This Overnight Oats with Nutella recipe brings together the simplest of ingredients to make the most delicious and easy breakfast option out there. The rich texture and nutty flavor of the oats, pair magnificently with the silky smooth almond milk, and the decadence offered by Nutella. These are the best Overnight Oats, they’ll make you want to get out of bed!
Steel cut Irish Oats, almond milk and Nutella are the only ingredients in this recipe. This breakfast choice ends up being naturally gluten free. There’s no additional sugar as the Nutella alone sweetens the dish.
Overnight Oats with Nutella are delicious, nutritious and easy to make! For calories in Overnight Oats, scroll down to the recipe card.
McCann’s Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal
John McCann formed The McCann’s company around 1800. He chose County Meath in Ireland to grow his oats, because the typography and climate conditions were ideal. Thankfully today, McCann Oatmeal is available in supermarkets globally.
Nutella
What is Nutella? Good question! Nutella is a shelf stable chocolate and hazelnut spread. Use it in place of jam and / or peanut butter. It is a decadent treat, some people experienced it first as the creamy chocolatey filling inside a Ferrero Rocher. A Ferrero Rocher has a whole hazelnut as its center, surrounded by smooth velvety Nutella, then covered in a milk chocolate shell dotted with hazelnut pieces.
Ingredients in Nutella include: sugar, palm oil, hazelnuts (13% content), milk, cocoa, lecithin and vanillin. Palm oil is getting a bad rap these days, due to the fact that it causes air, soil and water pollution, soil erosion and climate change. This is turn is causing the deforestation of some of the world’s most biodiverse forests. Species that are already endangered live in these forests.
Nutella have addressed their inclusion of palm oil in their product.
Is Nutella healthy? Nutella is cholesterol and trans fat free, and low in sodium but it does contain a hefty amount of sugar, and fat. It is definitely not low calorie with a whopping 200 calories for a mere 2 tbsp serving. With all that in mind, don’t skip it, enjoy it in moderation and enjoy it you will, especially in these Overnight Oats!
For more Nutella facts click here.
Overnight Oats vs Cooked Oats
Overnight Oats is a popular method of preparation for Oats. Uncooked, then steeped overnight in liquid, usually milk. The oats absorb the liquid making them softer and more palatable. Oats are then refrigerated and eaten anytime over the following 3-5 days.
Cooked oats are just that – cooked. They have the appropriate amount of water (addition of salt is optional) and brought to a boil and then simmered for the manufacturer’s suggested cooking time. Serve cooked oats hot.
Overnight and cooked oats have some similarities. They can both use steel cut, rolled or quick oats. They can also have similar ‘add in’ ingredients, such as applesauce, peanut butter, fresh or dried fruit, yogurt or fresh cream.
Benefits of Overnight Oats vs Cooked Oats
The first and strongest benefit when making Overnight Oats is that, not only can they be prepared in advance, but they are expected to be made overnight! These Oats are great for guests staying over or when serving brunch.
The second benefit of Overnight Oats is, the portion size can be adjusted according to how they will be consumed. For example, if you have a dozen people over for brunch, simply divide the bowl of milk steeped Oats, into a dozen small glasses or jars and garnish. This can happen well in advance, therefore lessoning the workload prior to brunch.
The third benefit is, Overnight Oats can be made in bulk by doubling or tripling the recipe. The Overnight Oats are then stored in mason jars and grabbed from the fridge at any time. Not only are they a delightful breakfast, but they make a delicious afterschool or bedtime snack.
So, what are we waiting for, let’s get crackin’!!
Ingredients for Nutella Overnight Oats
- Steel Cut Oats: I used McCann’s steel cut Irish oatmeal.
- Almond milk, or similar dairy or non dairy milk.
- Nutella.
Add hot water to a bowl containing the steel cut oats.
Stir well to mix the oats and water.
Cover with plastic wrap and wait about 30 minutes.
Remove the plastic film and stir. Discard any water not absorbed by the oats. The oats are visibly softer and fuller.
In another bowl, add the Nutella and a generous pinch of sea salt.
Add about a third of the almond milk and mix well.
Then add the remaining almond milk and mix well.
Combine this Nutella oat milk to the oats and stir to mix well.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 24 hours, 48 is better!
Assemble jars or containers, soaked oats and Nutella.
Place a generous tbsp of Nutella into the bottom of each jar. (This is optional.)
