A double-chocolate, brownie flavored batch of overnight oats. These take minutes to prepare and taste so good it will be like eating dessert for breakfast. Recipe via chelseasmessyapron.com

Chocolate-loaded Brownie Batter Overnight Oats are so rich and delicious, it’s like eating dessert for breakfast!

Try our other popular overnight oat recipes next: Pumpkin Overnight Oats, Peanut Butter Overnight Oats, or Peach Overnight Oats.

Brownie batter overnight oats, topped with chocolate chips and brownie bites for a sweet and delicious breakfast treat.

Brownie Batter Overnight Oats

Overnight oats was one of my staple meals in college — extra chocolatey and packed with protein! With all the studying and running from one class to the next a filling breakfast was a must.

Now I make these for my kiddos, and they love them. I mean what kid doesn’t love chocolate for breakfast?! 

A jar of the preferred creamy almond butter used in this recipe.

Brownie Batter Overnight Oats Ingredients

  • Almond butter adds flavor and nutrition to these oats, and ensures these oats are filling and satiating. As far as almond butter goes, I recommend an almond butter you enjoy eating straight from the jar. We love using one that is slowroasted and lightly salted with loads of flavor.
  • Chocolate almond milk is what we prefer, but plain chocolate milk works as well (but is slightly higher in calories). Using plain (vanilla) milk also works, but the oats do taste less fudgy overall.
  • Old-fashioned oats will give the best results; steel-cut oats do not soften enough, and quick oats absorb too much liquid and becoming mushy.
  • Maple syrup is my favorite sweetener to add to overnight oats. Depending on how sweet you like your breakfast, you can scale this amount up or down. I’d recommend at least 1 tablespoon and up to 2 tablespoons for a sweeter breakfast. Liquid stevia can be used in place of maple syrup for a natural zero-calorie sweetener. If using liquid stevia, start with 1/4 teaspoon and scale up from there to the desired sweetness.
  • Vanilla adds a nice flavor to the oats. It’s not entirely necessary, so don’t worry if you don’t have any to add.
  • Salt helps to intensify flavors and balance all the ingredients.
  • Special Dark® Cocoa Powder contributes the deep and intense chocolate flavor to these oats. I highly recommend using a Dutch-process cocoa powder as opposed to a plain (natural) cocoa powder. Any Dutch cocoa powder will work, but Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder is readily available at most grocery stores (photo below).
  • Greek yogurt yields a great flavor profile that you’ll like, and vanilla flavored gives you Brownie Batter Overnight Oats that you’ll love. Our favorite yogurt to use is Honey Vanilla Greek yogurt (made by Greek Gods®; photo below)

The recommended yogurt and cocoa powder used in some of the recipes.

Toppings

Overnight oats are delicious without any toppings, so don’t feel like you need to add something before eating these.

That said, if you’re feeling like something extra, we love a sprinkle of chocolate chips and even a swirl of almond butter as a topping. For these pictures I did break up a brownie protein bar which was a fun, but it’s not a necessary topping for Brownie Batter Overnight Oats.

All the ingredients for overnight brownie batter oats in a bowl; followed by the process of combining these ingredients.

Brownie Batter Overnight Oats notes

  • Overnight oats are meant to be eaten cold in the morning. As they soak overnight, they become soft, luscious, and creamy. That said, if you prefer them warm, you can certainly warm them up in the morning either on the stovetop or in the microwave.
  • Choose your serving size. This recipe makes one large serving for a big (and filling) breakfast. If you’re looking for a lighter breakfast or a snack option, just eat half of the recipe and save the other half for later.

Quick Tip

Just because these are called overnight oats, that doesn’t mean you have to let them chill overnight. You can make “overnight” oats in the morning to enjoy. I actually prefer them this way! Nowadays, I usually make them first thing when I wake up, then I  go work out and enjoy them post workout. (So they’ve sat about 30-45 minutes — very similar to muesli!).

Finished brownie batter overnight oats recipe, ready to be enjoyed as a deliciously prepared breakfast.

More healthy breakfast options

5 from 2 votes

Brownie Batter Overnight Oats

Chocolatey Brownie Batter Overnight Oats are quick to prepare and taste so delicious that youโ€™ll feel like youโ€™re having dessert for breakfast!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 1 serving

Equipment

  • small bowl

Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • In a small bowl, jar, or plastic container, combine the almond butter, Greek yogurt, chocolate milk, old fashioned oats, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, salt, and maple syrup.
  • Stir until all ingredients are well incorporated (see note 4). Taste the mixture and add any additional maple syrup if desired.
  • Cover the container and refrigerate overnight or until sufficiently cooled and thickened. Sometimes I make them in the morning, get ready, and then go eat themโ€”they are great after 30 minutes in the fridge.
  • Once ready to serve, top oats with miniature chocolate chips if desired.

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Use an almond butter that you enjoy eating straight out of the jar. I like using an almond butter made with slow roasted almonds and sea salt. I find peanut butter overpowers the flavors in these oats, so I don't recommend substituting.
Note 2: I love chocolate almond milk, but dairy chocolate milk also works. A vanilla unsweetened almond milk also works for a slightly less rich overnight oatmeal.
Note 3: Scale the sweetener up or down to personal preferenceโ€”you may not even want any all! One tablespoon maple syrup is what I prefer; use 2 tablespoons for more sweetness. Alternatively, use 1/4 teaspoon liquid stevia drops for a zero-calorie sweetener.
Note 4: As written, these overnight oats are intended to be quite creamy. If you prefer them thicker, add a few tablespoons of additional oats or 2 tablespoons chia seeds.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 557kcal | Carbohydrates: 60.4g | Protein: 11.7g | Fat: 12.7g | Sodium: 131.9mg | Fiber: 9.5g | Sugar: 21.8g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

 

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron! Iโ€™m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. Iโ€™m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping byโ€”I hope you find something delicious to make!

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22 Comments

  1. Kelly says:

    Brownie oats is such a great idea! Love that I can have chocolate for breakfast ๐Ÿ™‚ This looks delicious!

  2. Cate says:

    Whoa whoa whoa – brownie batter in oatmeal?! How did I never think of this?! This looks so insanely delicious!! Can’t wait to try it!

  3. Kayle says:

    Omigosh these oats-you’re insane! LOOOVE your insanity. Brownie batter in oats is like….WHOAAA

  4. Gayle says:

    You totally just convinced me to give overnight oats another shot. This looks absolutely amazing, Chelsea! Dessert for breakfast, but in healthy form, has me sold. Can’t wait to try this out!

  5. Sarah K. says:

    oh wow- what a great idea! love this. overnight oats are the best!

  6. Melanie says:

    So I’m seriously allowed to eat this and call it breakfast?!? Sweet!

  7. amanda says:

    I love this! I’ve only ever made overnight oats with yogurt but since I’m trying to cut out dairy, I haven’t had them in forever! I want some!

  8. Meg says:

    A secretly healthy breakfast since it has oats…I am in!

  9. sherri says:

    Chelsea, you just mix together, refrigerate, and eat them? No cooking…….. it’s like a granola? Wow….that’s an awesome breakfast on the go!!!!!

    1. chelseamessyapron says:

      Right! That’s the awesome thing about overnight oats! The oats get soft overnight from the milk and yogurt and also get more flavorful from the other additions. It’s my favorite breakfast on the go! I lived on overnight oats in college ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. Medeja says:

    Looks really great!