Cinnamon Raisin Overnight Oats
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Published Aug 20, 2018, Updated Aug 28, 2021
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Loaded with cinnamon flavor and studded with raisins, these overnight oats taste just like an oatmeal raisin cookie. They’re vegan, gluten-free and packed with protein.
I’m back with another overnight oats recipe! Anyone complaining? Didn’t think so! I love making new overnight oats recipes because the flavor combinations are endless!
This recipe is inspired by an oatmeal raisin cookie (the best!) and this regular cinnamon raisin oatmeal. I wanted to create an overnight oats version. I personally prefer overnight oats in the summer because I want all of the cold, refreshing foods instead of warm, comforting foods (which I prefer in the fall and winter).
Ingredients In Cinnamon Raisin Overnight Oats
- old fashioned rolled oats – rolled oats are the best for overnight oats. Instant/quick oats and steel cut oats don’t work the same because they don’t absorb liquid like rolled oats do.
- vanilla protein powder – I use a plant-based vanilla protein powder that is sweetened with stevia. If your protein powder isn’t sweetened, you’ll likely want to add a little sweetener like maple syrup to your oats.
- almond milk – I like using unsweetened vanilla almond milk, but any type of milk will work. You can make your own using my almond milk recipe.
- chia seeds – these little seeds add a bit of fiber, protein and omega-3 fatty acids and they help absorb some of the liquid which gives the oats a thicker consistency.
- vanilla – a nice flavor enhancer.
- cinnamon – for some spice!
- raisins – you can’t have cinnamon raisin without the raisins!
- maple syrup – pure maple syrup is the perfect natural sweetener to use because it’s liquid so it blends in nicely with the oat mixture and I personally love the flavor. Honey or another natural liquid sweetener will work here. If you want to reduce the sugar in this recipe, feel free to use a sugar alternative like stevia or monk fruit
Easy Substitutions
- almond milk – any type of milk will work.
- maple syrup – If you want to reduce the sugar in this recipe, feel free to use a sugar alternative like stevia or monk fruit. Honey would work well, too.
How Long Do Overnight Oats Need to Soak?
Given the name, you’d assume overnight oats need to soak overnight, but you can actually make them in 2-4 hours if you’re in a rush. While it does take some time for the oats to absorb the liquid, they don’t necessarily have to be soaked overnight.
I recommend at least 8 hours for true overnight oats, but there have been mornings where I decide I want overnight oats for breakfast even though I didn’t prep them the night before. When this happens I’ll make them the morning of and let the oats soak for just 2-4 hours. With this quick soak, they’re not as soft as overnight oats that have soaked longer and they’re a bit more liquidy, but they’re still delicious.
Can You Eat Overnight Oats Hot?
Short answer, yes! You can definitely warm up overnight oats, but the whole point of overnight oats is to eat them cold like muesli. Even if you think cold oats sound strange, I recommend giving it shot before you write them off. Of course, if you simply can’t do the cold oats you can always heat them up. Just pop the overnights oats in your microwave, cooking in 30-second increments until the oats are warm throughout and enjoy.
How Long Do Overnight Oats Last?
When stored in an airtight container in the fridge overnight oats should last for up to 5 days. They will soften more the longer they sit so I find they’re best on days 1-3, but they’re still safe to eat on days 4 and 5. With this said, overnight oats are great for meal prep. Feel free to make a whole batch for the week on Sunday. I like prepping them in wide-mouth 16 oz mason jars.
More Oatmeal Recipes to Try
- Baked Oatmeal Cups
- Berry Baked Oatmeal Bars
- Easy Protein Balls
- Baked Oatmeal Recipes
- Protein Oatmeal
- 3 Minute Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal
More Cinnamon Recipes to Try
- Cinnamon Raisin Cookie Protein Balls
- Apple Cinnamon Overnight Quinoa
- Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal
- Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
- Vegan Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
- Maple Cinnamon Breakfast Trail Mix
- Healthy Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Cinnamon Raisin Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 scoop vanilla plant-based protein powder
- 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1 Tablespoon chia seeds, optional
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup raisins
- 1-2 teaspoons maple syrup, optional
Instructions
- Add oats, protein powder, almond milk, chia seeds (if using) vanilla, cinnamon and raisins into a bowl or jar. Stir well to combine, until all the protein powder has dissolved. Seal container with a lid and place in the fridge overnight.
- Take the container out of the fridge the next morning and stir the mixture. You’ll notice that the oats soak up a lot of the liquid so you may want to add a little more almond milk before serving. Top oats with a few extra raisins and a drizzle of maple syrup (if using) and enjoy.
- Overnight oats will keep for up to 5 days in the fridge in a sealed container.
Notes
- almond milk – any type of milk will work.
- maple syrup – If you want to reduce the sugar in this recipe, feel free to use a sugar alternative like stevia or monk fruit. Honey would work well, too.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Um…chocolate peanut butter protein powder?! YUM! I always love me a good overnight oat recipe, especially packed with filling protein for a balanced and healthy breakfast. My favorite cookie would have to be something chocolate…:)
Yes girl! The PB chocolate protein powder is such a game changer. One of the only protein powders I can mix with almond milk in a blender bottle and enjoy.
This recipe looks delicious! But would it work without the protein powder (or is there a good alternative) as I don’t really like protein powder and its not easily accessible where I live.
Thanks!
Yes! It will definitely work without the protein powder. A couple things to note if you simply leave out the protein powder — you might want to use a little less liquid because the protein powder does soak up some of the liquid. And you might also want to add the optional maple syrup because the vanilla protein powder adds a little sweetness that you might be missing without it. Another idea is to use 1/4 cup of yogurt in place of the protein powder if you still want the added protein boost. Hope this helps. Let me know if you try the recipe!
Enjoy your recipes
Hi Mandy, I am so happy to hear that! Thank you for coming back to leave a comment and star rating! I really appreciate your feedback.
Hi,
I made this last night and I must say it’s amazing!!!! I thought it would be good but still better than I imagined, so easy to make and yes like you said I had everything in the cupboard. I didn’t use the protein powder instead I put a large dollop of Greek yogurt and I used the maple syrup. This is definitely a keeper! Thank you so much for the recipe x
Yay!! I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed these overnight oats. 🙂 I love it when you already have everything you need at home. Thanks for coming back to leave a comment, I really appreciate it!
I used cinnamon roll protein powder instead of vanilla and it was delightful!
Ah yay! Love that substitution, Samantha! I bet that tasted wonderful. Thanks for coming back to leave a review and a star rating! I really appreciate it!
Delicious flavor! I love anything with cinnamon, and overnight oats are my favorite breakfast. I added vital proteins to bump up the protein.
I’m so glad you enjoyed these overnight oats, Sarah! Thanks for the review 🙂
I made a half recipe for my two-year-old and he LOVED it. He polished it off in under 5 minutes.