Energizing Applesauce Overnight Oats: Your Ultimate Guide to Easy, Healthy Breakfast Prep
Transform your mornings with our simple yet incredibly satisfying recipe for overnight oats with applesauce and yogurt. This isn’t just breakfast; it’s a smart meal prep solution designed to make your busy weekdays effortlessly delicious. Imagine waking up, grabbing a jar from the fridge, and instantly enjoying a wholesome, fiber-rich, and protein-packed meal that keeps you feeling full and energized. Forget the fuss of cooking or even pouring a bowl of cold cerealāthese applesauce overnight oats are quicker, healthier, and infinitely more delightful. Prepare several servings at once, and youāll have a weekās worth of grab-and-go breakfasts ready for the entire family to enjoy!

Why Applesauce Overnight Oats Are Your New Breakfast Staple
In today’s fast-paced world, finding a breakfast that balances convenience with nutrition can be a challenge. That’s where applesauce overnight oats shine. They offer a multitude of benefits, making them a perfect addition to any healthy lifestyle:
- Unbeatable Convenience: No cooking required! Simply mix, chill overnight, and enjoy. This is the ultimate meal prep hack for busy mornings, freeing up precious minutes for yourself.
- Nutritional Powerhouse: Packed with soluble fiber from oats, protein from Greek yogurt, and essential vitamins from applesauce, this breakfast supports healthy digestion, keeps blood sugar stable, and provides sustained energy.
- Customizable and Versatile: The base recipe is fantastic, but it’s also a blank canvas. Easily adapt it to your taste preferences or dietary needs by adding different fruits, nuts, seeds, or spices.
- Affordable and Wholesome: Made with common, inexpensive pantry staples, overnight oats are a budget-friendly option compared to store-bought breakfast cereals or takeout. Plus, you control all the ingredients, ensuring a wholesome start to your day.
“Peanut adds a good note to this meal! Thanks for the recipe and the brilliant idea!”
ā Dennis
As autumn leaves begin to fall and the air gets crisp, my kitchen fills with the comforting aromas of apple and cinnamon. While many eagerly await pumpkin spice season, for me, apple season holds an equally cherished spot. It’s a time when I simply can’t get enough of these versatile fruits, and they are the delightful inspiration behind this quick, vegetarian, and utterly delicious breakfast. The natural sweetness and warm spice of applesauce are perfectly complemented by the creamy texture of oats and yogurt, making for a truly harmonious start to your day.
š Essential Ingredients for Applesauce Overnight Oats
One of the best aspects of this recipe is its reliance on simple, wholesome ingredients you likely already have on hand. Minimal fuss, maximum flavor. Hereās a detailed look at what youāll need to create your perfect jar of overnight oats:
- ½ cup cinnamon applesauce
- ½ cup dry rolled oats (also known as old-fashioned oats)
- 1 tablespoon peanut flour
- ½ cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- 1 tablespoon chopped peanuts or chopped apples (optional, for topping)

A printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions can be found further down in this post!
Choosing the Right Applesauce for Maximum Flavor
For the applesauce component, you have several excellent options. Store-bought applesauce works perfectly, offering convenience and consistent flavor. However, if you want to elevate the taste and utilize seasonal produce, consider making your own. My homemade unsweetened applesauce recipe is a fantastic way to infuse rich, natural apple flavor without any added sugars. This is especially rewarding during peak apple season when you can use the freshest fruit. Alternatively, for a unique twist, you could try an applesauce substitute made with pears, which offers a slightly different, equally delightful sweetness.
Selecting Your Oats: Rolled is Recommended
The foundation of any good overnight oats recipe is, of course, the oats themselves. I highly recommend using dry rolled oats, often labeled as old-fashioned oats. These oats absorb liquid beautifully overnight, resulting in a creamy yet slightly chewy texture that is ideal for this dish. While quick oats and instant oats can also be used in a pinch, be aware that their finer texture will lead to a somewhat mushier consistency in the final product. Crucially, avoid using steel-cut oats for this recipe. Steel-cut oats require a much longer cooking time and will not soften sufficiently in the refrigerator overnight, leaving you with an unpleasantly gritty and firm breakfast.
The Power of Peanut Flour: Flavor Without the Calories
Peanut flour is a true star in this recipe, offering a concentrated peanut butter flavor with significantly fewer calories and less fat than traditional peanut butter. For instance, two tablespoons of peanut flour typically provide around 50 calories, while the same amount of unsweetened peanut butter can pack approximately 180 calories. This makes peanut flour an excellent choice for those looking to enjoy that beloved peanut taste while managing calorie intake. I personally use and recommend Crazy Richardās Peanut Butter Powder for its quality and flavor.
Ideal Containers for Overnight Oats: Prep for Success
To prepare your overnight oats, any pint-sized, food-safe container with a tight-fitting lid or cover will work. The key is to ensure it seals well to prevent spills and keep your oats fresh. For both convenience and aesthetic appeal, I prefer using wide-mouth, pint-sized glass canning jars. Popular brands like Ball jars are readily available and perfect for individual servings, allowing you to easily layer the ingredients and enjoy your parfait straight from the jar.
š How to Prepare Your Applesauce Overnight Oats
Crafting these delicious applesauce overnight oats is incredibly simple, requiring minimal effort for maximum morning convenience. Follow these straightforward steps to prepare your perfect breakfast parfaits:
Step 1: Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients
In a medium-sized bowl, begin by thoroughly stirring together the dry rolled oatmeal and the peanut flour. Once these are combined, add the vanilla Greek yogurt and milk. Mix all the ingredients again until everything is completely incorporated and there are no dry pockets of oats or flour. This ensures even hydration and flavor distribution.

