Overnight Oats with Apple and Cinnamon
Rolled oats soaked overnight in milk and curd with grated apple and cinnamon. Ten minutes of prep the night before, nothing to cook in the morning.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 4 h 10 min
- includes 4 h 0 min of soaking or resting
- Servings
- 2
Overnight oats are porridge that cooks itself: the oats soften in milk and curd in the fridge, so breakfast is ready the moment you wake up.
Grating half the apple into the oats sweetens them naturally, so you may not need any honey at all. The rest of the apple goes on top for crunch.
Allergens
Contains: Milk / dairy, Wheat / gluten, Tree nuts
Contains milk (milk and curd). Oats are listed as a gluten-containing cereal unless labelled gluten-free. Walnuts are tree nuts: leave them out if needed.
Ingredients
Tick ingredients as you gather them. Nothing is saved.
Serving size: 1 jar (about 250 g)
Method
Step 1
Wash the apple. Grate half of it, skin on, into a mixing bowl.
Step 2
Add the oats, milk, curd, cinnamon and chia seeds (if using) to the bowl and stir well, making sure there are no dry pockets of oats.
Step 3
Taste and add the honey only if you would like it sweeter. Divide between 2 jars or containers with lids.
Step 4
Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
Step 5
In the morning, stir each jar. Add a splash of milk if the oats are thicker than you like.
Step 6
Dice the remaining apple and scatter it over the oats with the walnuts (if using) and a light dusting of cinnamon. Eat cold, or warm gently in a pan until steaming if you prefer.
Swaps, storage and serving
Substitutions
- Dairy-free: use unsweetened soya milk and a plain soya or coconut yoghurt. Soya keeps the protein closer to the dairy version.
- Gluten: oats are often processed alongside wheat. If you need to avoid gluten, choose oats labelled gluten-free.
- Other fruit: a chopped pear or a handful of berries works instead of apple.
Storage
Keep the jars covered in the fridge (0–5°C) and eat within 2 days, in line with the Food Standards Agency's advice on keeping chilled foods. Add the diced apple just before eating so it stays crisp and does not brown.
Serving suggestions
Add a few spoonfuls of roasted makhana or seeds on top for crunch.
Nutrition per serving (estimate)
Nutrition information is not yet available for this recipe.
Food-safety sources
- How to chill, freeze and defrost food safely — Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK). Accessed October 23, 2026. (opens external site)
- How to get more fibre into your diet — NHS. Accessed October 23, 2026. (opens external site)
This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a qualified health professional about your own situation, especially if you have a health condition, are pregnant or take medication. Medical disclaimer