Overnight oatmeal cups cooked in a round white bowl with a stainless steel spoon with a bamboo tray of oatmeal cups and a white and blue towel behind all on a white and grey marble surface (with logo overlay)

Overnight Oatmeal Cups

Muffin tins are a perfect way to make overnight oatmeal cups that are freezer friendly and make a quick and easy breakfast.

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For the past two years now, Tyler’s go-to breakfast has been oatmeal. He is now tall enough to make it himself and knows how to do it all (using the microwave to heat it up, not the stovetop). It’s been great that he can get his own breakfast, but it still takes a bit of time in the morning.

And some mornings, we are all running behind and don’t have that extra time. Or, now that summer is coming up, I want something easy that he can get himself in the morning without making so much noise!

I’ve read a lot about overnight oats, but we didn’t find one that seemed to work for what we wanted. I was looking for something he could easily grab without the glass jars that overnight oatmeal is typically in. We made these overnight oatmeal cups in a muffin tin. This made them the perfect serving size, and I could customize them to each of our preferences.

Step by Step

Ingredients

  • 5 cups water
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 cups quick oats
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup dried fruit

Preparation

Pour the water and salt into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir in the oats and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often. Remove from the heat.

Oats boiling in water in a saucepan on a wooden surface

Stir in the brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon.

Cooked oats in a saucepan on a wooden surface

Transfer the oat mixture to a heat-resistant bowl. Cover and let stand for about 30 minutes, until cool. Stir in the dried fruit.

Cooked oats with dried fruit in a stainless steel bowl on a wooden surface

Grease a muffin pan and place about 1/2 cup of oatmeal into each cup.

Cooked oatmeal scooped into muffin cups on a wooden surface

Sprinkle with desired toppings and lightly press them into the oatmeal.

Cooked oatmeal with toppings in a muffin tin on a wooden surface

Freeze for about 6 hours. Remove from the muffin cups and place them in a freezer storage container. Freeze for up to 3 months.

To serve: Remove from the freezer and place in a microwaveable bowl. Microwave on high, covered, for 2 minutes. Stir before serving and add milk or other toppings as desired.

Overnight oatmeal cups cooked in a round white bowl with a stainless steel spoon with a bamboo tray of oatmeal cups and a white and blue towel behind all on a white and grey marble surface (vertical)

Topping options:

  • Fresh Berries/Fruit
  • Chocolate Chips
  • Walnuts
  • Dried Fruit

Leftovers

Freeze extra overnight oatmeal cups for up to 3 months. Remove from the freezer a few minutes before heating in the microwave. If they are dry when cooked, at a bit of milk and stir.

Recipe

Originally Published On: May 31, 2021

Overnight oatmeal cups cooked in a round white bowl with a stainless steel spoon with a bamboo tray of oatmeal cups and a white and blue towel behind all on a white and grey marble surface

Overnight Oatmeal Cups

Muffin tins are a perfect way to make overnight oatmeal cups that are freezer friendly and make a quick and easy breakfast.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Cool Time 6 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 6 hours 50 minutes
Course:
Breakfast
Cuisine:
American
Keyword:
oatmeal
|
oats
Dietary Needs:
Egg-Free
|
Nut-Free
Servings: 12 oatmeal cups
5 from 6 votes

Ingredients

  • 5 cups water
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 cups quick oats
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup dried fruit

Instructions

  • Pour the water and salt into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil
  • Stir in the oats and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often
  • Remove from the heat
  • Stir in the brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon
  • Transfer the oat mixture to a heat-resistant bowl
  • Cover and let stand for about 30 minutes, until cool
  • Stir in the dried fruit
  • Grease a muffin pan and place about 1/2 cup of oatmeal into each cup
  • Sprinkle with desired toppings and lightly press them into the oatmeal
  • Freeze for about 6 hours
  • Remove from the muffin cups and place in a freezer storage container
  • Freeze up to 3 months
  • To serve: Remove from the freezer and place in a microwaveable bowl
  • Microwave on high, covered, for 2 minutes
  • Stir before serving and add milk or other toppings as desired

Notes

Topping options (nutrition facts don’t include toppings):
  • Fresh Berries/Fruit
  • Chocolate Chips
  • Walnuts
  • Dried Fruit
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Nutrition Facts
Overnight Oatmeal Cups
Amount Per Serving (1 each)
Calories 86 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Trans Fat 1g
Cholesterol 3mg1%
Sodium 112mg5%
Potassium 68mg2%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 30IU1%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 19mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

Overnight Oatmeal Cups FAQs

Can overnight oatmeal be made dairy-free?

Yes, change out the butter for vegan butter and this recipe will be dairy-free and vegan.

Is this gluten-free?

You have to be careful with oats. Pure oats are gluten-free, but they are usually processed in facilities with other wheat products, and there’s a chance for contamination.
Src: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/gluten-in-oats#:~:text=Pure%20oats%20are%20gluten%2Dfree,wheat%2C%20rye%2C%20and%20barley.

18 thoughts on “Overnight Oatmeal Cups”

  1. This is perfect for my younger daughter. She is determined to learn how to cook for the summer. I am sure she will make this tomorrow.

  2. We love make ahead breakfast, oatmeal especially! Freezing this way is a great idea. I love how customizable it is as well.

  3. You have just gotten my entire heart at the part where you can make this meal dairy-free. I will do just as you recommended, for a start. Look forward to scooping some oatmeal into my mouth!

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