Step 2: Layer into Jars for a Beautiful Parfait
Now, it’s time to assemble your delicious parfaits. Take your pint jar and spoon half of the oatmeal mixture into the bottom. Next, carefully add half of the cinnamon applesauce over the oat layer. Use the back of a spoon to gently spread each layer, creating an even, appealing foundation for your overnight oats.
Step 3: Chill Overnight for Perfect Texture
To complete the layering, add the remaining half of the oat mixture into the jar, followed by the rest of the applesauce. Ensure all layers are evenly distributed. Once layered, securely place the lid (or cover) on the jar. Then, transfer your jar(s) to the refrigerator and let them chill overnight, or for at least 6-8 hours. This crucial step allows the oats to fully soften and absorb the flavors, resulting in that wonderfully creamy overnight oats texture.

Step 4: Garnish and Enjoy!
When you’re ready to enjoy your breakfast, remove the jar from the refrigerator. If desired, top with a tablespoon of chopped peanuts or fresh chopped apples right before eating. Since each jar contains a single, perfectly portioned serving, you can simply grab a spoon and dig right into your delicious applesauce overnight oats directly from the jar. Itās a delightful and hassle-free way to start your day!

A helpful tip: Itās best to add toppings like chopped peanuts or other crunchy elements just before serving. If left in the jar overnight, nuts tend to soften and lose their desired crunch, which can detract from the overall texture of your breakfast.
Frequently Asked Questions About Applesauce Overnight Oats
How Long Do Applesauce Overnight Oats Last in the Refrigerator?
Generally, a tightly sealed jar of this applesauce overnight oats recipe will last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. This makes them an excellent option for weekly meal prep. However, if you choose to add highly perishable ingredients such as fresh raspberries or other delicate fruits, your jar of oats may only maintain its optimal freshness for 1-2 days. Always use your best judgment and check for any signs of spoilage.
Can Overnight Oats Be Warmed Up?
While overnight oatmeal is traditionally enjoyed cold, straight from the fridge, you can absolutely warm them up if you prefer a hot breakfast. Simply transfer the contents of the jar to a microwave-safe bowl and heat gently, stirring occasionally, until it reaches your desired temperature. Keep in mind that heating the Greek yogurt in this recipe may diminish the beneficial live active cultures (probiotic bacteria) that contribute to gut health. Additionally, if you plan to add fresh fruit as a topping, itās often best served chilled, so consider adding it after warming.
What if I don’t have peanut flour? Can I use peanut butter?
Yes, you can substitute peanut butter for peanut flour. For the same amount of peanut flavor, you might use about half a tablespoon to one tablespoon of creamy peanut butter. However, be aware that this will significantly increase the calorie and fat content of your overnight oats. If you’re conscious of these factors, peanut flour is the recommended choice for its lower calorie density while still delivering that rich peanut taste. You could also use other nut flours or a small amount of a different nut butter if you prefer a different flavor profile or have a peanut allergy.
Can I use fresh apples instead of applesauce?
While applesauce is integral to the creamy texture and cinnamon-infused flavor of this specific recipe, you can certainly incorporate fresh apples. For the best results, grate or finely dice a fresh apple and add it along with the applesauce. This will provide an extra crunch and a burst of fresh apple flavor. If you want to replace *all* the applesauce with fresh apples, you would need to adjust the liquid content (milk) to ensure the oats hydrate properly, and the texture will be less smooth and more chunky.
Full Recipe: Applesauce Overnight Oats
Watch How to Make It!
For a visual guide on preparing these delicious overnight oats, check out our step-by-step video. It walks you through each stage, ensuring your breakfast prep is as smooth as your oats will be!

