Get ready for the perfect morning pick-me-up with these Easy Café au Lait Overnight Oats! Imagine combining your morning coffee and breakfast into one delicious, convenient bowl. This recipe blends hearty rolled oats with milk, smooth nut butter, maple syrup or honey, vanilla, salt, and instant espresso powder for that signature “café au lait” flavor. I absolutely rely on Overnight Oats like these for busy mornings – preparing them the night before means I can just grab a jar and go! It’s the perfect way to get your Tuesday (or any day!) off and running, especially during this lovely spring season.
Why You’ll Love These Café au Lait Overnight Oats
- Coffee + Breakfast in One: Combines energizing coffee flavor with hearty, satisfying oatmeal.
- Super Easy & Quick Prep: Just mix everything together the night before – takes 5 minutes!
- Perfect Make-Ahead Breakfast: Ideal for busy weekday mornings or meal prepping.
- Creamy & Delicious: Soaking overnight creates a wonderfully creamy texture and melds the flavors perfectly.
- Customizable: Easily adjust sweetness, milk type, nut butter, and toppings.
Ingredients for Café au Lait Overnight Oats
Here’s what you’ll need for this easy and energizing make-ahead breakfast. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Main Ingredients
- Large flake oats (Rolled oats) (Grain)
- Milk of choice (Dairy or Plant-Based)
- Smooth natural nut butter (peanut or almond recommended) (Nut Butter)
- Maple syrup or honey* (or to taste) (Sweetener) (Use maple for vegan)
- Instant espresso powder (Coffee)
- Vanilla extract (Flavoring)
- Sea salt (pinch) (Seasoning)
Optional Garnishes
- Cinnamon (Spice)
- Chia seeds (Seeds)
- Hemp hearts (Seeds)
- Fresh Fruit
- Nuts
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love the simple coffee-nut butter flavor of these Café au Lait Overnight Oats, but feel free to get creative:
- Mocha Oats: Add a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder along with the espresso powder.
- Spiced Oats: Add a pinch of cardamom or nutmeg along with the cinnamon garnish.
- Different Nut Butter: Use cashew butter, sunflower seed butter (for nut-free), or even tahini for different flavor profiles.
- Add Protein: Stir in a scoop of your favorite vanilla or coffee-flavored protein powder along with the other ingredients (you might need an extra splash of milk).
- Add Fruit: Stir in some chopped dates for extra sweetness or top with sliced bananas or berries before serving.
How to Make Café au Lait Overnight Oats
Making these Café au Lait Overnight Oats is incredibly simple:
Combine and Chill
- In a mixing bowl, I combine all the main ingredients: the rolled oats, milk of my choice, smooth natural nut butter, maple syrup or honey, instant espresso powder, vanilla extract, and a pinch of sea salt.
- I stir everything together well until thoroughly mixed and the nut butter and espresso powder are fully incorporated.
- I transfer this mixture to a jar (like a Mason jar) or another resealable small container.
- I cover the container tightly and place it in the refrigerator to let it sit for a minimum of 4 hours, or preferably overnight. This allows the oats to soften and absorb the liquid, creating that creamy texture.
Garnish and Serve
- When I’m ready to eat my Café au Lait Overnight Oats, I take the jar from the fridge.
- I add my desired garnishes – a dash of cinnamon, some chia seeds, and/or hemp hearts are great options.
- I enjoy them either cold straight from the fridge (my favorite way!) or warmed up slightly in the microwave if preferred.
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Overnight Oats
Here are my secrets for making perfect Overnight Oats:
- Use Rolled Oats: Old-fashioned rolled oats provide the best chewy-yet-creamy texture. Steel-cut oats require different liquid ratios and much longer soaking/cooking, while instant oats can become too mushy.
- Milk Ratio: The 1:1 ratio of oats to milk generally works well, but feel free to adjust slightly based on your preference for thickness. Add a splash more milk in the morning if they seem too thick.
