
Your New Favorite Morning Ritual is Here
Hey there, friend! Isla here, from my cozy kitchen to yours. Let’s be real for a second: mornings can be… a lot. The alarm blares, the to-do list starts screaming, and suddenly, making a nutritious, delicious breakfast feels like climbing a mountain before you’ve even had your coffee. I get it. I’ve been there more times than I can count, usually with a hungry kid tugging on my apron and a cat weaving figure-eights around my ankles.
But what if I told you that the most decadent, satisfying, secretly healthy breakfast could be waiting for you in your fridge, ready the moment you are? No cooking, no blending, no fancy equipment—just you, a spoon, and a jar of pure joy. That’s the magic of my Peanut Butter Chocolate Overnight Oats.
This isn’t just any breakfast. This is a creamy, dreamy, dessert-for-breakfast situation that’s packed with good-for-you stuff. We’re talking rich cocoa, swirls of salty-sweet peanut butter, and the natural sweetness of banana and honey. It’s a protein and fiber powerhouse that will keep you full and happy all morning long. It’s the no-stress, all-flavor solution to busy mornings, and I am so excited for you to try it. Let’s make your mornings something to look forward to!
The Midnight Snack That Started It All
This recipe takes me right back to my grandma’s kitchen, though she’d probably laugh at the fancy “overnight oats” name. For her, it was just common sense. I remember sleepovers at her house by the coast, and without fail, I’d wake up in the middle of the night, lured by the faint, sweet scent of something chocolatey. I’d tiptoe downstairs to find her, wide awake, watching old movies and stirring a big bowl of what she called her “Midnight Porridge.”
It was her secret—a no-cook oat mixture she’d let sit in the icebox so it was perfectly chilled and thick by the time her late-night cravings hit. She’d always let me have a few spoonfuls, and it felt like we were getting away with something magical, eating what tasted like chocolate pudding at 1 AM. She taught me that food doesn’t need to be complicated to feel special. This recipe is my tribute to her and those stolen midnight moments—a little bit of kitchen magic that’s both a comfort and a celebration.
Print
Peanut Butter Chocolate Overnight Oats
- Total Time: Overnight or 4+ hours
Description
This creamy, dreamy Peanut Butter Chocolate Overnight Oats recipe is like dessert for breakfast—but it’s secretly healthy. Sweetened naturally with banana and honey, loaded with protein and fiber, and packed with rich cocoa flavor, it’s a no-blender, no-stress way to start your morning on a delicious note.
Ingredients
½ cup rolled oats
¼ cup almond milk
½ mashed banana
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp honey
1 tbsp peanut butter
Instructions
In a jar or container, mash the banana.
Add oats, cocoa powder, honey, peanut butter, and almond milk.
Stir everything together until smooth and well combined.
Cover and refrigerate overnight (or at least 4 hours).
Top with extra banana slices, chocolate chips, or a drizzle of peanut butter before serving, if desired.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Category: Dessert
Nutrition
- Calories: 330
- Fat: 17g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Protein: 9g
Gather Your Flavor Crew
Here’s the beautiful part: you likely have most of these pantry heroes already. This is all about simple ingredients doing incredible things together.
- ½ cup Rolled Oats (Old-Fashioned Oats): This is our foundation! Rolled oats are the MVP here because they soften perfectly overnight, giving us that ideal creamy-yet-chewy texture. Chef’s Tip: Steer clear of quick oats—they can get a little too mushy and lose their structure.
- ¼ cup Almond Milk: My go-to for creaminess without being too heavy. Substitution Star: Any milk you love works beautifully here! Oat milk makes it extra creamy, dairy milk adds richness, or even coconut milk for a tropical twist.
- ½ mashed Banana: This is our natural sweetener and secret weapon for ultra-creamy oats! The riper the banana, the sweeter and more flavorful your oats will be. Insight: It also acts as a natural thickener, making the texture almost pudding-like.
- 1 tbsp Cocoa Powder: Hello, chocolatey goodness! Use natural, unsweetened cocoa powder for that deep, rich chocolate flavor. This is what makes it taste like a treat.
- 1 tsp Honey (or Maple Syrup): A little extra sweetness to balance the cocoa. Flexible Friend: Feel free to adjust to your taste! Maple syrup keeps it vegan, or you can use agave. If your banana is super ripe, you might even skip this!
- 1 tbsp Peanut Butter: The co-star of the show! I love using a natural, drippy peanut butter because it swirls into the mixture so well. Allergy-Friendly Swap: Any nut or seed butter is fantastic. Almond butter, sunflower seed butter—they all bring their own unique deliciousness.
Let’s Assemble the Magic
Ready for the easiest “cooking” you’ll ever do? Grab a jar, a container, or even a trusty mug. This whole process takes about five minutes, and then your future self gets all the credit.
- Mash the Banana: First things first, get that half a banana into your jar and mash it up with a fork until it’s nice and goopy. This is a crucial step! Don’t just slice it in—mashing it ensures every single bite is infused with that sweet, creamy banana flavor and none of those weird, slimy chunks. Little Chef Hack: If you want to prevent the banana from browning overnight, a tiny squeeze of lemon juice over the mash does the trick!
