Chocolate Hazelnut Overnight Oats (Gluten Free + Vegan)

Chocolate Hazelnut Overnight Oats – Creamy chocolate overnight oats with a nutella-inspired twist! We love this easy breakfast! (Gluten-free, vegan)

I love basically all (like, ALL) of the overnight oats recipes I’ve tried, but I’m not sad to admit these might be my very favorite. Why?

Two words: CHOCOLATE + HAZELNUT.

Which is basically Nutella.

Which I love.

This chocolate hazelnut overnight oats recipe has major Nutella vibes thanks to the perfect (naturally sweetened!) mixture of cocoa powder and hazelnuts. It’s creamy, EASY, and tastes like a major treat.

Here’s all you need to get started…

HERE’S WHAT GOES INTO MY CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT OVERNIGHT OATS RECIPE:

(GLUTEN FREE) ROLLED OATS. Rolled oats are my favorite for overnight oats since they strike the perfect balance of soft after soaking without being mushy. (Want to use another kind? See the FAQ below!)

CHIA SEEDS (OPTIONAL). Chia seeds add a creamy texture, plus some healthy fats & plant-based protein to my chocolate hazelnut overnight oats. If you’re not a chia seed fan, feel free to skip them. (The oats won’t be *quite* as thick and creamy, but you can mitigate this by using 1/2 yogurt and 1/2 milk instead of all milk if you like.)

A PINCH OF SALT. A *little tiny* pinch of salt (less than 1/8 tsp.) makes a big difference in flavor for me in my overnight oats. I love that it keeps them from tasting flat and wakes up all the other flavors!

PURE MAPLE SYRUP. You can make these sweeter or less sweet, depending on your taste. I usually use about 1-2 tsp. of syrup in my overnight oats, but you may want to add more or less.

WHATEVER MILK YOU LIKE. You can use whatever milk you drink for cherry almond overnight oats. We’re dairy-free, so we use almond, oat, cashew, or coconut though soy, rice, and dairy milk also work. Use what you like!

UNSWEETENED COCOA POWDER. Cocoa powder gives the chocolatey flavor to these overnight oats and has the added bonus of not adding any sugar to the recipe. Woot!

HAZELNUTS. For some crunch and to make these taste like Nutella overnight oats, I love adding some hazelnuts. They’re delicious with the chocolate! (Trader Joe’s & Costco usually have them for a good price!)

VANILLA EXTRACT. A tiny bit of vanilla makes overnight oats taste a little sweeter

OPTIONAL EXTRAS. You can add an extra layer of flavor to these chocolate hazelnut overnight oats by adding some cacao nibs, mini chocolate chips, or dried cherries. Add what you like and skip the rest!

YUMMY WAYS TO PLAY WITH THIS CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT OVERNIGHT OATS RECIPE:

• ADD SOME CHOCOLATEY CRUNCH! To play up the chocolate element, I love adding a tiny sprinkle of mini chocolate chips (they go further!) or cacao nibs (a great unsweetened option).
• DRIZZLE WITH A LITTLE CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT BUTTER. You can kick up the Nutella flavor by adding a small drizzle of Nutella or a dairy-free chocolate hazelnut butter (like this one, this one, or this one). It’s a fun treat every now and then!
• TOAST THE HAZELNUTS. If you have a few extra minutes, toasting hazelnuts in a dry pan on the stove for a few minutes till they’re golden and fragrant is an easy way to add TONS of flavor.
• ADD SOME FRUIT. Chocolate and fruit go together beautifully, so you can also mix in some dried cherries, diced strawberries, a few raspberries, or some sliced banana. It’s all yummy!

FAQ + TIPS & TRICKS FOR THE BEST CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT OVERNIGHT OATS

MY FAVORITE CONTAINERS FOR OVERNIGHT OATS. I love using these Weck jars or these small glass containers for overnight oats, though LOTS of different containers work. (You just want something with a lid so they stay covered in the fridge.)

DO YOU EAT CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT OATS WARM OR COLD? Overnight oats are typically eaten cold, though if that weirds you out, you *can* warm them up on the microwave for about a minute, or on the stovetop. (You may need an extra splash of milk if you cook them to maintain their creamy texture.)

CAN I USE STEEL-CUT OATS OR QUICK-COOKING OATS INSTEAD? It’s up to you! Rolled oats are my favorite for texture in this strawberry banana overnight oats recipe (they soften but don’t go mushy). Quick-cooking oats can get a little mushy after a couple of days, and steel-cut often remain pretty chewy for my taste. But you do you!

GLUTEN-FREE? READ THIS! You’ll want to make sure you use certified gluten-free oats. Oats don’t contain gluten, but they’re often grown and processed in ways that cause cross-contamination, so you’ll want to buy certified gluten-free oats. Trader Joe’s, Bob’s Red Mill, and these sprouted oats are my favorites.

HOW LONG DO OVERNIGHT OATS LAST IN THE FRIDGE? Generally speaking, overnight oats last well 2-3 days in the refrigerator. If you plan to make them several days in advance, I recommend…

TIPS FOR MAKING THEM SEVERAL DAYS AHEAD OF TIME. If you plan to make this chocolate hazelnut overnight oats recipe several days in advance, I recommend only mixing in about half the cherries and almonds. They’ll soften over time and flavor the oats more fully, but for the best texture, I love adding the other half of the cherries and almonds right before serving.

CRAVING MORE BREAKFAST IDEAS? YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

• 7 FLAVORS OF OVERNIGHT OATS – (6 MORE FLAVORS TO LOVE!)
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• CHOCOLATE CHIA PUDDING
• POTATO & EGG BREAKFAST TACOS
• OUR FAVORITE CHOCOLATE SMOOTHIE

HELPFUL FOR THIS CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT OVERNIGHT OATS RECIPE:

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