Looking for a delicious and easy grab healthy breakfast? Then why not try this Mason jar overnight oat bran recipe. You'll love this make-ahead breakfast with more heart health benefits than regular oatmeal.
It's easy to customise with non-dairy milk for Vegans, or swirl in your favourite fruit, nut butters, seeds and sweetness!
If you're looking for a satisfying breakfast that is full of essential nutrients, then we can't recommend this version of an overnight oats recipe enough!
We've been enjoying it for months, tweaking the ingredients list with optional add-ins. And it's great for those wanting to help lower their cholesterol levels.
And the best part is, this uncooked oats morning feast doesn't get any easier than this! Side note: the only step is mixing everything in a jar and leaving it in the fridge. Then you can eat it on your travels!
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✔️ Why You'll Love This Recipe
Here's why we think you'll fall head over heels for these soaked overnight grains:
Made in minutes - prep is minimal. Just mix it up the night before and wake up to a ready-to-eat breakfast on the go, making it ideal to make on a Sunday night, so you're ahead of your busy mornings
Easy to customise - from fruity to chocolatey, spicy to nutty - whatever kind of person you are, you can add off of the good stuff you love!
Super nutritious - it is packed with nutrients for gut and heart health (see ingredients notes below) and helps you feel fuller for longer
Helps reduce phytic acid - due to soaking oats, which can interfere with the absorption of calcium, iron and zinc in the digestive system
🛒 Ingredient Notes
Please see the printable recipe card with exact ingredient quantities and preparation instructions at the bottom of this post.
Oat bran porridge - these are oats with the outer husk of the oat kernel removed, then ground into coarse powder. They are packed with a lot of fibre and more beta glucan than old-fashioned oats to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and lower bad cholesterol. They are also rich in healthy fats, and unsaturated fatty acids
Ground cinnamon - this adds a warming flavour, which pairs beautifully with the apple, and also has anti-inflammatory effects
Milk - to help soak your grains and reduce phytic acid. I use whatever dairy-free milk at hand, like unsweetened almond milk, soy milk or coconut milk, whereas my husband uses regular dairy milk
Greek yogurt - for good probiotics to enhance healthy gut microbes, while also adding calcium and protein, for additionally a creamy base recipe
100% Peanut butter - I add this healthy fat for satiety, and sometimes, almond butter, which is higher in protein
Date syrup - for a more nutritious, less refined sugar with fibre, vitamin B, potassium, magnesium, and iron, with a lower GI index. Alternatively, you could use brown sugar, light agave, or a natural sweetener, etc
Apple - grated with the skin left on for antioxidants (polyphenols) and natural sweetness
Mixed berries - for natural sweetness, with a low glycemic index, a good source of soluble fibre and are loaded with antioxidants and vitamins
Pumpkin seeds - or a mix sunflower seeds, ground flax seeds, etc for healthy fats
📋 Instructions
1. Add the dry ingredients to a glass jar or container.
2. Now add all of the wet ingredients and give it a stir.
3. Add the fresh fruit and seeds.
4. Cover or seal and store in the fridge overnight until you're ready to eat.
👩🍳 Substitutions
Depending on your dietary needs, here are a few simple swaps you can make:
- Milk: Swap the milk for your favourite plant-based milk, like almond, cashew, or oat milk. Or, you could use water
- Yogurt: Not only can you switch to plant-based milk, but you can also swap the yogurt for a dairy-free alternative like coconut cream, or soy cream
- Oats: Alternatively, you could use steel cut oats, instant oats or use an oat mixture if preferred. For gluten free, make sure you use certified gluten-free oat bran if needed, as oats can sometimes be cross-contaminated during processing
- Peanut butter: Instead of using nut butters, try sunflower seed butter
- Lower Sugar: Naturally sweeten your oats with very ripe banana mashed or unsweetened applesauce instead of date, maple syrup or honey. You can also use a sugar-free sweetener like stevia or monk fruit
⚖️ Variations
Here are some different ways you can enhance and truly personalise this recipe:
- Spiced: Warm up your mornings with ground mixed spice, or nutmeg. For extra antioxidants, add a touch of ground ginger or turmeric
- Delux - add some vanilla seeds from a pod, or vanilla extract
- Extra fruity - stir in your favourite fruit jam
- Citrus: add some orange or lemon zest, or extract
- Tropical: add chunks of mango chunks and banana, with a pinch of toasted coconut flakes
- Chocolate: Indulge your sweet tooth with a spoonful of cacao nibs, a drizzle of chocolate syrup, or a swirl of Nutella (who am I to judge?).
