Slimming World Overnight Oats Recipe – 10 Flavour Ideas

If you’ve ever followed Slimming World, you’ve probably come across overnight oats. They’re one of those breakfasts that are so easy to make that you almost wonder why you didn’t try them sooner, especially when you realise you can put everything together the night before and have breakfast waiting in the fridge.

I love experimenting with different flavours because, although there’s nothing wrong with plain porridge, sometimes I fancy something a little more interesting. Cherry Bakewell, chocolate orange and banoffee are particular favourites of mine, and I also love anything involving coconut and chocolate. I’m definitely one of those people who likes Bounty bars, even if half the population seems to disagree with me!

The lovely thing about overnight oats is that you only need a few basic ingredients, and once you’ve worked out the consistency you prefer, you can make all sorts of different combinations. I’ve included my basic recipe below, followed by ten flavour ideas that are easy to adapt if you’re following Slimming World.

Oats are a handy ingredient to keep in the cupboard, and they can be part of a varied, balanced diet. The British Heart Foundation has some useful healthy eating advice if you’re interested in making small changes to what you eat.

Just Average Jen is an independent website and isn’t affiliated with Slimming World. Healthy Extra allowances and Syn values can change, so always check the current plan for the ingredients you’re using.

Basic Slimming World overnight oats recipe

You don’t need anything complicated to make overnight oats. In fact, you can make them in an ordinary bowl or plastic tub if you haven’t got one of those pretty glass jars everyone seems to use in photographs!

Ingredients for one portion

• 40g plain porridge oats
• Approximately 150g fat-free natural yoghurt
• A splash of milk or water, if needed
• Your chosen fruit, spices or other flavourings

Method

1. Put the porridge oats and yoghurt into a bowl, jar or lidded container.
2. Mix everything together, adding a little milk or water if the mixture seems too thick.
3. Add your chosen flavourings or fruit, either mixing them through or creating layers.
4. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
5. Stir before eating, adding any crunchy toppings just before serving.

That’s it! Once you’ve made them a couple of times, you’ll soon work out whether you prefer a thicker mixture or something a little softer.

As these overnight oats contain yoghurt, make sure you keep them covered in the fridge overnight. The Food Standards Agency’s advice on chilling food is worth a read if you’re preparing breakfasts ahead of time.

If you’re following Slimming World, 40g of plain porridge oats has traditionally been a popular Healthy Extra B choice, although you should check the current allowance and product. You’ll also need to account for your yoghurt and any additional ingredients according to the current plan.

For more detailed advice about Healthy Extras, storage, different types of oats and getting the consistency right, have a look at my Slimming World overnight oats tips.

10 easy overnight oats flavour ideas

These are ten of my favourite ways to change the basic recipe. Some are fruity, some are inspired by desserts, and a few involve chocolate because, quite frankly, why wouldn’t they?

Use the basic oats mixture above for each version, then add the ingredients suggested below. The flavours aren’t automatically Syn-free, so remember to check any additional ingredients if you’re following Slimming World.

1. Apple and cinnamon overnight oats

For this one, add one finely chopped apple and approximately a quarter of a teaspoon of cinnamon to the basic overnight oats mixture.

You can layer the apple between the oats and yoghurt or simply stir everything together. I think apple and cinnamon is one of those combinations that works particularly well when you fancy something a bit like apple pie for breakfast, although without having to make an actual pie first thing in the morning!

If you like your breakfast sweeter, you could add a little honey or sweetener, remembering to account for anything that needs counting on your plan.

2. Gingerbread overnight oats

Add half a teaspoon of ground ginger, a small pinch of cinnamon and a little mixed spice to the basic recipe.

I think gingerbread flavours are lovely when the weather gets colder, particularly when you’re fed up with the same breakfast every morning.

You can always adjust the spices to suit your taste. I’d start with the suggested amounts rather than adding loads of ginger, because it’s much easier to make the next portion stronger than rescue one that’s too spicy!

3. Bounty-inspired chocolate and coconut overnight oats

I love Bounty bars, so naturally I had to include a chocolate and coconut version.

For this flavour, add a little coconut-flavoured chocolate sauce to your basic oats mixture. I’ve used Choc Shot products for similar combinations in the past, although I’d check the current ingredients and nutritional values of whichever sauce you’re using.

You could also experiment with cocoa powder and a little coconut flavouring if you prefer.

Layering the chocolate mixture between the yoghurt and oats gives it a lovely dessert-style feel, although mixing everything together tastes just as good.