- Natural Nut Butter: Use a smooth, natural nut butter where the oil might separate (stir it well first!). Avoid those with added sugars or hydrogenated oils for the best flavor and texture.
- Overnight is Best: While edible after 4 hours, letting the oats soak overnight yields the creamiest texture and allows flavors to fully meld.
- Stir Well: Ensure the nut butter and espresso powder are fully incorporated into the milk before adding the oats for even flavor distribution.
How to Serve
These Café au Lait Overnight Oats are designed as a grab-and-go breakfast! Serve them:
- Cold: Straight from the refrigerator in the jar or poured into a bowl.
- Warm: Gently heat in the microwave or on the stovetop with an extra splash of milk until warmed through.
- With Toppings: Go beyond the suggested garnish! Add sliced bananas, berries, chopped nuts, shredded coconut, or mini chocolate chips.
Make Ahead and Storage
This recipe is all about making ahead!
- Make Ahead: Prepare individual jars up to 4-5 days in advance.
- Storage: Store the Overnight Oats in airtight jars or containers in the refrigerator. They will keep well for about 5 days, though the texture might become slightly softer over time.
FAQs about Café au Lait Overnight Oats
- Can I use brewed coffee instead of instant espresso powder?
- Yes! Replace some or all of the milk with strong, chilled brewed coffee. Start with maybe ½ cup coffee and ½ cup milk and adjust to your taste preference for coffee intensity.
- Are these oats vegan?
- Yes, if you use plant-based milk (like the oat milk originally suggested, or almond, soy, cashew) and choose maple syrup instead of honey.
- Can I use steel-cut oats?
- Not with this method and liquid ratio. Steel-cut oats require significantly more liquid and either cooking or a much longer soaking time (often 2-3 days for no-cook “soaked” steel-cut oats) to become tender. Stick with rolled oats for this recipe.
Enjoy this energizing, delicious, and incredibly easy Café au Lait Overnight Oats recipe! It’s the perfect make-ahead breakfast for coffee lovers.
Print
Café au Lait Overnight Oats
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Chill Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
- Category: Breakfast, Oats, Overnight Oats
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Café au Lait Overnight Oats are the perfect pick-me-up. Have your coffee and breakfast all in one bowl! Made the night before with rolled oats, nut butter, maple syrup, and espresso powder, this recipe will get your morning off and running!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup large flake rolled oats (use certified gluten-free if needed)
- 1 cup milk of choice (dairy, oat, almond, soy, etc.)
- 2 tablespoons smooth natural nut butter (peanut or almond recommended)
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup or honey (or to taste)
- 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of sea salt
Optional Garnishes:
- Ground cinnamon
- Chia seeds
- Hemp hearts
- Fresh fruit
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a mixing bowl or directly in a jar (or other resealable container), combine the rolled oats, milk, nut butter, maple syrup (or honey), instant espresso powder, vanilla extract, and salt.
- Mix Well: Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined and the nut butter is evenly distributed.
- Chill: Cover the bowl or seal the jar/container. Refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the oats to soften and absorb the liquid.
- Serve: When ready to eat, stir the oats again. Enjoy cold directly from the jar/bowl, or warm it up gently in the microwave or on the stovetop if preferred. Garnish with a dash of cinnamon, chia seeds, and/or hemp hearts before serving.
Notes
- Oats: Large flake rolled oats provide the best chewy texture. Quick oats can be used but will result in a softer, mushier texture. Do not use steel-cut oats.
- Nut Butter: Use a smooth, natural nut butter where the only ingredients are nuts and salt for best results. Any nut or seed butter (like sunflower seed butter for nut-free) can work.
- Sweetness: Adjust the amount of maple syrup or honey to your preference.
- Coffee Flavor: Increase or decrease the amount of instant espresso powder to adjust the coffee intensity.
- Storage: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, making it great for meal prep. The oats will continue to soften over time.