Today, I’m sharing one of my favourite ways to start off my day in a healthy, delicious way. One of the reasons I love this so much is that it tastes great. But definitely another BIG plus is that it’s so easy to make. You can mostly make this Apple Pie Overnight Oats in a Jar with Streusel Topping ahead of time.
Now that’s a win-win in my world. The less I have to do in the morning, the better. The thing is, I have a tendency to just push breakfast way down my priority list. I need something that’s pretty much grab and go. If I want to avoid the mid-morning energy slump, this breakfast idea will certainly fit the bill.
Health Benefits
Heart disease runs in our family. I’m always looking for ways to keep my blood pressure down and my good cholesterol up. After meeting with my doctor and a dietitian at Loblaw’s, we decided to try to make changes to my diet to increase my heart health. Two key changes: a handful of nuts each day and a serving of rolled oats every morning.
When I first learned about overnight oats in a jar (see my London Fog Inspired overnight oats recipe here), the convenience of it seemed perfect for me.
Sure they sell those packets of ready made instant oats but they’re more expensive than making my own and I’m limited to the flavours they have available. Most are laden with sugar and plain is…well…just too plain for me.
Convenience
With overnight oats, I can make up several jars in a short period of time, customized to my preferences, and in the morning, I can just grab and go, go, go!
Eat it cold straight from the fridge, or warm it up in the microwave for the perfect comfort food on a chilly winter’s day. I feel like I’m having dessert instead of breakfast and it makes me feel all warm inside and ready to tackle the weather.
Even better than that, oats are rich in a type of fibre known as beta-glucan. This type of fibre has been shown to help lower levels of bad cholesterol. Flax, hemp, and chia seeds are great sources of healthy omega-3 fats, fibre, and protein.
Apple Pie Overnight Oats with Streusel Topping in a Jar Recipe
Apple Pie Overnight Oats with Streusel Topping in a Jar Recipe
Ingredients
For the oats:
- 1/3 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup milk of your choice I use half almond and half regular milk
- ¼ cup of plain unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 tablespoon of chia seeds
- 1/2 tablespoon of ground flax seeds
- 1/2 tablespoon of hemp hearts
- 1 tsp. maple syrup if you’re not fond of maple syrup, try honey instead
- ¼ tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. of cinnamon
- A pinch of nutmeg
- A pinch of allspice
For the streusel topping:
- 1 tsp. butter you could use coconut oil instead
- 1 tablespoon rolled oats
- 1 tsp. brown sugar
- Pinch of cinnamon
Instructions
For the oats:
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Simply mix all of the ingredients together. You don’t have to make this in a mason jar, but it does make it quite easy and convenient, especially if making several days worth at a time. They store well in the refrigerator. If I’m just making one, I might use a bowl with a cover instead.
For the streusel:
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Melt the butter in a pan. Add the remaining ingredients and toast lightly. Store in a separate container from the oats mixture.
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In the morning, I simply top the oats with the streusel and other toppings as desired.
Recipe Notes
Toppings I used: Chopped walnuts or pecans, chopped fresh or dried apples
Variations: Use yogurt in place of some or all of the milk. Personally, I find that if I use all yogurt, I will need a touch of liquid added just before serving to the get texture I like. I am also not as fond of heating the overnight oats mixture if it has yogurt in it. For a truly decadent variation, use heavy cream.
You can substitute other fruits such as cherries, peaches, or pears for the apples. Using dried fruits means that you have no further prep in the morning. If using fresh, it will require some chopping just before serving.
Try variations of other nuts with your overnight oats. Almonds are another fantastic option but you can head outside the box with some cashews or macadamia nuts too. I often like to throw some raisins and/or dried cranberries into this recipe as well. YUM!
jo n says
I think my daughter would love this. Pinned the recipe.