- Nutrition boost: add chia seeds or hemp seeds for extra nutrition
For a hot oatmeal version, see my baked oats with carrot and parsnips, and healthy baked oats topped with berries.
🔪 Equipment
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❄️ Storage
Storing - we prefer eating this recipe the morning after, but it can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Freezing - cool to room temperature and again, store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Heating - If you want to heat it, make sure you microwave in a safe container, or on the stove until piping hot
💡Pro Tips
- Add a pinch of fine sea salt to enhance the flavour
- Don't skip the soaking for at least 8 hours for the creamiest results, which allows the liquid to soften and absorb into the oats
- Layer it up for the most aesthetic look
- If you want to preserve some crunch in added nuts or seeds, add them just before eating
- Experiment with your favourite flavours to get the best out of this recipe, or use what you have in
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Coffee - enjoy with an iced coffee like this skinny frappucino
Jam - add a swirl of raspberry and blueberry jam
Croissant - if you're extra hungry, why not eat it alongside this air fryer croissant?
❓ FAQ
Oat bran is the outer layer of the oat grain, while rolled oats are the whole oat groat that has been steamed and flattened. Oat bran is higher in fiber and has a slightly different texture than rolled oats when soaked overnight.
While it's possible to make overnight oats with quick oats or steel-cut oats, the texture won't be as creamy and smooth as using oat bran.
Yes, you can freeze overnight oat bran! It's a great way to meal prep for a busy week. Just portion the oat bran mixture into individual containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or microwave gently before serving.
Absolutely! Using chocolate, banana or vanilla milk as we do in our Nequik pancakes can add an extra dimension to your overnight oat bran. Just be mindful of the added sugar content.
Yes, you can mix in a scoop of your favorite protein powder for a boost of protein and to keep you feeling fuller for longer.
If your overnight oats are too thick, just add a splash of milk or water and stir until you reach your desired consistency.
Yes! While overnight oats are usually served cold, you can warm them up in the microwave or on the stovetop for a cosy breakfast option.
➕ More Oat Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
🍽️More Breakfast Recipes
Here are some of our favourite dishes:
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📖 Recipe
Overnight Oat Bran Recipe {Easy & Delicious}
Ingredients
- 50 g Oat bran ⅓ cup or rolled oats
- ½ teaspoon Ground cinnamon
- 155 ml Milk ⅔ cup - any of your choice, such as soy, almond
- 2 tablespoon Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon Peanut butter
- 1-2 teaspoon Date syrup or honey, maple syrup or agave
- 1 Apple grated (skin left on)
- 50 g Mixed berries (blueberries, red currants, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc)
- 1 teaspoon Pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds, or mixed
Instructions
- Add the dry ingredients to a glass jar or container.
- Now add all of the wet ingredients and give it a stir.
- Add the fresh fruit and seeds.
- Cover or seal and store in the fridge overnight until you're ready to eat.
Disclaimer
*This is an unofficial page and has no affiliation or endorsement from Slimming World. Slimming World's website can be found at https://www.slimmingworld.co.uk/. Any syn values are personal estimates and not verified by Slimming World.
martyn
Could you make this with half oatbran and half rolled oats just to mix texture up a bit
Vikkie Lee
Hi, yes, of course 🙂 I've done it a few times
Pen
Hi! I was wondering if I needed to increase the amount of milk if I wanted to leave out the Greek yogurt.
Dave
yum