Creamy mocha overnight oats are chocolaty, sweet and taste indulgent. With only 5 ingredients and less than 5 minutes, you can whip up a nourishing breakfast or snack that will fuel your body and satisfy your hunger. Grab a spoon- this easy recipe will excite your taste buds any time of day!

As a teenager, my family would head to our favorite coffee shop every Sunday evening for family time.  We didn’t call it ‘family time’ but that is pretty much what it was. That weekly coffee date with my parents, brother and sister was the time that we would reconnect, talk about life, friendship, silly stuff, God and everything in between.  It was ritual we all enjoyed- we knew my parents cared and my parents knew we would share our heart if they did more listening than talking. Once a ‘significant other’ came into the picture, they were invited to join us because it was a clever way for my parents to find out more.

Most of the time, I just got a decaf coffee, regular caf if it was going to be a long night of studying.  But occasionally I would get a rich and chocolatey treat- a caffe’ mocha. Not too sweet; extra hot; hold the whip.  

According to Joe Fox:

“The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don’t know what the hell they’re doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino.”

–You’ve Got Mail

Those coffee nights, week after week, helped define my sense of self as a young person AND inspired this Creamy Mocha Overnight Oats recipe. And, you can whip them up in the same time that it takes your Barista to brew you the perfect cup of java.

There are hundreds of variations on the basic overnight oats blueprint but this particular recipe is a perfect balance of protein, fiber and fat, a winning combo for getting satisfied and keeping hunger away.  The mocha flavor comes from the combination of coffee and chocolate protein powder. Use up leftover coffee or brew a cup. Decaf or regular- your preference.  Chia seeds add some healthy fats and the oats offer a nice dose of fiber.

Beta-glucan, a beneficial fiber in oats, can help improve blood glucose control, insulin resistance and cholesterol levels.  According to research, only 5% of the US population eats enough fiber to meet the daily recommendation.  Yikes! In fact, most individuals eat an average of 15 grams per day. Ideally, women and men would aim for 25-38 grams per day.  These creamy mocha overnight oats have almost 5 grams of fiber per serving and if you top them with an ounce of chopped walnuts or almond slivers, you can add an extra 2-3 grams.

That is good eats!

And there are several ways to adapt this recipe to fit your eating style. If you follow a plant-based diet, use almond or coconut yogurt and a plant-based protein powder. A few more variations are listed in the recipe.

While small mason jars are perfect for mixing up your overnight oats, this recipe can be doubled, tripled and beyond to make a big batch of them for a family sized breakfast.  They last in the fridge for several days. On the morning you are ready to serve, add a splash of dairy or almond milk and your favorite toppings for a meal that literally has no prep involved.

For a little extra treat, shave 85% dark chocolate on top of your creamy mocha overnight oats. Whether you decide to eat this for breakfast, late afternoon or as a bedtime treat, you won’t be disappointed.

Cheers to inspired meals, quality conversation and creamy chocolate!