brands. For best results, use a digital scale to measure the ingredients.
Make sure you mix well until there are no clumps of cocoa powder, protein powder or oats remaining. Seal the container and place in the fridge overnight or at least for 4-6 hours.
In the morning, give the oats a stir and enjoy them straight from the container or transfer them to a bowl. You can eat them as is or with your choice of toppings.
Common toppings include fresh berries, sliced bananas, chopped nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and granola.
Topping Ideas
- Chocolate chips or cacao nibs.
- Sliced banana.
- Peanut butter, almond butter, or other nut or seed butter.
- Any nuts or seeds like walnuts, pecans, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds.
- Fresh berries like sliced strawberries or raspberries.
- Chia seed jam.
- Coconut yogurt.
- Granola.
- Shredded coconut.
- Dried cherries, cranberries or raisins.
Recipe FAQs
The choice between milk and water for your overnight oats comes down to your taste and dietary needs. Milk provides a creamier, richer texture than water and adds nutrition. You can use any milk such as almond milk, soy milk or cashew milk.
If you’d like to reduce the calories or don’t have milk on hand, water works well too though it won’t provide the creaminess and flavour of milk.
You can also use half milk and half yogurt for an even creamier texture.
Overnight oats and traditional cooked oatmeal are both healthy breakfast options, and the choice between them depends on your preference.
In terms of health, both overnight oats and oatmeal can be nutritious choices. It’s more about your personal preferences, time constraints, and how you like to enjoy your oats. Some people prefer the convenience and texture of overnight oats, while others enjoy the warmth and cooking process of traditional oatmeal. You can make either option healthier by choosing nutritious toppings and limiting added sugars.
Both overnight oats and oatmeal start with oats as the main ingredient. Oats are a nutritious whole grain that is rich in fiber, particularly beta-glucans, which can help lower cholesterol levels and promote heart health. They also provide essential vitamins and minerals like magnesium, iron, and B vitamins.
You can use any protein powder you enjoy but I really like pea protein powder for this recipe. Most plant-based protein powders are made from pea protein so you can just check the label.
Pea protein is a plant-based protein derived from yellow peas. It’s known for its high protein content and excellent amino acid profile but I like it for it’s texture and consistency in oatmeal.
I also like blended plant-based protein powders that may have a blend of proteins like pea, rice, hemp, soy and others. These blends provide a wider range of amino acids.
You can use chocolate, vanilla, peanut butter, mocha or any other flavour you think would work well in chocolate oats. Note that if you use unsweetened or plain protein, you’ll need to add sweetener to the recipe.
You can make your overnight oats in any container you want by my go-to is mason jars. Glass food storage containers are also a good choice, or just use a bowl and cover it in the fridge overnight. I like mason jars or glass containers if I’m taking them to-go in the morning.
You can also get these super cute, reusable silicone sleeves for mason jars for extra durability and to use like a coffee jacket if you want to take something hot in your jar.
Raw cacao is made by cold-pressing unroasted cocoa beans whereas cocoa powder has been roasted at high-temperatures.
Unfortunately, roasting cacao at high-temperatures lowers the nutritional value so to reap the amazing health benefits of chocolate, it’s cacao powder that that you’re after.
I use both cacao powder and cocoa powder but I do like using cacao where I can.
High in antioxidants, cacao has been show to lower insulin resistance, protect your nervous system, lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, fight free radicals, support a sense of well-being and provide important minerals like magnesium iron, calcium and zinc.
It’s the obvious choice but it’s also more expensive. Use it if you like but both raw cacao powder and cocoa powder work just fine in this recipe.
Recipe Notes
- This recipe comes out very thick with a doughy consistency. If you prefer more of a traditional oatmeal consistency, increase the almond milk to 1 cup.
- For sweetness, it depends on the protein powder used as some are sweeter than others. You may not need to add sweetener. Sweeten to taste with a pinch or stevia, a few drops liquid stevia or 2-3 tsp maple syrup or other liquid sweetener.
- Some readers have had issues with their oats being “soupy”. If you follow the recipe amounts as listed, these come out very thick with a batter-like consistency. For best results, please follow the recipe and measure your ingredients using a kitchen scale.
Storing Instructions
- Store overnight notes in an airtight container like a mason jar or Weck jar in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- While they may technically last a bit longer, the texture and flavor can deteriorate over time. It’s best to make only as much as you can consume within this timeframe.
- Overnight oats are typically enjoyed cold but they can be reheated in the microwave or in a small pot on the stovetop.
More Overnight Oats Recipes
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Scroll down to the comment section to leave a star rating and review.
