Gluten Free Overnight Oats and Waffles

As the days grow warmer, you might not be thinking of oats for breakfast much anymore, but you would be overlooking gluten free overnight oats as a ridiculously healthy way of starting your day, warm or cold!

That’s right — cold oats! Have you ever heard of such a thing?! When you make gluten free overnight oats, they can be eaten straight from the fridge (even portable for road trips or harried mornings) or heated — your choice, they’re equally delicious.

 

You may have heard of overnight oats as one of the greatest “new” breakfasts around (and of course you know I’ve also made them into a great dessert!).

When made with certified gluten-free, purity protocol oats, gluten free overnight oats are also a healthy make-ahead meal option for those of us with celiac disease or a serious reason to avoid gluten (they’re also great for a Low FODMAP diet when made with non-dairy milk). Be sure to only buy purity protocol, certified gluten free oats though — more information on this in my article, Is Oatmeal Gluten Free?

 

To make gluten free overnight oats, you simply combine the ingredients in a large mason jar, screw on the lid, shake and refrigerate. Anybody can do that.

And when you know that my recipe makes 1 1/4 cups of gluten free overnight oats packed with 12 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber, you’ll wonder why you don’t make them more often!  And this unassuming jar of gluten free overnight oats (made with OWYN protein powder – more on that in a moment) contains 18 grams of protein! How’s that for breakfast?

In fact, these oats are so easy, healthy, versatile and delicious that I couldn’t stop at just ONE recipe. I’ve developed TWO yummy recipes for you: gluten free overnight oats AND hearty gluten free overnight oats waffles!

Imagine those bleary-eyed mornings when you’re struggling to get a healthy breakfast into your kids (or in yourself, for that matter) and you remember that tucked away in your fridge is a jar of ready-to-go healthy gluten free overnight oats.

Depending on your mood and the temperature outside, serve cold and eat right out of the jar for the ultimate nutritious, convenient and portable breakfast or heat and add fruit or syrup, OR make into quick waffles (the batter can be made in mere minutes!).

 

As I mentioned, I add OWYN* protein powder to our gluten free overnight oats for added nutrition (clean, plant-based protein, Omega 3’s, probiotics, minerals and vitamins with no soy). It’s a toss up for me whether I love their Matcha flavor (yummy plus extra health benefits) or the Vanilla flavor better; right now I’m on a Matcha kick, but who knows what tomorrow will bring.

My kids are none the wiser, but adding OWYN Matcha Tea Protein Powder can also help boost metabolism and burn calories, detoxify the body and enhance mood. Among matcha’s other health benefits, it’s also rich in fiber, chlorophyll and vitamins like vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc and magnesium.

 

Since OWYN’s products add a subtle sweetness that doesn’t come from loads of sugar or any artificial flavorings, it also means that we don’t have to add much to the oats or waffles to enhance their flavor. A little maple syrup and we’re off to the races.

 

Alternatively, you could add peanut butter powder, cocoa powder, or even add both! I’ve even used coffee! My favorite, though, is to also add OWYN protein drink as a liquid in place of milk when I make the waffles – crazy healthy! Each waffle made this way has over 8 grams of protein and over 3 grams of fiber, not to mention loads of vitamins and minerals, Omega 3’s and probiotics! Not too shabby for feeding kids in a hurry!

Be a purist or be a mixologist — it’s your healthy breakfast!

 

An added benefit is that overnight oats are easier to digest than traditional oats because soaking breaks down the natural starches in the oats.  Soaked, refrigerated oats are higher in dietary fiber called “resistant starches” (they resist digestion in the small intestine, improving gut health through slow fermentation in the large intestine) which improve overall digestion, increase your body’s fat burning ability, help to fill you up and can even help decrease insulin levels. These natural resistant starches are formed during the cooling process, hence the refrigeration.

So follow my easy directions to make gluten free overnight oats and store them in the fridge for days … serve cold, hot or made into waffles for the ultimate healthy switcheroo: gluten free overnight oats waffles!

I hope you love this recipe as much as we do!

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**I’ve partnered with OWYN (Only What You Need) to use their products in order to increase the nutrition in many popular gluten-free recipes. As always, all opinions are my own. See my disclosure policy for more information. Working with select brands I love allows me to keep bringing you free recipes, and I hope that in the process, you’ll learn about some of the safe gluten free products I choose for my family. Thanks so much for your support!