Overnight Oats Espresso Granola (Print Version)

Creamy oats soaked with espresso and yogurt, topped with crunchy granola and nut butter swirl.

# What You'll Need:

→ Oats Base

01 - 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup whole milk or plant-based milk
03 - ½ cup Greek yogurt or dairy-free yogurt
04 - 2 shots (2 fl oz) freshly brewed espresso, cooled
05 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
07 - Pinch of salt

→ Toppings

08 - 2 granola cookies, roughly crumbled
09 - 2 tablespoons almond or peanut butter
10 - ½ cup seasonal berries (blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries)
11 - 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
12 - Extra drizzle of maple syrup (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a mixing bowl, stir together oats, milk, yogurt, cooled espresso, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt until fully incorporated.
02 - If using, mix in chia seeds evenly into the oat mixture.
03 - Divide the oat base evenly between two jars or bowls.
04 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours to allow oats to absorb liquid and flavors to meld.
05 - Give the soaked oats a quick stir to combine.
06 - Top each serving with crumbled granola cookies, a swirl of nut butter, fresh berries, and optionally an extra drizzle of maple syrup.
07 - Enjoy immediately or cover and transport for later consumption.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like dessert but feels responsible enough for breakfast, which is the breakfast equivalent of having your cake and eating it too.
  • You make it once at night and never think about it again until morning, which is the only kind of meal prep that actually works for me.
  • The espresso shot means you're getting caffeine directly into your oats instead of standing over a coffee maker like it owes you money.
02 -
  • If you use hot espresso instead of cooled espresso, it will warm up your oats and they'll start cooking instead of just soaking, which creates a completely different texture that might actually be okay but isn't what we're going for here.
  • The granola cookies need to go on top right before eating, not mixed in the night before, because they turn into sad soggy bits if they sit in the liquid overnight instead of staying crunchy.
  • More nut butter is not a mistake—if the swirl looks modest, add more, because this is not the time for restraint.
03 -
  • Buy the granola cookies from the bakery section instead of the packaged cookie aisle, because they're crunchier and they stay that way longer once you crumble them.
  • If you're making these for someone else, leave the toppings separate and let them customize, because what one person calls the perfect amount of nut butter, someone else considers a tragedy.
Go Back