Picture this: thick, creamy overnight oats with a literal full-sized peanut butter cup right on top. Okay, not a LITERAL peanut butter cup, but rather a chocolate peanut butter shell that you can spoon right up with the rest of the oats.
How good?! SO GOOD.
We actually made this deliciousness on Instagram a few months ago and decided it definitely needed a spot on the blog. These peanut butter overnight oats are not only so simple to make but they’re also packed with 20g of protein and almost 10g of fiber. What more could you want in a wonderful, super satisfying breakfast?
Just like so many of my oatmeal recipes, these are easy to customize with some yummy add-ins, dairy free swaps, and so much more. Be sure to scroll through the full post for all of my tips and get ready for amazing mornings ahead!
The ultimate breakfast for busy weeks
Have you ever tried overnight oats before? If not, you’re in for the perfect breakfast treat. Overnight oats are simply oats soaked in a liquid overnight until they expand and ‘cook.’ In this recipe, the oats soak in both protein-packed, creamy yogurt and milk to create the best texture. This no cook breakfast is so easy and will be an instant go-to during busy weeks.
Everything you’ll need to make these peanut butter overnight oats
These peanut butter cup overnight oats are made with truly the simplest ingredients that you likely have on hand. The combo gives you a super filling, satisfying breakfast (hello, 20g of protein!) that also tastes amazing. Here’s what you’ll need to make them:
- Yogurt: you’ll get tons of protein by mixing the oats with your fav greek yogurt. I recommend using vanilla greek yogurt for a little extra sweetness, but plain works fine as well (see a note on this below!)
- Milk: I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk for the light vanilla flavor, but feel free to use any milk you’d like.
- Chia seeds: adding just a 1/2 tablespoon of chia seeds helps the oats to thicken up while also boosting the fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants.
- Oats: we’re using old fashioned rolled oats, which expand and get nice and creamy with the rest of the ingredients.
- For the magic shell: that PB & chocolate Reese’s-like topping is made with a little natural peanut butter, chocolate chips, and coconut oil. It hardens perfectly and is so fun to break into the jar! Use the code ‘AMBITIOUS15’ for 15% off my favorite peanut butter brand, Wild Friends!
Can I use steel cut oats?
Unfortunately, no, I cannot recommend using steel cut oats because they will not absorb as much liquid as rolled oats so the texture will not turn out right.
Customize your oats
These creamy peanut butter cup overnight oats are super easy to customize with your fav mix-ins and ingredients. Here’s what I can recommend:
- Go dairy free: simply use a dairy free yogurt, such as coconut yogurt, then be sure to use dairy free chocolate chips.
- Use your favorite milk: feel free to swap the vanilla almond milk for oat milk or even coconut milk for an extra creamy texture and delicious flavor.
- Add a boost of nutrition: these delicious peanut butter overnight oats pack 20g of protein, but you can also feel free to add a tablespoon of flaxseed meal, hemp seeds, or a scoop of your fav protein powder.
- Choose your nut butter: I LOVE the flavor of peanut butter in these oats (hello, Reese’s central!) but you can absolutely use any nut butter you’d like.
- Add fruit: a layer of banana slices or berries would also be delicious in these overnight oats.
- Get some extra sweetness: if you’re not using a vanilla flavored yogurt, I’d recommend also mixing in 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup to sweeten the oats.
Wait, there’s a magic shell?
YES. This peanut butter overnight oats recipe is made extra special with a chocolate magic shell that you can dig right into. To add it on top you’ll simply:
- Melt together chocolate chips and coconut oil.
- Top the jar of overnight oats with a little peanut butter, then add the melted chocolate mixture. Spread the chocolate to the rim of the jar to create the full “shell.”
- Freeze the jar until the chocolate hardens, then sprinkle a little sea salt on top if you’re extra like me.
- Use a spoon to crack
If you want to make these oats even more fun, you can layer extra peanut butter and chocolate in the middle of the jar. YUM.
Skipping the shell?
If you’d like to enjoy these peanut butter overnight oats without the chocolate, I’d recommend simply layering peanut butter in the middle of the oats and on top!
How to store peanut butter overnight oats
These healthy chocolate peanut butter overnight oats will stay good in the refrigerator in your mason jar for up to 5 days, which makes them portable and easy to enjoy on the go. Just be sure to give them a good stir (after breaking into the shell) if they’ve been sitting for a couple of days and/or add another splash of almond milk.
More oatmeal recipes you’ll love
- Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal
- Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats with Chia
- Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal Cups
- Spiced Zucchini Apple Baked Oatmeal with Cinnamon Vanilla Glaze
- Oh So Fluffy Vegan Banana Oatmeal Muffins
Get all of my oatmeal recipes here!