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Brownie Batter Overnight Protein Oats
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These thick brownie batter overnight protein oats are like eating dessert for breakfast. Spend just a few minutes to prep the night before and in the morning, you’ll be ready to dig into a bowl of brownie batter!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (50 g) rolled oats
- 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 serving (44 g) Vega Performance Protein in chocolate or vanilla, or other pea protein
- 2 tbsp (14 g) cocoa powder or raw cacao powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp sea salt
- 1 packet stevia or stevia drops, to taste, optional*
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a glass container or bowl and mix well with a spoon. Make sure everything is mixed in and there are no dry clumps.
- Cover and place in the fridge overnight or for at least 4-6 hours.
- When ready to eat, stir and enjoy as is or with toppings like sliced banana or strawberries, peanut butter, yogurt, nuts or seeds, or anything else you enjoy.
Notes
If you follow the recipe exactly as listed, these come out very thick with a doughy, batter-like consistency. For best results, please follow the recipe and measure your ingredients using a kitchen scale.
Note the Vega serving size (44 g) is larger than most other protein brands. Check the label and note the scoop size in grams.
Depending on the protein powder used and your taste preference, you may or may not want extra sweetener. Mix up the oats and taste. If you prefer them sweeter, you can use stevia for a sugar-free optional or maple syrup or honey to sweeten to taste.
For extra thickening, you can add 1 tbsp chia seeds or ground flax to the recipe.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 batch
- Calories: 367
- Fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 13 g
- Protein: 38 g
So I may have figured out the problem some people are having. So I made this last night and weighted everything out in grams like you said. It was already pretty thick at that time, so I thought it would thicken more overnight, but it only did a bit. I would not call it “soupy” by any means, but it’s def not like your pictures show. I did not use vega protein because I have a different brand, but I have used vega in the past and it is a very dense protein. I remember when I used to use it that if I didn’t put in enough liquid it would feel like I was drinking melted ice cream because of how thick the protein made my water/milk. So I think that is the answer. I think yours comes out so thick because of the specific protein you are using. Even though we are putting in the same amount by weight, the vega protein is just a lot thicker when mixed with a liquid than any other protein I have ever tried. Anyway, those are my thoughts and hopefully that helps other people. I still loved this, even though my was a bit thinner. I would definitely make this again. I think I will just add less milk or maybe more oats. I don’t want it to be too chocolaty by adding even more protein to it. And to be honest, I have been craving this ever since I made it last night, so instead of it being my afternoon lunch/snack I had it for breakfast because I just couldn’t wait. It did not disappoint. Thanks!
Thank you so much for that feedback! That will be very helpful for other readers. I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe!!
I used whey-based protein and not plant based so should I adjust the amount? If so, how much?
Hi Amanda, I’ve never made this with whey protein so I can’t say exactly. I’d recommend reading through the comments to see what other readers have used. I’m not sure how whey reacts with liquids since I’ve never used it in a recipe!
This recipe is amazing! Even my teenage boys love them! Thank you so much! I make up 6 jars every Sunday night and by Wednesday I have to make more. Soooooooo delish.
Aww, that is so awesome!! So glad you guys are liking them! 🙂 Thanks for your comment.
how Do these taste heated up? How long should they be heated up in the microwave? Can I use regular skim milk?
I’ve never had them heated to be honest but I’m sure they’d taste fine. You may need to add a bit of extra milk or water so they don’t dry out. I’ve never tried them with skim milk though since I don’t eat dairy. If you’re using the microwave, I would probably test them every 40 seconds or so. Hope you enjoy!
Would coconut milk work? I have an almond allergy
Yes, any plant-based milk will work. I wouldn’t recommend canned coconut milk but carton would be ok. Even water works!
I usually don’t have time for breakfast so I was really excited when I found this recipe for overnight oats. I’ll make three at the beginning of the week so I can just have something to grab when I’m in a hurry. The quality of the photos you used are incredible!
This looks ridiculously delicious. And I love all the other combinations you included! ????
Let me know if you try it!
I love the flavor of the recipe! So delicious. However, my oats are not coming out nearly as thick as yours in the pictures or videos. I even decreased the amount of almond milk to 1/2 c. I am using Quaker old fashioned oats, varying from the brand you recommended. Could this be the problem?
Hmmm, I don’t think it would make that much of difference if you used a different brand of oats. You’re stirring it up very thoroughly and leaving it overnight? Did you weigh the ingredients? Sorry it didn’t come out as thick!
This was my first time trying overnight oats—so good! I used a kitchen scale to be sure the consistency was right and it came out perfect! It’s like dessert for breakfast. 🙂 Thank you!
Wonderful! So happy you liked them! Now you can venture into all the overnight oats goodness, you should try my carrot cake oats!
Game changer! I’m so thankful to have found this recipe! I’ve adapted it slightly but the taste, texture and yumminess are all exquisite! Thank you so much for sharing!