Chocolate Overnight Oats

By The Modern Nonna

on Jan 06, 2022, Updated Aug 13, 2025

5 from 3 votes
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Chocolate for breakfast 🍫? Absolutely. This Chocolate Overnight Oats recipe is creamy, decadent, and secretly good for you. The best part? They take less time than your nightly skincare routine….like a lot less 😉. Just 5 minutes of prep before bed yields a dessert-for-breakfast vibe that will keep you coming back for more. This recipe makes one portion, but you can absolutely meal prep ahead. They last 4-5 days in the fridge and make for the perfect grab-and-go breakfast 🌞. Overnight oats are meant to be eaten cold, but they can also be enjoyed warm for extra comfort 🥰.

Table of Contents

A small glass jar filled with chocolate overnight oats, topped with sliced strawberries, whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and oats. A spoon is inserted into the jar. Another similar jar is in the background.

Why You’ll Love Chocolate Overnight Oats

Rich cocoa 🍫 blends with hearty rolled oats for a breakfast you can’t wait to wake up to 🌅. Almond milk makes each bite creamy and smooth while adding a slightly nutty flavor to this Chocolate Overnight Oats recipe. Notes of caramel from the maple syrup give your oats just the right amount of sweetness. The end result is a breakfast that is heavenly, rich and chocolatey – but also totally nourishing! Top your oats with chocolate chips, strawberries 🍓, and a dollop of yogurt just before serving for a breakfast that’s both indulgent and healthy.

Ingredients

Four small bowls on a white surface containing oat milk, cocoa powder, rolled oats, and maple syrup, arranged in a flat lay style.

🌾 Oats: Quick rolled oats are just the right texture—soft and creamy after a night in the fridge, but with enough texture to keep things interesting.

🥛 Almond milk: Velvety smooth almond milk gives the oats their creaminess and adds a slightly nutty flavor. I like to use unsweetened so I can control the amount of sugar in this recipe.

🍁 Maple syrup: Liquid gold maple syrup adds notes of caramel and balances the bite of the cocoa.

🍫 Cocoa powder: Rich cocoa powder transforms basic oats into breakfast that tastes like a decadent dessert.

Nonna’s Tip 💪

Amp up the protein in this recipe by adding vanilla protein powder. You may have to add a touch more milk so it’s not too thick.

Three jars of chocolate overnight oats are topped with sliced strawberries, chocolate chips, oats, and a dollop of yogurt or cream. The jars sit on a wooden tray with spoons nearby.

Meal Prep and Storage Tips

  • Make ahead for the week – Prep several mason jars at once for easy grab-and-go breakfasts that stay fresh up to 4–5 days in the fridge.
  • Layer toppings separately – Keep fruit, granola, nuts, or chocolate chips aside until serving to maintain crunch.
  • Stir before serving – Overnight oats thicken as they chill, so give them a good mix to restore that creamy texture.
  • Mix it up – Use different milk, sweeteners, or add-ins like peanut butter or berries to keep things exciting all week.
  • Add in protein – Mix in a scoop of chocolate protein powder for an extra macro boost.

Variations and Substitutions for Chocolate Overnight Oats

  1. You can make these 🍫 Chocolate Overnight Oats dairy-free by using your favorite non-dairy yogurt and milk.
  2. Amp up the 💪 protein in this recipe by adding in chocolate protein powder. You may have to add in a touch more milk.
  3. You can use whatever sweetener you prefer, such as 🍯 honey, agave syrup, coconut sugar, or any other sweetener you prefer.
  4. Top this with crunchy granola, cacao nibs or chopped nuts.
  5. Add even more flavor with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Similar Recipes

Best Served With

  • Serve these Chocolate Overnight Oats with a bowl of fresh 🫐 fruit and cottage cheese.
  • Serve for breakfast with eggs or another breakfast protein, such as turkey bacon or my Homemade Breakfast Sausage Recipe.
  • Serve with a spoonful of 🥜 peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew.

Common Questions

CAN I USE OLD-FASHIONED OATS INSTEAD OF QUICK-COOKING OATS?

I used quick-cook oats in this Chocolate Overnight Oats recipe, but any kind of oats will work. The texture might be slightly thicker, so I would soak them a bit longer to make sure they soften, preferably 8+ hours or overnight.