Description: My overnight oats with applesauce and yogurt recipe makes breakfast meal prep a breeze.
Upload Date: 2024-08-28
View the full video here (MP4)

Applesauce Overnight Oats Recipe
Summer Yule
Recipe Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (based on 4 votes)
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Ingredients
- ½ cup cinnamon applesauce
- ½ cup rolled oatmeal, dry
- 1 tablespoon peanut flour
- ½ cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tablespoon chopped peanuts (or chopped apples; optional, for topping)
Love this recipe? Please leave a comment below š
Instructions
- Stir together the rolled oatmeal and peanut flour in a medium-size bowl. Add the Greek yogurt and milk and mix again. Make sure the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- To layer, start by putting ½ of the oatmeal mixture in a pint jar. Next, add ½ of the applesauce to the jar. Spread each layer around with the back of a spoon to make it even.
- To finish the parfait layers, put the rest of the oat mixture in the jar, and then the rest of the applesauce. Put the lids (or covers) on the jars and pop them in the fridge overnight.
- Top with chopped peanuts or chopped apples right before eating (if desired).
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Equipment
- Wide-Mouth Pint Jars
Notes: Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
š Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 1 recipe (may help support fat loss).Ā There are so many ways to modify this applesauce overnight oats recipe depending on your needs and preferences! For example, you could make this a higher calorie oatmeal recipe with one or more of the following swaps:
- Use whole milk Greek yogurt instead of nonfat Greek yogurt or low-fat Greek yogurt
- Use whole dairy milk instead of skim milk, low-fat milk, or plant milk
- Add more chopped peanuts and/or chia seeds
If you have limited lactose tolerance, you can use lactose-free milk in this recipe. Greek yogurt is naturally low in lactose, and you may find you can tolerate it.
Those with a true dairy allergy can make these overnight oats dairy-free with unsweetened soy milk and soy yogurt. Try to find a brand with a calcium and protein content that is similar to dairy milk for comparable nutrition.
Ā
Nutrition information is for one serving of the recipe.
Ā
Nutrition Info Disclaimer
Ā
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
Ā
The nutrition information provided is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please donāt sweat the numbers too much.
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āTo tasteā means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please donāt eat undercooked food.
Nutrition (Estimate per Serving)
- Calories: 413kcal
- Carbohydrates: 64.8g
- Protein: 19.9g
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 1.2g
- Potassium: 487.7mg
- Fiber: 6.6g
- Calcium: 25.7% DV
- Iron: 12.6% DV
šØāš³ Explore More Delicious Overnight Oats Recipes
While this applesauce variety is a definite winner, the beauty of unsweetened oatmeal lies in its versatility. It serves as a fantastic, neutral base for an endless array of breakfast creations. By simply swapping out fruits, nuts, seeds, and spices, you can enjoy a different, exciting meal every time. If youāre captivated by the convenience and deliciousness of overnight oatmeal, be sure to explore these other fantastic recipes:
- Healthy Overnight Oats Recipe for Weight Loss
- High Protein Overnight Oats without Protein Powder
- Pumpkin Spice Latte Overnight Oats
- Blended Overnight Oats Recipe
- Overnight Oats with Frozen Fruit
- Tahini Overnight Oats
š©āš³ More Comforting Hot Oatmeal Recipes
If you find yourself craving a warm, comforting breakfast, especially on cooler mornings, don’t worryāI’ve got you covered! While overnight oats are fantastic, sometimes a hot bowl of oatmeal is exactly what hits the spot. These recipes are designed for cooking and eating, offering a range of flavors and textures for those who prefer their oats warm:
- Air Fryer Oatmeal
- Baked Oats with Egg White
- Baked Protein Oatmeal (with a Secret Ingredient!)
- Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats
- Low Calorie Baked Oats
- Chocolate Zucchini Oats Recipe
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