Who else has stared longingly at a batch of chocolate chip cookies and thought, “I wish this was breakfast?” Yep, me too! That’s why I developed this recipe. We work so hard to keep our mornings simple and comforting, and these Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Overnight Oats are the answer. They give you that wonderful, sweet flavor without the guilt. It’s all packed into a grab-and-go jar, which honestly saves my sanity on those chaotic school mornings. It’s one of my favorite easy overnight oats recipes because it actually tastes like a decadent treat, even though it’s packed with good stuff for you.
Why You Need This Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Overnight Oats Recipe
Honestly, who has time to stand over a stove before the sun comes up? That’s why I love these jars so much. They are the ultimate make-ahead breakfast jar solution for busy families like mine. You prep them once, and you’re set for quiet, easy mornings.
- They taste exactly like cookie dough—seriously!
- It’s a grab-and-go meal that keeps you feeling full until lunch.
- Minimal cleanup because everything stays right in the jar.
- They are perfect for dipping into for Healthy Snacks later in the day! For more great ideas, check out all our morning favorites.
Gathering Ingredients for Your Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Overnight Oats
Okay, let’s talk about getting everything together. For these Overnight Oats In A Jar to taste exactly like that nostalgic cookie dough, we need a few specific players. Don’t worry, these are all standard pantry items, and since these are Easy Overnight Oats Healthy options, you won’t feel guilty about grabbing the chocolate chips!
Here is exactly what you’ll need for one satisfying serving. Always measure carefully, especially with the chia seeds—they absorb a ton of liquid!
- Oats: ½ cup (Make sure these are rolled oats, not instant!)
- Chia Seeds: 1 tablespoon
- Protein Powder: 1 tablespoon vanilla protein powder (This is optional, but trust me, it creates the best “dough” texture.)
- Spice: ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Salt: A tiny pinch—it wakes up the chocolate flavor!
- Yogurt: 3 tablespoons plain 2% Greek yogurt
- Milk: ½ cup milk (Any kind works, really.)
- Sweetener: 1 teaspoon brown sugar or maple syrup (Brown sugar really helps that cookie dough vibe!)
- Extracts: ½ teaspoon vanilla extract and ⅛ teaspoon almond extract (That almond extract is our little secret weapon for that classic dough taste!)
- Binder: ½ tablespoon natural peanut butter
- Treat: 1 tablespoon chocolate chips
If you want more straightforward morning inspiration, check out some of our other healthy breakfast ideas!
Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Overnight Oats
This process is so simple, it practically does itself! Since these are going to be my lunch tomorrow too, I always tell folks to handle the dry stuff first. Trust me on this—it stops your chia seeds from forming weird little clumps later on. Remember, these are fantastic for those
easy overnight oats recipes because you’re just mixing and walking away!
Mixing the Dry Components for Your Overnight Oats In A Jar
First things first, grab your mason jar or whichever container you’re using for your Overnight Oats In A Jar setup. Toss in your dry ingredients: the oats, chia seeds, cinnamon, and that optional protein powder if you’re using it. Take a little fork and just stir this together really well. We want everything totally distributed before we introduce any milk or yogurt. Quick and easy!
Combining Wet Ingredients and Flavor Builders in the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Overnight Oats
Now for the fun part—the flavor! Add in your Greek yogurt, milk, sweetener, vanilla extract, that tiny splash of almond extract (don’t skip it!), and the peanut butter. Mix this vigorously until everything looks smooth and happy. Now, gently stir in your chocolate chips—just fold those in so they don’t sink immediately to the bottom. We want them suspended!
Chilling Time for Best Breakfast Overnight Oats Results
Cover that jar up tight! Whether you use the lid or just some plastic wrap, make sure it’s sealed. Pop it into the fridge. This is non-negotiable—you need at least three hours, but for the absolute best texture and flavor payoff for your Over Night Oats In A Jar, aim for a full night’s rest. That chilling time is when the magic happens and everything softens up!
Tips for Making the Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Overnight Oats
Listen, these Easy Overnight Oats Healthy recipes are forgiving, but a few little family secrets can elevate them from good to absolutely amazing. My one big note, which is written right on my recipe card, has to do with that optional protein powder. If you decide to skip it, don’t panic! Your oats will just be a touch thinner the next morning. That’s totally okay, and no substitution is needed for that change.