I hope you love these peanut butter overnight oats! If you make them be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked them. Enjoy, xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Peanut Butter Cup Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- For the overnight oats:
- 1/3 cup vanilla or plain nonfat greek yogurt*
- 2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1/2 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1/2 cup rolled oats, gluten free if desired
- For topping:
- 1 tablespoon natural, drippy peanut butter (just peanuts + salt)
- 2 tablespoons semisweet or dark chocolate chips
- 1/4 teaspoon coconut oil
- Optional: flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Add yogurt, almond milk and maple syrup (if using) to a medium bowl and stir until well combined and creamy. Stir in chia seeds and oats. Cover bowl and place in the fridge for 2-3 hours or overnight.
- Once ready to assemble, spoon overnight oats into a 8 ounce mason jar or glass leaving a small amount of room between the top surface of the oats and the rim of the jar for the topping.
- Make the chocolate topping by microwaving chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small bowl in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until chocolate is melted.
- Top the jar of overnight oats with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, then with 1 tablespoon of the melted chocolate mixture, spreading the chocolate to the rim of the jar so that it completely covers the peanut butter.
- Place jars in the freezer for 10 minutes or until the chocolate hardens. If you’d like, sprinkle the tops with a little flaky sea salt. Use a spoon to crack open the chocolate shell. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
29 comments
cant wait to make this soon for me for the oats can i use coconut yogurt i never had peanut butter overnight oats before perfect for my after office snacks love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
Hello! Yes coconut yogurt’s a great option 🙂
Hi Monique! Just thought how nice this would be for lunch as a change of pace! Is there any other oil besides coconut that can be used with success for the magic shell? Trying to avoid coconut (sadly) due to lowering my cholesterol currently. Thanks for all the fantastic recipes!!
Hi! So excited for you to try it 🙂 I think it should be alright with just melted chocolate chips (skip the coconut oil). It may be slightly thicker but it should work!
This looks so good. My family loves overnight oats and this recipe is about the same as the one we use. We do use half steel cut oats and half rolled oats with great success. The result is a more chewy texture but they definitely work.
I can’t wait to try your peanut butter chocolate version!
Nice! Thanks for sharing 🙂 So excited for you to try this one!
Hi! If you don’t have a mason jar and want to make these, what would you suggest? Can’t wait to try these! 😀
Hello! Feel free to use a small drinking glass or a small bowl 🙂
Can I store it with the chocolate shell, or does that have to be done when I’m planning to serve it? I leave for work at the crack of dawn, and hoping to add this to my overnight oats rotation, but I need breakfast ready-to-go in the morning… Thanks1
I am wondering this, too.
Hi! Sorry if I’m late. You can definitely store it with the chocolate shell overnight 🙂
Delicious …. I warm this through for a warming treat on cold autumn mornings ⭐️
Tried this earlier this week. It is delicious beyond belief. However, it’s a little much sugar for me. I think I might like it almost as much without the chocolate but I’m not giving up. I think I might try topping with some homemade applesauce!
Hi! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Totally fine to switch up the toppings!
I don’t see the amount of maple syrup in the recipe. A tablespoon?
Hi! It’s in the recipe notes: 1-2 tablespoons if you’re using plain/unsweetened yogurt 🙂
Pretty good! The only thing I would change is the yogurt. I really didn’t like it too much. I found the sour taste to be off putting and generally overwhelming. I even added some vanilla extract to enhance the vanilla flavor. But it just didn’t come through. Next time I make this, I’m going to combine a frozen banana, almond milk and protein powder in a blender with vanilla extract and let the oats soak in that overnight. Then I’ll add the peanut butter. I didn’t feel like fiddling with melted chocolate so I just added in some mini chocolate chips and some granola with the peanut butter and it was really good! Overall great idea, I just needed to modify it slightly to suit my taste. 🙂
Love that idea, thanks for sharing, Kate!
You mention adding maple syrup, however it is not in the ingredient list. Please advise how much you recommend. Thank you
Hi Susie – No, there is no maple syrup in this recipe.
Love these. Have made them multiple times & they turn out great! Husband approved, too 🙂 .
Ok ok ok this looks absolutely amazing… I haven’t made it yet but definitely plan too… just wondering if I added in an extra layer of PB in the middle would it do well overnight? And then add the top layer of PB and chocolate in the am when I’m ready to eat??
Also, another question… if I add the top chocolate layer and take it out of the freezer will the shell remain hard if I put it in the fridge to eat when I’m ready?
It’s SO good! The extra layer should work great! Yes, the magic shell should stay solid for you! Hope you love this recipe!
Delicious and very filling!
This is literally my breakfast every day! I omit the chocolate and add blueberries. I can’t get enough!
Yay! I am so glad you are loving this recipe and it turned out great for you with the blueberries!
Have you tried making this recipe with exclusively chia seeds? And if so does it work?
Instead of oats?
Hemp hearts 1:1, or freshly ground flax seed. I’d prefer the hemp.