Cran-Apple Overnight Oats (Vegan)

Cran-apple overnight oats are a delicious and nourishing way to welcome fall. This hearty breakfast can easily double as a satisfying lunch, blending steel-cut oats, nutrient-packed chia seeds, sweet, diced apples, and tangy dried cranberries with your choice of protein powder and plant-based milk. With 21 grams of protein and 24 grams of fiber, they’re a wholesome, flavorful start to your day, perfectly balancing sweet and tart.

That you will need:

Steel cut oats are my go-to oats for breakfast; you will also need a small apple and dried cranberries. This recipe is so easy to bring together, packed with whole foods and has a lovely sweet/tart fall vibe. All of the ingredients needed for this recipe can be found at your local grocery store. My go to protein powder is Earth Chimp and I order it from Amazon; your favorite protein powder will work just as well.

Ingredients:

• steel cut oats
• chia seeds
• protein powder – I used Earth Chimp Vanilla plant-based protein powder – Amazon.com : EarthChimp Organic Vegan Protein Powder – with Probiotics – Non GMO, Dairy Free, Non Whey, Plant Based Protein Powder for Women and Men, Gluten Free – 26 Servings 32 Oz (Chocolate) : Health & Household
• plant based milk
• small apple (Hunnyz, Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Cosmic – a sweet apple is perfect for this recipe)
• dried cranberries

How to:

Start with a 16-ounce mason jar or a designated overnight oats container. A smaller container may be used if you intend to transfer the oats to another dish after they have been refrigerated overnight.

To your container of choice, add the steel cut oats, chia seeds and milk of choice – I used unsweetened oat milk. Give the mixture a good stir, put on the lid and place the container in the refrigerator to rest (absorb the milk and thicken up) overnight. The steel cut oats are nice and chewy the next day and get chewier the longer they are in the fridge. I will make four overnight oats servings at a time which makes prepping my breakfast for the week super easy.

When you’re ready to make breakfast (or even lunch), start by prepping the apple. Use half an apple per serving of overnight oats. Cut the apple in half, and for the unused half, drizzle a little lemon juice over the cut side to prevent browning, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for the next day’s oats. Core and dice the other half to use right away.

Remove the overnight oats from the refrigerator, mix in your preferred protein powder, the diced apple pieces, and the dried cranberries. For convenience, the oats can be enjoyed straight from the jar, or if you prefer, transfer them to a bowl along with the add-ins, and enjoy.

A prepared overnight oat base can be stored in the refrigerator for approximately 4 to 5 days. However, incorporating additions such as fruits, nuts, or seeds during the chilling process may reduce their freshness and overall shelf life in the fridge.

Alright, let’s get started. Please make and enjoy!

Cran-Apple Overnight Oats (Vegan)

This hearty breakfast can easily double as a satisfying lunch, blending steel-cut oats, nutrient-packed chia seeds, sweet, diced apples, and tangy dried cranberries with your choice of protein powder and plant-based milk.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

refrigerator 8 hours hrs

Total Time 8 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Servings 1 serving

Ingredients

  

• 4 tbsp steel cut oats
• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 cup plant based milk of choice (I used unsweetened oat milk.)
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I used Earth Chimp Vanilla Protein Powder)
• ½ small apple – cored and diced (Save the other half of the apple for tomorrows overnight oats.)
• 2 tbsp dried cranberries

Instructions

 

• Using a 2-cup mason jar (or container of your choice) – add the steel cut oats, chia seeds and milk. Stir well, cover and place in the refrigerator overnight (8 to 10 hours).
• Core and dice half of the apple, saving the other half of the apple for tomorrows overnight oats.

  **To store the other half of the apple, coat the cut side with lemon juice- keeps it from browning – place it in an airtight container and store it in the fridge until you are ready to use it.
• Remove the oats from the fridge and add the protein powder, diced apple pieces and dried cranberries (or add it all to a bowl) and enjoy!
• I make four servings at a time and store them in the fridge. The longer they sit, the chewier the oats become. They last up to five days, but less if you add fruit and toppings before refrigerating.