Easy, healthy, and delicious, these applesauce overnight oats are creamy and chewy with hints of cinnamon. The best part of this recipe is the caramelized apple pieces that take just 5 minutes to make. You have to try!
After my apple crisp without flour, I knew I wanted to make a recipe for applesauce overnight oats, but the biggest question was "How do I make it exciting?".
The answer: quick caramelized apples! Yes, I am talking about sweet and buttery pieces of apple similar to my baked apple slices, which will totally take your overnight oats to the next level!
And don't worry, this breakfast is super fuss-free and won't take you more than 10 minutes to prep, but it will be worth every bite.
Jump to:
Ingredients & Subtitutions
- Oats: Make sure to use old-fashioned rolled oats for the best texture. Don't use still-cut oats or it won't turn out the same.
- Applesauce: I like to use unsweetened applesauce because I get to control the sweetness. If you have some time on your hands, consider making homemade applesauce. If not, store-bought is also okay.
- Milk of choice: I use soy milk because it's dairy-free and high in protein, but you can use any milk you like.
- Cinnamon: Or any of your favorite spices like cardamom, clove, or nutmeg.
- Salt: A pinch of salt goes a long way here, it enhances the rest of the flavors.
- Maple syrup: Since we're using unsweetened applesauce, the oats are not going to be sweet. That's why I recommend a liquid sweetener like maple syrup, honey, or agave.
- Apple, brown sugar, and butter are optional but recommended if you want to make the caramelized apple pieces.
See the recipe card below for exact measurements.
How To Make Applesauce Overnight Oats
First, caramelize the apple. As I already said, this step is optional, but I highly recommend it!
Peel, core, and chop your apple into 1-inch pieces. In a rimmed pan, melt some butter.
Add brown sugar and the chopped apple and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until golden and saucy. Transfer to a bowl and set aside to cool.
Then, make the overnight oats. To a large bowl or two individual mason jars, add milk, cinnamon, salt, and maple syrup and mix until combined. Add rolled oats and mix once again.
Finally, stir in the caramelized apple.
Let it sit in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight. Then you're ready to serve!
👩🏼🍳 Petra's Tips
- Let the oats soak for at least 2 hours, or until they are soft. You can't speed up this process.
- Use rolled oats for a chewier texture and quick oats for a softer texture. You can also use a mix of each to get the best of both worlds.
- Wait to add your toppings until right before serving. This guarantees freshness.
- Customize to your liking. This recipe is versatile, so feel free to add more maple syrup, a dollop of nut butter, a sprinkle of seeds, etc. to make it your own. You can also adjust the consistency by adding more or less milk to your liking.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free certified oats.
FAQs
Overnight oats are usually served cold, but if you are craving a warm breakfast, you can heat them in a small pot on the stovetop or a bowl in the microwave.
Yes, overnight oats are packed with fiber from the rolled oats, protein from the Greek yogurt, and healthy fats from the seeds. Research shows that eating more fiber is beneficial for a healthy gut microbiome and it makes you feel fuller for longer.
No. This recipe doesn't freeze well and it's best enjoyed fresh.
Yes! However, just like in my overnight oats with water, I suggest adding a dollop of Greek yogurt to not miss on that creaminess.
Topping Ideas
- Chopped nuts: Raw or roasted nuts such as roasted air fryer pecans, almonds, and cashews will be delicious here.
- Nut butter: Peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, etc.
- Fresh fruit: Besides the obvious apples, you can also serve these oats with pears, permission, cranberries, sliced bananas, and more!
- Dried fruit: Raisins are a great option for an apple-raisin combo, but so are dried cranberries, dates, apricots, and more!
- Yogurt: To add more protein, serve these applesauce overnight oats with a dollop of Grek yogurt or soy yogurt. If you're not a fan of yogurt, try my whipped cottage cheese instead.
- Fruit compote or cranberry sauce: I love adding a spoonful of my homemade cranberry sauce.
- Granola: I love adding a crunchy element to contrast the soft and chewy oats. Try my homemade granola.
- Biscoff: Just like in my overnight oats with Biscoff, a drizzle of Biscoff spread is always a good idea.
Variations
- Protein power: Add a scoop of your favorite protein powder to bump up the nutrition of these applesauce overnight oats and make them more filling. If your protein powder is already sweetened, skip the maple syrup to avoid making it overly sweet.
- Pumpkin pie spice: I love adding ½ teaspoon of my homemade pumpkin pie spice for more flavor. Apple pie spice will also be delicious.
- No applesauce: Use pumpkin puree or Greek yogurt instead.
- Chia or flax seeds: Similar to my overnight oats without chia seeds, I skipped chia here, but feel free to add up to 1 tablespoon if desired.
Storage & Freezing
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. Stir well before serving.
- Freezer: This recipe doesn't freeze well.
More Overnight Oats Recipes
📖 Recipe
Easy Applesauce Overnight Oats
Equipment
- Mixing bowl or mason jars
Ingredients
For the caramelized apple (optional)
- 1 medium apple, we like gala or golden delicious apples
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon butter of choice either vegan butter or regular
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the overnight oats
- 1 cup milk of choice (I use soy milk)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- A pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats use gluten-free if needed
Instructions
Caramelized apple (optional)
- To a rimmed pan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add the chopped apple, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir and cook for 5 minutes, until the apple is golden and saucy, and the brown sugar has melted.1 medium apple, we like gala or golden delicious apples, 2 tablespoon brown sugar, 2 tablespoon butter of choice, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Remove from the heat and transfer to a bowl. Set aside to cool.
Overnight oats
- To a large bowl or two individual mason jars, add milk, cinnamon, salt, maple syrup, and applesauce. Mix until well combined. Add the rolled oats and mix once again. Finally, stir in the caramelized apples.1 cup milk of choice, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, A pinch of salt, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, ½ cup unsweetened applesauce, 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- Cover the bowl or the jars, and let the mixture sit in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight. Serve!
Notes
- Fridge: Store overnight oats in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: This recipe does not freeze well.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with third-party calculations without including the optional ingredients.
Stacy says
Had an opened jar of applesauce in the fridge and I was wanting to use it for a few days now... loved this recipe!
Petranka says
Thank you for sharing!