4. White chocolate and raspberry overnight oats

White chocolate and raspberry is such a lovely combination, especially if you enjoy white chocolate and raspberry cookies as much as I do.

For this version, mix approximately two teaspoons of white chocolate-flavoured hot chocolate powder into 200g of fat-free natural yoghurt, then layer it with your oats and raspberries.

You could use an Options-style white chocolate powder, checking the current values for the exact product.

Fresh raspberries work really well, but frozen ones are handy too, particularly when fresh fruit is expensive.

5. Mint chocolate overnight oats

If you love After Eight chocolates, you might enjoy this version.

Add a little mint chocolate sauce to your basic overnight oats, or try cocoa powder with a tiny amount of peppermint flavouring.

Be careful with the peppermint because a little goes a very long way. You want a nice mint chocolate breakfast, not something that tastes like toothpaste!

If you can find a suitable mint chocolate yoghurt, that’s another way to experiment with the flavour.

6. Chocolate orange overnight oats

Chocolate orange is one of my favourite flavours, and I think it works brilliantly with overnight oats.

Add a little chocolate sauce or cocoa powder to the basic mixture, along with some finely grated orange zest.

If you haven’t got a fresh orange, approximately a quarter of a teaspoon of orange essence is another option, although I’d start with less if your particular essence is strong.

This is one of those flavours that feels a little bit indulgent without requiring much effort at all.

7. Banoffee overnight oats

Banoffee pie is one of my favourite desserts, although the version I make with condensed milk, digestive biscuits and cream is rather different from breakfast!

For these overnight oats, add one small sliced banana and use a toffee-flavoured yoghurt with the basic oats mixture.

You could also experiment with a combination of banana and toffee yoghurts if you find varieties you enjoy.

I’d recommend adding the banana in the morning if you prefer it to keep its texture and colour.

8. Cherry Bakewell overnight oats

I love Cherry Bakewell flavours, and this is one of my favourite ideas for making overnight oats a little more interesting.

Use approximately 60g of defrosted dark sweet cherries and add a quarter of a teaspoon of almond essence to your fat-free natural yoghurt.

Layer the cherries, oats and almond-flavoured yoghurt together, then leave everything in the fridge overnight.

You can also add a few chopped almonds if you fancy some crunch, although you’ll need to account for them separately if you’re following Slimming World.

I find frozen cherries particularly handy because you can take out exactly what you need rather than buying fresh cherries every time.

9. Apple and blackberry overnight oats

For a lovely fruity breakfast, add chopped apple and blackberries to your basic overnight oats.

You can use fresh blackberries when they’re in season or frozen ones if that’s easier.

I think apple and blackberry is one of those combinations that works really nicely without needing loads of additional flavourings, although a little cinnamon would be lovely if you enjoy it.

10. Strawberries and cream overnight oats

Sometimes the simplest flavours are the nicest, and strawberries and cream is a perfect example.

For this version, use fresh strawberries and vanilla yoghurt with your basic porridge oats.

If you prefer, you can use plain fat-free natural yoghurt with a little vanilla extract instead.

This is a lovely one for summer when strawberries are in season, although there’s nothing stopping you making it whenever you fancy it.

Which overnight oats flavour should you try first?

If you’ve never made overnight oats before, I’d probably start with apple and cinnamon or strawberries and cream because they’re straightforward and don’t require lots of unusual ingredients.

If you prefer something sweeter, chocolate orange, banoffee or Cherry Bakewell might be more your thing. And if you love coconut as much as I do, you know which one I’d suggest!

You can also experiment with your own combinations once you’ve got the basic mixture sorted. Chocolate and cherries would make a lovely Black Forest-inspired version, while a little Biscoff spread could be nice when you fancy something more dessert-like.

Just remember to check any extra ingredients against your current Slimming World plan.

More breakfast recipes you might enjoy

If you enjoy overnight oats but want more help with preparing them, I’ve got a separate Slimming World overnight oats guide, where I explain the different types of oats, how to get the consistency right and how to store them.

You might also enjoy my Slimming World baked oats recipe if you fancy something warm, or my overnight Weetabix recipes if you’re looking for a change from porridge oats.

For even more inspiration, have a look at my Slimming World breakfast ideas, which includes plenty of options for mornings when you fancy something completely different.

Which overnight oats flavour is your favourite? Do you prefer fruity combinations, or are you more likely to choose something involving chocolate? Let me know in the comments because I’m always looking for new ideas!

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