Spoon in oats to the brim of the jars.
Smooth the top of the oats and push down to remove any air pockets.
Add another generous tbsp of Nutella on top of the oats.
Finish decorating the oats with toasted almond flakes, fresh strawberry pieces and halves.
Flexibility with Ingredients and Instructions
Every recipe has a little wiggle room, even those with just three ingredients!
Add ins / add ons include:
- applesauce, is the most popular add in.
- apple butter.
- peanut or almond butter.
- banana.
- crumbled biscoff cookies or biscoff spread.
- assorted seasonal berries.
- brownies.
- chia seeds.
Popular flavor combinations include:
- banana and blueberry Overnight Oats, which are the most popular flavor combinations.
- banana blueberry Overnight Oats.
- banana nutella.
- peach and acai.
- apple cinnamon Overnight Oats.
If you don’t like or want to use almond milk, use one or a mix of the following:
- dairy milk, I suggest whole milk.
- Greek yogurt, sub the almond milk with water and before serving add 1 tbsp of greek yogurt per serving to the steeped Oats. Greek yogurt on its own is not absorbed easily by the Oats because Greek yogurt is so thick.
- any other non dairy milk such as oat, cashew, coconut, rice or hemp.
- yogurt, pudding, or sour cream are all considerations as almond milk alternatives, but just like the Greek yogurt, they should be added to already steeped Oats.
Equipment
Cover the bowl of steeping Nutella Overnight Oats with plastic wrap. Then divide the Oats between glasses, small dishes or small mason jars. Jam / jelly jars will also work.
If you want to portion the Oats immediately after mixing the ingredients, then the best Overnight Oats container should be airtight such as mason or jam jars. My recommendation for the best jars for Overnight Oats are these mason jars from Amazon.
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Nutella Recipes
Another Nutella recipe on this blog is Nutella Turnovers. They are also easy to make and only require 3 ingredients:
Got Questions?
I’ve got answers – hopefully!
The 21 Day Fix, is a weight loss program from Beachbody, that approves the consumption of Overnight Oats. The nutritive value for this recipe is not unlike the nutritive value in the Overnight Oats manufactured by the company Brekki. (store bought brand made in the U.S.) For the exact nutrition for this recipe of Nutella Overnight Oats please scroll down.
Yes you can heat Overnight Oats made with dairy or non dairy milk. Do not heat them if yogurt has been introduced to the mix. Heat them either by microwave or stovetop. Only heat the portion size you want. Do not take a refrigerated glass jar of Overnight Oats and place it into the microwave, as the jar will crack.
Yes, although the texture and nutritive value will be different. Quick oats produce a smoother texture and have a lower dietary fiber content.
Nutella oatmeal is made to be eaten right away. Follow the directions on the oatmeal container and add 1-3 tbsp of Nutella . Nutella Overnight Oats are made in advance.
Fodmap Diet is a temporary restrictive diet designed to help people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A food, such as Overnight Oats made from a non dairy milk and oats is typically tolerated by people on this diet. Omit or reduce the amount of Nutella that gets added. Medical advice from a physician or dietitian should be obtained first before starting the Fodmap Diet or consuming Nutella Overnight Oats if already advised to follow the Fodmap diet.
Nutella Overnight Oats
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 oz steel cut oats
- 10 oz almond milk
- 6 tbsp Nutella 2 tbsp added to the almond milk and 4tbsp to garnish with. Add another 4 tbsp if you want Nutella at the bottom of each jar.
Instructions
- Place the steel cut oats into a bowl and add enough hot water to cover them.
- Stir well to mix the oats and water, then cover with plastic wrap and wait about 30 minutes.
- Remove the plastic film and stir. Discard any water not absorbed by the oats. The oats will be visibly softer and fuller.
- In another bowl, add 2 tbsp of Nutella and a generous pinch of sea salt.
- Add about a third of the almond milk and mix well, then add the remaining almond milk and mix well.
- Combine this Nutella almond milk to the oats and stir.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 24 hours, 48 is better!
- Assemble jars or containers, soaked oats and Nutella.
- Place a generous tbsp of Nutella into the bottom of each jar. (This is optional.)
- Spoon in the oats to the brim of the jars. Smooth the top of the oats and push down to remove any air pockets.
- Add another generous tbsp of Nutella on top of the oats.
- Finish decorating the oats with toasted almond flakes, and fresh strawberries.
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