- Add the Dry Goods: Now, pour in your rolled oats and that glorious tablespoon of cocoa powder. Pro Tip: I like to give the oats and cocoa a little stir with the banana mash *before* adding the liquids. This helps the cocoa powder incorporate evenly, so you don’t get any dry, bitter pockets. It’s all about that smooth, chocolatey distribution!
- Introduce the Wet Team: Time for the almond milk, honey, and that scoop of peanut butter. Chef’s Secret: When you add the peanut butter, try to place it right in the center, on top of the oat mixture, rather than plopping it on the side of the jar. This makes the next step so much easier and more effective.
- The Grand Stir: Now, take your spoon and stir everything together with passion! You want to see that peanut butter fully swirled in and the cocoa powder completely dissolved into the milk. Get right into the edges and the bottom of the jar. The goal is one uniform, chocolaty, peanut-buttery universe. Don’t be shy here—a vigorous stir is the key to creamy, not clumpy, oats.
- The Patience Part: Pop the lid on your jar and tuck it into the fridge. Let it work its magic for at least 4 hours, but honestly, overnight is best. This is when the oats slowly drink up all the liquid, the flavors become best friends, and the whole thing transforms into a thick, pudding-like breakfast paradise. Go to sleep dreaming of tomorrow’s breakfast!

Time for the Grand Finale
Morning has arrived! Take your jar out of the fridge. Give the oats a quick stir—you’ll see they’ve thickened up beautifully. Now, the fun part: the toppings! This is where you make it your own. I love slicing up the other half of the banana and arranging it on top, along with a sprinkle of dark chocolate chips for extra decadence and a final drizzle of peanut butter because, why not? A tiny pinch of flaky sea salt is also *chef’s kiss*—it makes the chocolate and peanut butter flavors pop even more. Eat it straight from the jar or spoon it into a bowl. You’ve earned this.
Ride Your Own Flavor Wave
This recipe is a perfect canvas for your cravings! Here are a few of my favorite ways to mix it up:
- Cookie Dough Twist: Swap the cocoa powder for a scoop of vanilla protein powder and add a handful of mini chocolate chips. It tastes like you’re eating cookie dough for breakfast!
- Berry Bliss: Skip the cocoa and peanut butter. Use vanilla extract and mix in a handful of mashed raspberries or strawberries. It’s like a PB&J, but with berries and cream!
- Tropical Escape: Use coconut milk, swap the peanut butter for almond butter, and in the morning, top with toasted coconut, mango chunks, and a sprinkle of macadamia nuts.
- Double Chocolate Decadence: For all my chocoholics, add a tablespoon of chocolate chips into the mix before refrigerating. In the morning, top with cacao nibs for a crunchy, bitter contrast.
- Protein Power-Up: Stir in a scoop of your favorite chocolate or vanilla protein powder along with the oats. You might need to add an extra splash of milk to keep the perfect consistency.
From My Kitchen to Yours
This recipe has been a BiteTide staple since the very beginning, and it’s evolved in the best way. I’ve made it in hotel rooms with a coffee cup and a plastic fork while traveling. I’ve quadrupled the batch in a big bowl for a family brunch. My kid even “made it for me” once, which resulted in more cocoa powder on the counter than in the jar, but it was the best-tasting mess I’ve ever had.
The beauty of this dish is its resilience. It’s forgiving. A little more milk? Creamier. A little less honey? Less sweet. It adapts to you. I encourage you to make it once as written, and then the next time, make it your own. That’s what real cooking is all about—finding joy in the process and creating something that makes you do a little happy dance with the first bite.
Your Questions, Answered!
I’ve gotten thousands of comments on overnight oats over the years, so I’ve gathered the most common questions here to help you out!
Q: My oats turned out too thick/too thin. What happened?
A: No worries, this is an easy fix! Oats can vary, and the ripeness of your banana can affect moisture. If they’re too thick in the morning, just stir in a splash of milk until it reaches your perfect consistency. If they’re too thin, you probably need to let them chill a bit longer, or you can add a tablespoon of oats, stir, and let it sit for another 30 minutes.
Q: Can I make these more than one night in advance?
A: Absolutely! This is a fantastic meal prep hero. You can easily make 3-4 jars at the beginning of the week. They’ll stay fresh and delicious in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. Just hold off on adding fresh fruit toppings (like banana slices) until the morning you’re ready to eat, so they don’t get brown or soggy.
Q: I don’t like bananas. What can I use instead?
A> I hear you! The banana is there for creaminess and sweetness. You can easily replace it with ¼ cup of unsweetened applesauce or even 2-3 tablespoons of Greek yogurt. The texture will be slightly different but still wonderfully creamy. You may want to add a touch more sweetener to compensate for the lost banana sweetness.
Q: Are these oats eaten cold? Can I heat them up?
A> They are traditionally eaten cold, which is so refreshing! But if you’re a warm breakfast person, you are 100% allowed to break the rules. Simply spoon the chilled oats into a bowl and microwave them in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until warm. It becomes a warm, comforting porridge!
Fuel for Your Fun
Approximate Nutrition per Serving (without extra toppings):
Calories: ~330 | Protein: 9g | Carbohydrates: 34g | Fat: 17g | Fiber: 6g
Prep time: 5 mins | Chill time: 4–8 hours (overnight is best!) | Total time: Overnight
