These healthy chocolate peanut butter overnight oats are rich and decadent and are also high in both fibre and flavour! They’re the perfect make-ahead breakfast option for those crazy busy mornings and can be prepped in less than 10 minutes. With all of those delicious flavours, you’ll totally feel like you’re indulging at breakfast! {Gluten-free, vegan and dairy-free}
There’s no better way to start the morning than with chocolate overnight oats with peanut butter. It’s basically like indulging in rich fudgy goodness in a jar. Think… chocolate and peanut butter infused into oatmeal with a sweet hint of banana, and topped up with ALL THE THINGS.
The best part is you can make it the night before, divide the mixture into jars and stick it in the fridge overnight.
Wake up in the morning and a mouthwatering breakfast is there waiting for you in fridge! If you make up a double or triple batch, you’ll have a whole bunch of decadent breakfasts ready to go for the week. How sweet is that?!
Why Make this Recipe
Easy – These overnight oats take less than 10 minutes to prep. Breakfast doesn’t get much easier than that!
Healthy – Oats and chia seeds provide a dose of soluble fibre which can leave you feeling full for hours, while also helping to balance blood sugar levels. The cocoa powder incorporates antioxidants, while the peanut butter offers some protein and healthy fats. The banana offers potassium and additional fibre, while adding natural sweetness, so no added sugar is required.
Totally crave worthy – It’s hard to go wrong with any breakfast that involves chocolate and peanut butter. This is one breakfast that we never get tired of!
Make-ahead – Overnight oats are perfect for crazy busy mornings where you need a breakfast that you can just grab and go. Make up a large batch and you’ll have breakfast for the week!
Ingredient Notes
Oats – For overnight oats, I generally like to use rolled or large flake oats since they lend a chewier consistency and tend to be less processed. That being said, quick oats work well too, so you can use whatever you have on hand.
Chia seeds – Help to thicken the overnight oats while adding some additional fibre to make the oats super filling. You can use black or white chia seeds; there is no nutritional difference.
Cocoa powder – The cocoa powder adds a rich chocolate flavour to these oats and provides a dose of antioxidants. If possible, use cacao powder rather than Dutch processed cocoa or baking cocoa powder for best results since it lends a richer and bolder flavour and offers more antioxidants.
Almond milk – The milk is absorbed by the oats and chia seeds to form a thick and creamy oat mixture. Use unsweetened almond milk to limit added sugar. You can also sub in regular milk or another plant-based milk alternative if preferred.
Peanut Butter – Provides a nutty flavour and incorporates some protein and healthy fats. I used natural peanut butter, which contains just “peanuts” on the ingredients list. Use a creamy or sub in crunchy if you want some peanut chunks integrated into the oatmeal mixture. Feel free to sub in almond butter or another nut or seed butter, if preferred.
Banana – Adds a natural sweetness to the overnight oats. Use an overripe banana for maximum sweetness.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1 – Divide the oats, cocoa powder, chia seeds and salt between two mason jars or bowls. Give it a quick stir to combine.
Step 2 – Next divide the almond milk, peanut butter, banana, and vanilla between the jars and stir thoroughly to combine, making sure that the peanut butter and banana are distributed evenly.
Step 3 – Cover the containers and allow the oats to sit in the fridge overnight or until thickened (sometimes I’ll even just leave them for 30 minutes to an hour and they’re all ready to go)! Taste. Add in maple syrup or preferred sweetener and/or protein powder, if desired.
Step 4 – To serve, top with a drizzle of peanut butter, chocolate chips and chopped peanuts, if desired.
Recipe Tips
- Use an overripe banana as this will help contribute extra sweetness to the oat mixture. Bananas that aren’t ripe don’t tend to be as sweet and have a stronger banana flavour.
- Make sure that you thoroughly mix in the peanut butter and banana so that the flavours are distributed evenly throughout the oat mixture.
- Be sure to mix the oat mixture well, folding it with a spoon or small spatula, as sometimes the cocoa powder or other ingredients may settle to the bottom of the bowl or jar.
