YOGURT AND OAT FLAKES with COCOA OVERNIGHT OATS
Today I present this breakfast recipe with rolled oats, milk and Greek yogurt — a kind of porridge that is prepared in very little time, full of energy and flavor: COCOA OVERNIGHT OATS.
The Overnight Porridge is a no-cook variant of the classic Anglo-Saxon recipe, so it’s perfect for those who have little time or don’t feel like cooking. It’s prepared in advance (usually the night before), left in the refrigerator overnight and is ready to enjoy in the morning with whatever topping you prefer.
A very easy recipe: the rolled oats are mixed together with water or milk, Greek yogurt, flavored as desired with vanilla and sweetened with honey. Once mixed, there’s no need to cook it — simply refrigerate for at least 4 hours and ideally overnight.
Once ready, you only need to decide whether to layer it with your favorite yogurt or spreads and top it as you like — there are endless delicious possibilities.
In today’s recipe for OVERNIGHT OATS with COCOA, I created a first layer by adding unsweetened cocoa powder to the porridge base, a second layer of 0% fat Greek yogurt to which I added a teaspoon of cocoa and a little honey, a third layer of vanilla Greek yogurt, and finished simply by dusting everything with unsweetened cocoa powder.
You’ll see how this simple breakfast will keep you satisfied for a long time without feeling too heavy, so you’ll reach lunchtime without that annoying hunger pang.
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very inexpensive
- Rest time: 4 Hours
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 2
- Cooking methods: No-cook
- Cuisine: English
- Energy 180.52 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 32.36 (g) of which sugars 14.30 (g)
- Proteins 14.83 (g)
- Fat 1.20 (g) of which saturated 0.39 (g)of which unsaturated 0.74 (g)
- Fibers 4.85 (g)
- Sodium 129.65 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 150 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 3.4 fl oz water (or plant-based drink or cow's milk)
- 1 teaspoon honey (or maple syrup)
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (0% fat)
- 1/3 cup Greek yogurt (0% fat)
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon honey
- 1/3 cup Greek yogurt (0% fat) (vanilla-flavored)
- unsweetened cocoa powder
Tools
- Dessert bowls
- Bowl
- Blender
How to prepare the COCOA PORRIDGE without cooking
In a bowl, mix the rolled oats, honey, Greek yogurt and almond milk (or cow’s milk or another plant-based drink) until combined. Transfer the mixture to an individual serving cup or jar and place it in the fridge for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. After resting, take the porridge and add 1 teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder, then stir to incorporate.
Prepare the second layer by placing 1/3 cup of Greek yogurt in a bowl with 1 teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder and 1/2 teaspoon of honey; mix until smooth. Pour this on top of the porridge layer and level with the back of a spoon.
Create a third layer simply by pouring vanilla-flavored Greek yogurt over the cocoa layer and level the surface with the back of a spoon. You can enjoy your no-cook cocoa porridge as is, or dust it with more unsweetened cocoa powder. If you want to make it extra indulgent, melt 1 oz of milk chocolate in the microwave with 1 teaspoon of coconut oil and drizzle evenly over the yogurt layer. Refrigerate for a couple of minutes to let it set.
NOTES Ingredients and Substitutions
WATER For an even creamier porridge you can replace the water with an equal amount of cow’s milk or plant-based drink (soy, almond, oat, rice).
HONEY You can replace honey with maple syrup or a sweetener for a lighter version.
VANILLA It’s incredible how a pinch of this extract can improve the taste of your porridge, but if you don’t like it you can omit it.
OVERNIGHT REST: Let the oats rest in the refrigerator for at least 2–3 hours, preferably overnight. This allows the flavors to meld and the oats to soften to the perfect texture.
COCOA: This version focuses on cocoa, but if you prefer or want a variation you can replace it with coffee. In that case, add 1 teaspoon of espresso to the base porridge, mix the yogurt for the second layer with half a cup of cooled coffee, and finish with the vanilla layer. Decaffeinated coffee also works; if serving children, you can replace it with soluble barley drink.
STORAGE
The COCOA OVERNIGHT OATS can be prepared the evening before and will be even better the next day. Once ready, store it in a closed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
PORRIDGE VARIATIONS
COOKIES FLAVOR
SNICKERS
COFFEE
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
How can I get the right texture for the rolled oats?
Achieving the perfect oat texture is all about the oats-to-liquid ratio. Generally, a 1:2 ratio works well. If the oats are too thick, add a little more liquid; if too runny, reduce the milk/water slightly next time.
How can I balance sweetness when adding fruit and toppings to the oats?
Overnight oats can become too sweet with certain pairings (for example with hazelnut or pistachio cream). Keep this in mind when deciding how to layer and taste a spoonful before adding extra sweeteners like honey or maple syrup.
Can I heat my Overnight Oats porridge or should it be eaten cold?
Overnight oats are traditionally eaten cold or at room temperature, but if you prefer them warm you can heat them for a few seconds in the microwave.
