German Chocolate Overnight Oats
These German Chocolate Overnight Oats are what dreams are made of! They’re creamy and chocolatey with coconut and pecans for all the flavors of German chocolate cake. They take 10 minutes to prep and make the perfect meal prep breakfast!
If you’ve followed along here for a while, you know that I love overnight oats. This is mostly due to the fact that I’m not a morning person, and I love breakfasts that I can prep ahead.
My coconut overnight oats and blueberry overnight oats have been my go-to recipes for years, but when I’m craving something rich and chocolatey, these German Chocolate Overnight Oats completely satisfy!
German chocolate cake and German chocolate brownies are my favorite, so I created this recipe with those flavors in mind.
These no cook oats have double chocolate flavor with both cocoa powder and mini dark chocolate chips, and they wouldn’t be German chocolate without coconut and pecans.
They’re surprisingly wholesome as they include whole grain rolled oats and chia seeds, and they’re dairy and gluten-free.
They take about 10 minutes to prep, and they’re ready for you in the morning so that you barely have to lift a finger to get breakfast on the table.
All mornings should start this way! 🙂
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Chocolate overnights combine the creaminess of oats with rich chocolate flavor, coconut and pecans!
- It’s an easy no-cook breakfast that takes 10 minutes to prep.
- This recipe is vegan and gluten-free, so it’s great for special diets.
- It can be easily customized with ingredients that you have on hand.
Recipe ingredients
- Oats. Rolled oats are best for this recipe as they provide a nice texture, but quick oats may be used if that’s all you have on hand. If you enjoy steel cut oats, be sure to see my recipe for overnight steel cut oats. They have a nice chewy texture!
- Cocoa powder. Use unsweetened cocoa powder to control the sweetness.
- Maple syrup. Substitute with your favorite sweetener.
- Chia seeds. I highly recommend chia seeds as they help thicken the oats and they provide a boost of fiber and nutrition. If you don’t have any on hand, decrease the amount of milk to 2 cups.
- Almond milk. The almond milk may be substituted with your favorite milk.
- Coconut. I prefer using unsweetened shredded coconut to control the amount of sweetness, but sweetened shredded coconut may be substituted.
- Pecans. Sub with your favorite nuts as desired.
- Chocolate chips. Mini dark chocolate chips are completely optional.
See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and quantities.
How to make Chocolate Overnight Oats
This chocolate overnight oats recipe is creamy, rich and chocolatey, yet it’s surprisingly wholesome! It comes together in just 10 minutes, and the oats soften overnight in the refrigerator while you sleep.
Pro tip: The oats will be on the thicker side once they’ve absorbed the liquid. Add 1/4-1/2 cup more liquid to loosen them up before serving as desired.
See the recipe card below for full instructions.
- Combine the cocoa powder and maple syrup in a medium bowl until very smooth.
- Add the milk and whisk well to combine.
- Add the oats, chia seeds and coconut and whisk until incorporated.
- Cover and chill for a minimum of 3 hours or overnight until the oats have absorbed the liquid.
Recipe FAQs
For best results, use rolled oats as they absorb the liquid well and provide a nice creamy texture. Instant oats can become mushy, while steel cut oats have a much chewier texture.
If you prefer to use steel cut oats, see my recipe for overnight steel cut oats.
Chocolate overnight oats can be eaten warm or cold. To heat, simply place them in the microwave and heat at 30 second intervals, stirring after each, until the oats reach the desired temperature.
There are several great ways to add protein to these overnight oats. Add a scoop or two of your favorite protein powder, or 1/2 – 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt. They’re also great drizzled with your favorite nut butter.
Serving suggestions
There are a number of different ways to serve these rich, creamy chocolate overnight oats based on ingredients that you have on hand.
- Add 1/2 – 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt for a thick, creamy texture and added protein.
- Add a scoop or two of your favorite protein powder for additional protein.
- Top with fresh raspberries or sliced strawberries for a pop of color, flavor and added fiber.
- Swap out the coconut and pecans with peanut butter and sliced banana for a delicious twist.
Recipe Notes
- Pro tip: The oats will be quite thick once they’ve absorbed the liquid. Add 1/4-1/2 cup more liquid to loosen them up before serving as desired.
- Toast the pecan pieces in a small skillet over medium heat for 5-8 minutes or until fragrant, tossing frequently. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
- I highly recommend chia seeds as they help thicken the oats and they provide a boost of fiber and nutrition. If you don’t have any on hand, decrease the amount of milk to 2 cups.
- Store chocolate overnight oats in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
More breakfast recipes you’ll love
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
German Chocolate Overnight Oats
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2.5 cups unsweetened almond milk sub with your favorite milk
- 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds see note 3
- 1/3 cup toasted pecan pieces
- Mini chocolate chips, additional coconut, for serving optional
Instructions
- Place the cocoa powder and maple syrup in a medium bowl and whisk until the cocoa powder is smooth. Add the almond milk and whisk to combine.3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 2.5 cups unsweetened almond milk, 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- Place the oats, shredded coconut and chia seeds to the wet ingredients and stir until incorporated.2 cups old fashioned rolled oats, 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- Cover with plastic wrap and chill for a minimum of 3 hours or overnight until the oats have absorbed the liquid.
- Serve topped with pecans, and mini chocolate chips and additional coconut as desired. Enjoy!Mini chocolate chips, additional coconut, for serving
Notes
- Pro tip: The oats will be quite thick once they’ve absorbed the liquid. Add 1/4-1/2 cup more liquid to loosen them up before serving as desired.
- Toast the pecan pieces in a small skillet over medium heat for 5-8 minutes or until fragrant, tossing frequently. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
- I highly recommend chia seeds as they help thicken the oats and they provide a boost of fiber and nutrition. If you don’t have any on hand, decrease the amount of milk to 2 cups.
- Store chocolate overnight oats in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
37 Comments on “German Chocolate Overnight Oats”
How many calories are in each serving? 🙂
Hi Abigail! I just added the nutrition information to the post so you can view it (the info does not include the optional toppings). Thanks!
Thank you Sasha and I hope you find the protein nut milk — it’s so good! The first time I used chia seeds in overnight oats I was hooked and now I can never go without them!
This is my first try at Overnight Oats and I love them! I will definitely try some other flavors. Question…how long will they keep in the fridge? I have already halved the recipe but still feel it is too much for one meal, so am wondering if it will still be good tomorrow. TIA.
Tanya
Hi Tanya! I’m so glad to hear that you love the oats! I’ve kept and eaten the oats every day for 5 days and they’re still great, which is why I make a larger batch. They’re so great to make on Sunday and have during the week!
Thanks! Now I really love them 🙂
I’m so happy to hear it!
Hi Sandra! The recipe is at the bottom of this post — it’s 2 1/2 cups of the nutmilk and all other measurements are different as per the recipe. Thank you!