CAN I USE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SWEETENER?

Absolutely! You can use maple syrup, agave syrup, coconut sugar, or any other sweetener you prefer.

CAn I make this recipe dairy-free?

Yes, you certainly can by simply using your favorite non-dairy milk and yogurt in this recipe.

what other toppings can i add?

Have fun experimenting with toppings such as chopped nuts, cacao nibs, granola, dried fruit, or fruit and berries.

A small glass jar filled with chocolate overnight oats, topped with sliced strawberries, whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and oats. A spoon is inserted into the jar. Another similar jar is in the background.

Chocolate Overnight Oats

Rich, chocolatey AND nourishing – these Chocolate Overnight Oats take only 5 minutes to prep and make for an easy, grab-and-go breakfast.
5 from 3 votes
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Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Makes: 1 serving
Author: The Modern Nonna
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Chill Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes

Video

Equipment

Small Mason Jars (250ml)
Mixing Bowls
Measuring Cups + Spoons
Liquid Measuring Cup

Ingredients 

  • ½ cup rolled oats , I use quick cooking
  • 1/2-1 tablespoon maple syrup , honey or agave work as well
  • 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa , cacao powder
  • ½ cup unsweetened almond milk

Instructions 

  • Add all of the ingredients to a mason jar and stir well. Use a bowl if you don’t have a mason jar.
    A glass bowl containing oats, cocoa powder, and other dry baking ingredients on a white marble surface, viewed from above.
  • Give it a really good stir and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight.
    A glass bowl filled with a mixture of oats and chocolate liquid sits on a light marble surface.
  • Feel free to prep ahead 3-5 days in advance and enjoy.
    Three jars of chocolate overnight oats are topped with sliced strawberries, chocolate chips, oats, and a dollop of yogurt or cream. The jars sit on a wooden tray with spoons nearby.

Notes

  • Dairy-free: You can make these Chocolate Overnight Oats dairy-free by using your favorite non-dairy yogurt and milk.
  • High-protein: Amp up the protein in this recipe by adding in vanilla protein powder. You may have to add in a touch more milk.
  • Sweeteners: You can use whatever sweetener you prefer, such as honey, agave syrup, coconut sugar, or any other sweetener you prefer. You could also omit it completely if you prefer.
  • Toppings and add-ins: Top this with crunchy granola, cacao nibs or chopped nuts. Add even more flavor with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving, Calories: 203kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 166mg, Potassium: 200mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 7g, Calcium: 185mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
COOKED IT? SLAYED IT? 💅
Tag @themodernnonna so I can hype you up 👏 and don’t forget to rate ⭐, drop a comment 💬, and show some love right here on the recipe!

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Hi! I'm Sneji. Nice to meet you!

I am more commonly known as “The Modern Nonna” on social media where I create easy home cooked meals with a modern twist. I was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria and learned how to cook at the best culinary school in the world – my grandma’s kitchen. I lived in Greece on the Island of Crete with my parents for a while and then moved to Toronto, Canada when I was in grade 5. I started to really cook and experiment with food 11 years ago when I was 21 years old. Everything I currently know is a reflection of some part of my life…

More about me

Keep up to date with me on social media! Follow @themodernnonna

5 from 3 votes

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8 Comments

    1. Hi Lydia, that’s a very personal question, depending on your diet. I like this dish because it has fiber, a bit of protein, and satisfies my sweet tooth without a ton of sugar.

      Reply

  2. 5 stars
    Absolutely delicious flavor. Mine were a little runnier than yours which might have been careless measuring. I also added just a slash of vanilla.
    Thanks for a great recipe.

    Reply

  3. 5 stars
    This is an excellent and super easy recipe – I’ve made it 3 times now for my husband and me & we love it! I make 4 servings at a time in a mason jar and it’s great for busy mornings. Thank you for this great recipe!

    Reply

  4. 5 stars
    This so great! I eat this as snack, I found pretty 8oz jar.
    I orepare a few at a time and they last almost a week in the fridge.
    Or even have all the dry ingredients mixed and add milk a few hours before serving.
    I am pre-diabetic and love chocolate but sugar is not welcome in my body…
    Sometime if I have a craving I only eat a couple of spoonful!
    Thank you
    Monique

    Reply