If you find that after sitting overnight your oats are just a smidge too thick for your liking—maybe you used a particularly absorbent brand of oat—I always tell my readers to just stir in an extra splash of milk right before eating. A tablespoon is usually plenty to get that perfect, creamy texture we are aiming for. Also, if you’re not a huge fan of super sweet things, cut that brown sugar amount in half; these oats are surprisingly flavorful even with less sweetener!
When you’re planning your week, keep these tips in mind so you nail the texture every single time. You can find lots of other tips for making the most of your mornings over on our page dedicated to easy overnight oats healthy options!
Ingredient Substitutions for Easy Overnight Oats Recipes
Now, I know every kitchen is a little different, so let’s talk about swapping ingredients. These recipes have to work for your life, not the other way around! Since we’re making these Overnight Oats In A Jar the grab-and-go way, we want to keep the changes simple so the texture doesn’t go wildly off-script.
If you need to use plant-based milk, absolutely go for it. Almond, soy, or oat milk all work wonderfully in place of regular cow’s milk. Just know that sometimes non-dairy milks can be a little thinner, so if you notice it’s too soupy in the morning, start with a little less milk and add more slowly.
For the sweetener, maple syrup is perfect, but if you only have honey on hand, that works too! Honey adds a distinctly different floral note, but it still brings that necessary sweetness to mimic the cookie dough feeling. If you use honey, make sure you mix it really well with the wet ingredients, just like you would with the brown sugar.
If you’re running low on the Greek yogurt, you can bulk up the liquid with a bit more milk, but you’ll lose some of the thickness. To keep things creamy without the yogurt, try using an extra tablespoon of chia seeds or using a thicker plant-based yogurt, like coconut, which tends to be naturally richer. For other comforting recipes that use dairy swaps, take a peek at my banana bread recipe!
Making Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Overnight Oats for Meal Prep
This is where these little jars become real heroes. As a mom, I live for anything that means less work on a Tuesday morning! These Overnight Oats Meal Prep Jars are fantastic because you can easily scale up the recipe. If you’re making these for yourself all week, just multiply every ingredient by five.
I usually make five jars on Sunday night. They fit perfectly next to each other in my fridge shelving. Because the ingredients are so stable—oats, yogurt, milk—they hold up beautifully. You can confidently store these make-ahead breakfast jars for up to four full days in the refrigerator. Just grab one on your way out the door!
The only caveat is that the chocolate chips might bleed a tiny bit of color into the milk layer after day three, but trust me, the taste is still spot-on. For more dinner and weekend prep inspiration that saves time, check out my ideas for make-ahead breakfast casseroles!
Serving Suggestions for Your Healthy Breakfast Recipes
Listen, while eating this straight from the fridge is totally acceptable—it’s meant to taste like that rich, unbaked cookie dough, after all—sometimes you want that extra little something when you finally dig in! Since we’re aiming for a nice, rounded meal here, adding a topping or two can really boost the texture and keep your energy high.
I treat these Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Overnight Oats like a fancy sundae sometimes, just a lot healthier! Even though the chocolate chips are already inside, I always keep a small jar of extra chips handy for sprinkling on top right before I eat them. It just gives you that little texture hit right away.
But if you want something more substantial for sustained energy—especially if you skipped the protein powder—here are my favorite ways to finish off the jar:
- For Crunch: A sprinkle of chopped pecans or walnuts adds a wonderful earthy contrast to the sweetness. Plus, you get those healthy fats!
- For Freshness: A small handful of raspberries or sliced bananas on top cuts through the richness perfectly. It adds moisture if you’ve left them chilling for a few days.
- For Extra Protein: A dollop of extra Greek yogurt or a tablespoon of hemp seeds mixed in right before serving makes these even more filling. I love adding hemp seeds because they disappear right in!
These little flourishes turn a simple make-ahead meal into something you actively look forward to eating. Find more ideas for quick, balanced meals like this over on our healthy snacks page!