- Sweeten the overnight oats to taste. Personally, I skip the maple syrup and just add a tablespoon of vegan vanilla protein powder and find that adds the perfect amount of sweetness and a little extra protein!
- The oats can be eaten cold, at room temperature or warm. If you would like to eat them warm, heat them in the microwave for 30-60 seconds.
Recipe FAQ
Storage guidelines
The overnight oats can be stored in the fridge covered for up to four days.
Can I use a frozen banana?
Yes, it’s a great way to put those frozen bananas to good use! Just make sure that you thaw the banana and mash it well before mixing it into the oat mixture to ensure it’s evenly distributed.
How to make these overnight oats higher in protein
To add an extra dose of protein, you can either add some protein powder (I like to use vanilla to add some extra flavour, but you can use unflavoured as well), Greek yogurt or pasteurized egg whites. If you choose to use the egg whites, you may need to cut back a bit on the milk since it will add some extra liquid to the oats.
If you add Greek yogurt or protein powder, you may need to add some extra milk depending on how much you choose to use.
Serving suggestions
You can serve overnight oats cold, at room temperature or warm. In the summer, I tend to like to eat them cold, but in the winter, I’ll often warm them up in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. It’s totally a personal preference how you choose to serve them up.
That being said, I highly recommend serving them with the following toppings:
- Dark chocolate chips
- Drizzle of peanut butter
- Sliced bananas
- Chopped peanuts
More similar recipes
- Chocolate Cherry Overnight Oats
- 6 Mason Jar Protein Overnight Oats
- Peach Pie Overnight Oats
- Pina Colada Overnight Oats
- Chocolate Nice Cream
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats 1/2 cup per serving
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder unsweetened
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- Pinch of salt
- 2 cups unsweetened almond milk (or sub in preferred milk)
- 2 tbsp creamy natural peanut butter
- 1 very ripe banana mashed
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Maple syrup or vanilla protein powder to sweeten optional
- Toppings of your choice i.e. a few sliced bananas, drizzle of peanut butter, dark chocolate chips or sprinkle of unsweetened coconut (optional)
Instructions
- Divide the oats, cocoa powder, chia seeds and salt between two mason jars or bowls. Give it a quick stir to combine.
- Next divide the almond milk, peanut butter, banana, and vanilla between the jars and stir thoroughly to combine, making sure that the peanut butter and banana are distributed evenly.
- Cover the containers and allow the oats to sit in the fridge overnight or until thickened (sometimes I'll even just leave them for 30 minutes to an hour and they're all ready to go)! Taste. Add in maple syrup or preferred sweetener and/or protein powder, if desired.
- To serve, top with a drizzle of peanut butter, chocolate chips and chopped peanuts, if desired.
Notes
- Use an overripe banana as this will help contribute extra sweetness to the oat mixture. Bananas that aren't ripe don't tend to be as sweet and have a stronger banana flavour.
- Make sure that you thoroughly mix in the peanut butter and banana so that the flavours are distributed evenly throughout the oat mixture.
- Be sure to mix the oat mixture well, folding it with a spoon or small spatula, as sometimes the cocoa powder or other ingredients may settle to the bottom of the bowl or jar.
- Sweeten the overnight oats to taste. Personally, I skip the maple syrup and just add a tablespoon of vegan vanilla protein powder and find that adds the perfect amount of sweetness and a little extra protein!
- The oats can be eaten cold, at room temperature or warm. If you would like to eat them warm, heat them in the microwave for 30-60 seconds.
- They will keep in the fridge covered for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted August 2015 and was updated January 2021 to include better tips and photos.
This post may contain affiliate links which means that I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only promote products that I love and feel will benefit my readers :)
Hi Elysia! I made this recipe and loved it! This was my first time trying overnight oats and this recipe really delivered. Just curious, is the calorie count / nutritional facts reflective of 1 serving or should it be divided by 2? Thanks!
