Almond Joy Overnight Oats

This Almond Joy Overnight Oats recipe is like eating dessert for breakfast but without guilt. Rich chocolate, crunchy almonds, and tasty coconut are mixed into wholesome oats to create a delicious healthy breakfast recipe that curbs your almond joy candy bar craving.

I’m no stranger to being inspired by my favorite candy bars and desserts when creating overnight oats recipes. This chocolate peanut butter overnight oats, turtle overnight oats, pumpkin pie overnight oats, carrot cake overnight oats, and brownie overnight oats are all examples of this. 

Now we can add Almond Joy Overnight Oats, which is without a doubt one of my new favorite overnight oats recipes. It’s pudding-like and tastes like dessert. However, it’s filled with wholesome oats, heart-healthy coconut, and protein-rich almonds. 

Reasons you’ll love this delicious breakfast recipe.

• Curb your candy cravings. If a chocolate coconut candy bar keeps calling your name, try eating a jar of almond joy overnight oats instead. 
• Healthy. Don’t let the candy flavor fool you; this overnight oats recipe is loaded with protein, fiber, and wholesome goodness. It’s also vegan and gluten-free!
• Easy to prepare. A jar of oats can be ready for the fridge in less than 5 minutes. 
• Pantry ingredients. If you keep a stocked healthy pantry, then it’s likely you have everything ready to make a jar of oats right now.
• Make-ahead. All overnight oats are champions in the meal prep world, and this decadent oatmeal recipe is no different.

Ingredients

• Rolled oats are the standard oat for overnight oats recipes; they are also called old-fashioned oats, and you can find them in the cereal aisle of your grocery store. Do not use instant or quick oats because the oatmeal will turn out mushy, and don’t use steel-cut oats because those will not cook using this overnight oats method.
• Cacao powder is less processed than unsweetened cocoa powder, keeping more nutritional value. So when I want to add chocolate flavor to an oatmeal recipe, I most often use cacao powder. It’s more bitter than cocoa powder, but the maple syrup and other flavors balance it.
• Chia seeds give this almond joy overnight oats recipe a nutritional punch of fiber, protein, and omega 3’s while also adding to the creamy pudding-like texture.
• Unsweetened coconut milk is my non-dairy milk of choice. You can also use almond milk, cow’s milk, or any milk.
• Pure vanilla extract adds another warm layer of flavor to the oatmeal.
• Almond extract provides the oats with a subtle almond taste that blends perfectly with the chocolate and coconut.
• Pure maple syrup is necessary to balance the bitterness of the cacao powder. I only need 1-2 teaspoons of maple syrup in most of my overnight oat recipes, but I lean more towards one tablespoon of sweetener when using cacao powder.
• Almond slivers or chopped almonds for crunch.
• Unsweetened coconut for flavor and texture.
• Dark chocolate chips, mini chocolate chips, or cacao nibs for another bite of chocolate. To keep this recipe vegan, I suggest sticking with cacao nibs. 

Supplies

• 16-ounce mason jars or any airtight container.

How to Make Almond Joy Overnight Oats

• Start by stirring together the rolled oats, cocoa powder, and chia seeds.
• Then pour in the coconut milk, extracts, two teaspoons of maple syrup, and half of the coconut flakes.
• Stir all ingredients together until the oats are covered in the milk. If the oats seem dry, add a splash of milk until covered.
• Tightly place the lid on and refrigerate overnight or for at least 5 hours.
• Remove the lid and stir the oats. Add one teaspoon of pure maple syrup and a little more coconut milk to loosen up the oats. 
• Sprinkle the chopped almonds, the rest of the shredded coconut, and chocolate chips over the top.

Storage tips

• You can make jars of almond joy overnight oats up to 3 days ahead of time. Keep in mind the longer the oats sit in the refrigerator, the thicker they will become, so you’ll need to add extra liquid before eating them.
• You can also prepare the dry ingredients ahead of time and make meal prep overnight oats freeze packs. When you’re ready to whip up a jar of oatmeal, pour the ingredients into a mason jar, add the liquid, and refrigerate.

Cooking Tips

• Almond extract can be overpowering, so be careful when using it. This recipe only calls for 1/8 of a teaspoon, a tiny drop. You can also leave it out if you don’t have it, and the recipe will still be tasty.
• Make sure to stir the dry ingredients together before adding the liquids; this keeps the cacao powder from clumping together after mixing the milk.
• Start with one teaspoon of pure maple syrup when putting the jars together. In the morning, stir in more maple syrup (one teaspoon at a time) until you get the level of sweetness that you want.
• You can stir in 1-2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt for extra protein. This also gives the oatmeal a tangy flavor.
• The overnight oats will be very thick in the morning; that’s normal. The extra maple syrup will start to loosen up the oats but if you want the oatmeal creamer, add a splash of milk until you get the consistency you want.
• Overnight oatmeal is meant to be consumed cold, but you cant heat them on the stovetop or in the microwave if you prefer to eat them warm.
• Of course, almonds are my nut of choice in almond joy overnight oats, but you can use any nuts. Pecans would be delicious.
• If you don’t have a mason jar, you can mix the ingredients into a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap.

More Overnight Oats Recipes

• Blueberry Overnight Oats
• Strawberry Overnight Oats
• Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats
• Chocolate Overnight Oats with Yogurt
• Chocolate Banana Overnight Oats
• Peanut Butter Overnight Oats

See more healthy oatmeal recipes.

Did you make this recipe?

Have you tried this Almond Joy Overnight Oats Recipe? I can’t wait to see it! If so, I’d love for you to rate this recipe and leave a comment below. We all learn from each other’s experiences. Also, it would be awesome if you could share a picture on Instagram and tag it #organizeyourselfskinny.