How To Make Overnight Oats To Share With The Kids

Easy Overnight Oats

I love making a batch of overnight oats—which are simply raw oats softened in liquid (often milk or yogurt)—for similar nutrition to oatmeal but without the cooking. They are an easy make-ahead breakfasts to have on hand during the week. And this method for how to make overnight oats with yogurt, applesauce, and seeds is a super nutritious and easy option for breakfast for the whole family…babies and toddlers on up. There’s nothing too complicated about this recipe, but there’s a balanced mix of protein, fat, and produce to help your kids get the nutrients they need without needing to add other foods to their meal (unless you want to!). It also has a smoother texture than many other similar recipes, making it a great choice for babies and toddlers still learning to like complicated textures. TIP: You can make them ahead and pull them out on busy mornings—and easily double the batch so you can enjoy a bowl too!

Healthy Overnight Oats Recipe with Yogurt

Yogurt is a nutritious ingredient in overnight oats for babies and toddlers since it has protein, probiotics, and fat they need for their developing brains. To ensure you pick one the best yogurt for kids, look for whole milk plain yogurt. I still like plain versions since they have lower amounts of added sugars, if any—and the applesauce in this recipe adds plenty of sweetness! TIP: You can also use a favorite nondairy yogurt as needed for kids with a dairy intolerance.

Ingredients You Need

For this method on how to make overnight oats, you need to have the following ingredients on hand.

Plain yogurt: You can use regular or Greek style. I prefer whole milk yogurt for kids because it contains fat they need for brain development. (And fat tastes good!) Crockpot Applesauce Hemp seeds (or chia or flaxseeds): These blend right in and add healthy fats and protein. Quick oats or rolled oats: I prefer the texture of quick oats or to grind up rolled oats a little in the blender or food processor. This makes the end result smoother.

Ingredient Substitutions

Dairy-free: Use a favorite nondairy milk. Sub quinoa flakes for oats as needed. You can use chia seeds in place of the hemp seeds if that’s what you have. The final mixture may be a little thicker since chia seeds absorb liquid a little more. Trade in Pear Sauce or any other puree you like or have for the applesauce to vary the flavor. Add a little cinnamon or maple syrup to taste as you like.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This recipe so super simple with this easy stir together method. Here’s a look at the process. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the full how-to. TIP: Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the full information.

Tell me more about the texture of these overnight oats!

The big difference between this overnight oats recipe and others is that I grind the oats first, or use instant or quick oats, so that the texture is smoother. When you stir regular rolled oats into overnight oats, they soften, but they are still fairly chewy due to their size—so this method of using oats with a finer texture is often more accepted by toddlers. This recipe also uses applesauce for natural sweetness and nutrients, so tastes really great. TIP: This is also a great food transition food for babies and toddlers who are learning to like textures beyond homemade baby food purees.

How should I serve these overnight oats?

If your toddler is good (or learning!) to use a spoon, go ahead and let her self-feed that way. You can do preloaded spoons for babies or feed them depending on how you prefer to handle that stage. It’s a fairly thick mixture so usually it’s easy for littles to feed themselves, even if it’s a little messy. TIP: They are meant to be served cold out of the fridge.

How to Serve in a Reusable Pouch

Since the oats are a fine texture, we love serving these overnight oats in a reusable pouch like the one from Squeasy Gear that’s virtually impossible to spill!

Favorite Storage Containers

We love the 4 ounce and 8 ounce storage containers from Wee Sprout, which are the ones with the colorful lids you see throughout this post.

How to Store

Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Stir before serving cold.

Best Tips for Success

Use Crock pot applesauce to avoid added sugars as desired. Grind up rolled oats in the blender or food processor, or use instant or quick oats for a smoother final texture. Make this recipe the night before you plan to serve it and store it in the fridge. Serve these overnight oats chilled. Swap in any other fruit or baby puree for the applesauce if desired. Know that you can use chia seeds in place of the hemp seeds, but the consistency will be thicker.

I’d love to hear what your family thinks of this recipe, so please comment below to share!