Nutritional Information for Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Overnight Oats
Now, I always tell folks that since these are made by hand and depend on the exact brand of yogurt or milk you use, these numbers are just a really good guideline. They help you track what you need, but they aren’t a lab result! Knowing roughly where you stand is great when you are planning meals for the week.
Based on the ingredients listed above, here’s the scoop on what you’re getting in one of these satisfying Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Overnight Oats jars. For more balanced eating ideas, feel free to browse our high protein recipes!
- Calories: Approximately 350
- Protein: About 20g (especially if you use the optional powder!)
- Carbohydrates: Around 50g
- Fiber: A solid 8g
- Fat: Roughly 12g total (just 3g Saturated Fat, which is great!)
- Sugar: About 12g
It’s a great balance to keep you going! This is why they are the perfect foundation for our Easy Overnight Oats Recipes.
Reader Questions About Overnight Oats Ideas
I get so many questions about these simple jars, which tells me everyone is looking for ways to make their mornings easier! It’s funny how a simple container can inspire so many ideas. Whether you’re trying to perfect your **Easy Overnight Oats Recipes** or you’re experimenting with flavors, I’m happy to share what I know about making the best little breakfast package.
Can I make this recipe without Greek yogurt?
Oh, absolutely! If you happen to be out of yogurt, don’t nix the recipe immediately. You can swap it out for an equal amount of milk, but be warned: the thickness will change slightly. Greek yogurt is what gives us that fantastic, thick, creamy texture that tastes so much like actual cookie dough.
If you use milk instead, the oats will be looser, more like a runny cereal. To compensate, I suggest you add an extra half tablespoon of chia seeds or a tiny bit more peanut butter, and try to let it chill for the full evening. That thickness is what makes this one of the best Overnight Oats In A Jar options!
How do I make these Overnight Oats High Protein?
That’s an excellent question, especially when you need a breakfast that really sticks with you! The easiest way is to use the vanilla protein powder I listed—that really pushes the number up nicely. If you don’t want to use powder, my go-to swap is always adding in extra nutritious bits.
Try stirring in an extra teaspoon of chia seeds or, even better, a tablespoon of hemp seeds or ground flaxseed right in with your dry ingredients. Those additions pack a serious protein and fiber punch, making your breakfast incredibly filling while still keeping the delicious chocolate chip flavor front and center.
What if I only have 1 hour to prepare my Overnight Oats In A Jar?
Oh, if only! I totally get the rush, but with oats and chia? One hour just won’t cut it for true softening. You really need time for those seeds and oats to hydrate properly so they aren’t crunchy bricks in your stomach the next morning.
If you are in a super time crunch, you can get away with a minimum of three hours in the fridge. That might work if you make it right after lunch and need a hearty afternoon snack, but for a proper breakfast texture, you must let them chill overnight. Trust me, waiting that extra time makes all the difference for these Overnight Oats Ideas!
If you’re looking for more quick solutions, take a look around at our breakfast overnight oats section for faster ideas!
Print
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Overnight Oats
- Total Time: 5 min
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Prepare this simple, make-ahead breakfast jar recipe for a comforting, cookie dough-flavored start to your day. It is ideal for busy mornings.
Ingredients
- ½ cup oats
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon vanilla protein powder optional
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- 3 tablespoon plain 2% Greek yogurt
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar or maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon almond extract optional
- ½ tablespoon natural peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a mason jar or small bowl with a lid, add dry ingredients: oats, chia seeds, protein powder, cinnamon, and salt. Mix these well.
- Add wet ingredients: Greek yogurt, milk, brown sugar or maple syrup, vanilla extract, almond extract, and peanut butter. Mix everything together.
- Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Cover the jar or bowl and place it in the fridge for at least 3 hours, or ideally overnight.
Notes
- If you omit the protein powder, your oats will be slightly less thick. No substitutions are necessary for this change.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 jar
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 9
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 8
- Protein: 20
- Cholesterol: 10
Keywords: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Overnight Oats, Easy Overnight Oats Recipes, Overnight Oats In A Jar, Healthy Breakfast Recipes, Breakfast Overnight Oats, Overnight Oats Ideas, Healthy Snacks, make-ahead breakfast jars