Who doesn't love a good make-ahead breakfast? These grab-and-go overnight oats are topped with crunchy pecans and spiced apples and pears.
This breakfast is for those mornings when you're craving all the warm, cozy flavors of fall, but also need something quick and easy to grab on your way out the door.
Overnight oats are ideal for people who take breakfast to work or school, but leaving the house isn't a requirement. I work from home and still think it's really helpful to have make-ahead breakfasts ready to go whenever I need them.
For another great meal prep breakfast, try my Overnight Mango Banana Chia Pudding with Coconut Milk.
Now that apples and pears are in season, this recipe is my go-to.
How to Make Roasted Apple and Pear Overnight Oats
I like to use old-fashioned oats, chia seeds, and soy milk as the base for my overnight oats. When you mix these ingredients together and let them meld overnight in the fridge, they turn into a thick and creamy base.
This mixture is nutritious, satisfying, and also happens to be delicious with all types of breakfast bowl toppings.
How to Roast Apples and Pears
One such topping is roasted fruit, which adds just the right amount of sweetness to overnight oats. I like to toss chopped fruit with a little oil, maple syrup, and spices before spreading it on a baking sheet and roasting in the oven.
This recipe is written for people who want to make the whole thing ahead of time, but if you prefer the contrast of warm, freshly-roasted fruit with the cold oat mixture, well, I don't blame you.
Luckily, you have a couple of options.
To serve these overnight oats with warm, roasted fruit, you can store the apples and pears separate from the overnight oats and then reheat the fruit immediately before you add it to the oats. You can reheat the fruit in the microwave or on the stovetop.
If you have an extra 15 minutes or so in the morning, you can also roast the fruit day-of and add it to jars of oats that you already have prepped in the fridge.
Overnight Oat Toppings
Beyond roasted fruit, there are plenty of other options when it comes to toppings. Some of my favorites are:
- Toasted nuts (pecans, almonds, and cashews)
- Nut and seed butters (tahini, almond butter, peanut butter, and sunflower butter)
- Spices (cinnamon, ginger, and pumpkin pie spice)
- Sweeteners (maple syrup, honey, and agave nectar)
- Granola
- Fruit preserves or chia jam
Do the type of oats matter?
You can use any type of oats for this recipe, but I prefer old-fashioned since they hold more of their texture and don't get as mushy.
Can you make this with another type of milk?
Any type of milk works, so feel free to swap in your favorite or experiment with different varieties.
I like soy milk as a plant-based alternative because it has a comparable amount of protein to dairy milk. You can read more about the benefits and safety of soy here.
Does it have to sit overnight?
Even though "overnight" is in the name, you don't necessarily have to refrigerate these oats for a full eight hours. The texture will continue to soften over time, but I've dug in as soon as an hour after assembly without any complaints.
How long do overnight oats last and what's the best way to store them?
I used jars that were sized between 8 and 16 ounces to store these oats. Each serving is about one cup.
You don't need to use glass jars to make this recipe. Any airtight container with a lid will work.
Properly store overnight oats in the refrigerator and they could last up to a week.
Try These Apple and Pear Recipes, Too:
- Cinnamon Apple Tahini Oatmeal Bowl
- Thyme Roasted Apples and Pears
- Vegan Apple Spice Crumble
- Apple Pie Energy Bites
Roasted Apple and Pear Overnight Oats
Equipment
- Mason jars
- Oven
Ingredients
Roasted Apples and Pears:
- 1 medium apple, chopped (about 1 ⅓ cups)
- 2 medium pears, chopped (about 1 ⅓ cups)
- 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)
- Salt
Overnight Oats:
- 1 ⅓ cups old-fashioned oats
- 4 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2 cups unsweetened soy milk (or milk of choice)
- 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
Optional toppings:
- Chopped pecans, toasted if desired
- Tahini or almond butter or peanut butter
- Maple syrup
- Ground cinnamon
Instructions
Prepare Roasted Apples and Pears:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix apples, pears, grapeseed oil, lemon juice, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom (if usinand spread on a baking sheet. Transfer to the oven and bake 15 minutes, or until fruit is softened and golden brown.
Prepare Overnight Oats:
- Place four jars on the countertop. Divide oats (⅓ cup each), chia seeds (1 tablespoon each), soy milk (½ cup each), and vanilla extract (1 teaspoon eacbetween the jars. Cover with lids and shake until the ingredients are mixed.
- Open the jars back up and divide the roasted apples and pears evenly between them. Add chopped pecans, tahini, maple syrup, and cinnamon if desired.
- Refrigerate 8 hours, or until the oats are soft and the overall texture is thick and creamy.
Notes
Save These Overnight Oats on Pinterest
Did you try this recipe?
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Leslie says
Oh, I've never seen apple and pear as flavors for overnight oats! I LOVE it! This is a great idea!!!
Abbey Sharp says
These overnight oats look amazing! Such a great way to start a fall day
Ann says
I salivate over these photos... My nana always taught me to eat oats every day for healthy organism and good digestion but like all children (and then adults) I couldn't even look at oats after some time. So I started looking for some interesting and new recipes including oats to diversify my healthy eating and found your blog. This recipe is one of my favourites now, I really like dishes with different spices and fruits. Did you try to use other kinds of milk? For example, almond or coconut? It tastes great too! Thank you for the recipe)))