So sorry for the delayed response! I’m so happy that you enjoyed this recipe :) The nutritional information provided is for one serving of the overnight oats. Hope that helps!
Tis looks amazing! Could there be a sub for the bananas and egg whites? I’m allergic to both :(
Thanks Christine! Instead of the egg whites, you could substitute Greek yogurt or protein powder to get a source of protein in there. You will probably have to add some additional almond milk to thin it out a bit since you’ll be losing the fluid from the egg whites. Instead of the banana, you can add a little bit of honey or maple syrup for sweetness. Feel free to top it up with another fruit other than the banana. A few raspberries would probably taste good! Let me know if you have any other questions! :)
I am a huge fan of eating oatmeal for breakfast. Plus peanut butter and chocolate is definitely my style! I have never even thought about pasteurized egg whites! My mind is blown right now. PS I am loving your site!
Thanks so much Serene! Isn’t oatmeal is the best?! You’re a chocolate and peanut butter lover too? We’ll definitely get along ;)
Overnight oats are the best breakfast ever and your recipe looks amazing. Can’t wait to try it! I’m sure my kids will love it too :)
Thanks so much Chrissie! I agree that overnight oats are the best — whoever came up with the idea is brilliant! I hope you enjoy my version :)
This looks and sounds delicious. I would omit the eggs whites, just out of personal preference.
Thanks Charlene! It would definitely still work without the egg whites, you would just want to increase the milk a bit. That’s the great thing about overnight oats — they’re so versatile!
Oh yum! I bet that these taste so good! And the best part? They are so healthy! I love that! I will be making these for the Hubby and I soon. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks J! Nothing is better than a healthy AND tasty recipe! Hope you and the hubby enjoy the oats :)
I’ve seen so much of this recipe online (Pinterest and blogs), but never so good looking as this. I think you might have convinced me to try it. Just one question… how long would they last if I doubled the batch?
Thanks so much Byron! That’s a huge compliment :) I wouldn’t leave it in the fridge for longer than a week. Personally, the longest I’ve kept the overnight oats in the fridge is for four days. The banana might start to develop a funky taste if you keep it too long. But if you decide to try for longer, let me know how it goes!
These look delicious! I am just now discovering overnight oats, and I can’t wait to try this method :) Chocolate is always a wonderful way to wake up :)
Thanks Paige! I totally agree — no better way to wake up than with the taste of chocolate!
Chocolate and peanut butter anything is amazing! These look lovely!
Thanks Rachel..and I agree! No better combo than chocolate and PB!
It’s my first time here but I must say, you have the most gorgeous design and photography style. I love the amount of light you’ve captured here. May I ask if you use an artificial light?
Thanks so much Vicki! That totally made my day! I use 100% natural light, but I shoot close to two very large windows. I also shoot on a white background and increase the brightness slightly during post-editing. It’s definitely taken some practice to find out what works best! All the best XO
Chocolate peanut butter anything is a-ok with me! Especially for breakfast! :)
I 100% agree Jenn!
This looks delicious…and I cannot wait to make it. I’m speechless. Drooling. XO
Thanks Sarah! Hope you like it :)
Perfect for back-to-school breakfasts!
You read my mind Amy! I know once September rolls around, everyone will be looking for some quick and easy breakfast ideas to avoid that morning rush ;) Hope you enjoy!
I am so into this delicious and decadent breakfast. I go thru phases when I eat peanut butter 10 times a day, and now its one of those, I am making a batch for the weekend.
Haha thanks Katalina! I am totally with you about the PB. I try to incorporate it somehow into every meal possible! Glad we’re on the same page ;)
I used to make overnight oats eeeevery single day and then I stopped, I don’t even know why. Thanks for reminding me of them and that with a suuuuper delicious looking version of it. Will make them right now for tomorrow morning. Can’t wait for my alarm clock to go off *just kidding* *maybe not*
I’m glad I could inspire you to hop back onto the overnight oats train ;) Hope you enjoyed your oats! When I knew I had them in the fridge, I jumped out of bed pretty quick..you’re not alone haha