How to Make Horchata Overnight Oats (Dairy-Free)

– vegan – gluten free – refined sugar free – low fat –

Horchata overnight oats have the most delicious flavors of vanilla, cinnamon and ground cloves with a light hint of banana, because adding more fruit it always a good idea! These creamy overnight oats are one of my very favorite breakfast ideas. They are so healthy and filling and I can top them with added deliciousness like bananas, shredded coconut, cinnamon and nuts. The best part is they come together in one bowl and only take 10 minutes of prep time. Then you can forget about them until morning!

A brief history of horchata:

Horchata dates as far back as 13th century Valencia, Spain where it was originally made using tiger nuts. Since then, different variations of horchata have sprung up from all over the world. West African countries like Nigeria and Mali also use tiger nuts. Mexican horchata uses rice, Puerto Rican horchata uses sesame seeds, and Central American countries use jicama seeds mixed with spices. I absolutely love how different countries add a unique cultural twist to an age-old beverage. Here in America, we are most familiar with the Mexican version of horchata. I used the Mexican version to inspire me for this easy vegan breakfast recipe!

Are overnight oats healthy?

Although I love starting my day with a large helping of fruit, I also really love a healthy bowl of overnight oats. Here are some great reasons to add them to your breakfast line-up:

• Overnight oats are satisfying and can keep you full all morning. This is in part due to the beta-glucan in oats. Beta glucan is a type of soluble fiber that is often used to prevent heart disease and high cholesterol.
• Old fashioned rolled oats are also a great source of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.
• Overnight oats contain lots of nondairy milk. I used oat milk for this recipe, which is high in calcium, B vitamins, manganese, protein and other vitamins and minerals. You can use your favorite nondairy milk of choice, as they all contain a variety of essential nutrients. 
• You can make this easy vegan breakfast even healthier by loading it with fruit before serving. 

Kitchen essentials:

• A large mixing bowl with cover
• Small jars with lids (optional)

Substitutions for these horchata overnight oats:

• Old fashioned rolled oats: both gluten-free and original rolled oats work well with these overnight oats. I have not tried this recipe with steel cut oats or instant/quick-cooking oats, so I cannot attest to how they will turn out. If you do try them, I would love to know how it worked in the comments :). 
• Pure maple syrup: can be substituted with other liquid sweeteners like agave nectar or date syrup.
• Plain oat milk: any plain nondairy milk can be used, but I suggest oat milk, soy milk or cashew milk for their creaminess.

If you like these horchata overnight oats, I think you will love some of these other overnight oat recipes:

• Healthy Snickers Overnight Oats (Vegan + Gluten Free)
• Blueberry Pistachio Overnight Oats
• Healthy Salted Caramel Overnight Oats (Vegan + Gluten Free)
• Healthy Chocolate Overnight Oats (Dairy Free)

Horchata Overnight Oats (Dairy-Free)

Recipe by Slow Down Company Course: BreakfastDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

0

minutes

Total time

10

minutes

Ingredients

• 3 cups 3 plain oat milk (or nondairy milk of choice)

• 1/4 cup 1/4 pure maple syrup

• 1 tbsp 1 vanilla extract

• 3 cups 3 GF old fashioned rolled oats

• 1 1 banana

• 1 tsp 1 ground cinnamon

• 1 tsp 1 salt

• 1/4 tsp 1/4 ground cloves

Directions

• Mash the banana. Use a fork to mash the banana well, then set aside.
• Mix wet ingredients. In a large bowl, combine the oat milk, maple syrup and vanilla extract and give it all a quick mix.
• Add dry ingredients. Mix in the mashed banana and rolled oats and mix again. Finally add in the cinnamon, salt and cloves and give it another mix.
• Rest. Let the oats rest for about 5 minutes to absorb the liquid, then give it a final good mix. At this point, you can transfer the oats to smaller, individual containers with lids or you can cover your large bowl. Transfer to the fridge overnight or for at least 4 hours.
• Add toppings (optional). My favorite toppings with this flavor combo are bananas, shredded coconut, cinnamon and maybe a spoonful of peanut butter. Enjoy!

Notes

• Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• This recipe makes 3-4 servings. The nutrition label is based on 4 servings.
• Nutrition information is based on using plain oat milk and will vary slightly depending on the nondairy milk you choose.

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