Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats for Dairy-Free Meal Prep!

Are you craving a morning sweet but in need of a healthy breakfast? Try this easy recipe for dairy-free cinnamon roll overnight oats. Each creamy bowl is flavorful and satisfying, but high in fiber, protein, and healthy fats to keep you full and energized all morning long. It’s also great for meal prepping since the recipe takes just 15 minutes to make enough for four breakfasts! 

Why You’ll Love this Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats Recipe

• Tastes Like a Treat: The smooth, sweet, cinnamon swirl adds richness and the warm flavors of cinnamon and vanilla for a truly indulgent cinnamon roll vibe.
• Incredibly Easy: Just mix, refrigerate, and wake up to a delicious meal. No cooking required! That is, unless you like your oats warmed.
• Perfect for Meal Prep: Make a big batch on Sunday to have a convenient breakfast ready for the next few days. 
• Healthy & Wholesome: Each bowl is rich in fiber, Omega-3 fatty acids, and plant-based protein for a nutritionally balanced breakfast.
• Completely Vegan & Dairy-Free: Dairy-free milk alternative, cashews, and coconut oil provide a rich, creamy consistency without a drop of dairy. 

Key Ingredient Notes 

• Rolled Oats: Use old-fashioned rolled oats for the best chewy texture. Avoid steel-cut oats, which are a bit too chewy, or instant oats, which are precooked.
• Milk Alternative: I use plain, unsweetened cashew milk (store-bought or homemade), almond milk, or soy milk. But you can use whatever type you keep on hand. A vanilla version would also be delicious.
• Chia Seeds: These little powerhouses thicken the oats for a creamier consistency and add a boost of fiber and omega-3s. I use white chia seeds, which is why they aren’t as noticeable. But both white and black chia seeds work the same and are nutritionally equivalent. 
• Raw Cashews: When finely ground, cashews add a rich, buttery flavor and a delightful texture reminiscent of the gooey center of a cinnamon roll.
• Brown Sugar: Provides that classic, deep molasses flavor. You can substitute with maple syrup or coconut sugar if you prefer.
• Coconut Oil: A touch of softened or melted coconut oil adds richness and a silky mouthfeel.
• Cinnamon: The star of the show! I already use a generous amount in this recipe, so I wouldn’t go any higher.
• Vanilla Extract: If you use a vanilla milk alternative, you can probably skip the vanilla in the cinnamon swirl, but you don’t have to!
• Salt: Unless you have an issue with sodium, do not skip the salt! Salt is essential to balance the flavor of oats and to help bring all the other ingredients to life.

Recipe FAQs

Can I Use Quick Oats instead of Rolled Oats?

You certainly can. I love quick oats, but I usually use old-fashioned / rolled oats in these dairy-free cinnamon roll overnight oats for a better chewy-creamy texture. Quick oats are sliced thinner, so they will make the soaked oats smoother but stickier. You can also use part quick oats, part rolled oats.

Can I Make this Recipe Gluten-Free?

Absolutely! Just make sure you use certified gluten-free oats.

How Long do these Overnight Oats Last?

Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, they will stay fresh and delicious for up to 4 days. The texture will get softer each day. You can also freeze them for longer storage. The cinnamon swirl will keep for a few weeks in an airtight container in your refrigerator.

Can I Use Cashew Butter instead of Cashews?

Yes, for even easier preparation, you can use cashew butter! The cinnamon-cashew swirl might be just a little thinner, but it will still thicken in the refrigerator. You can substitute 1/4 cup cashew butter for the cashews, and simply whisk the ingredients together.

How Can I Lower the Sugar?

When I want to reduce the sugars, I simply use half the amount of the cinnamon swirl, or I reduce the sweetener in the swirl to 2 to 3 tablespoons (which maintains the buttery richness). You can optionally add more stevia to taste. If you are used to sugar-free sweeteners, you can use a sugar-free brown sugar alternative.

Special Diet Notes: Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, optionally gluten-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan / plant-based, and vegetarian. Just be sure to choose oats and milk alternative that suit your dietary needs.

For nut-free, you can substitute 1/4 cup sunflower seed butter or soy butter, and use a safe mmilk alternative for your needs.

Alisa Fleming

Dairy-Free Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

5 from 1 vote

Though this recipe does serve four, the overnight oatmeal and the cinnamon roll swirl will keep for a few days. So you could also enjoy it as a make-ahead recipe for one or two, over more than one morning!

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Calories: 436

Ingredients Method Nutrition

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

Overnight Oats

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 2 ⅔ cups plain unsweetened milk alternative
• ¼ cup chia seeds

Cinnamon Roll Swirl

• ½ cup raw cashew pieces
• ⅓ cup packed brown sugar or coconut sugar
• 2 tablespoons softened or melted coconut oil
• 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon or to taste
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 4 drops alcohol-free stevia if using coconut sugar, optional

Method

 

Overnight Oats

1. In a large bowl, stir together the oats, milk alternative, and chia seeds.
2. Cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight.

Cinnamon Roll Swirl

1. Place the cashew pieces and coconut sugar (if using) in your spice grinder or small food processor, and whiz until finely ground and beginning to clump, about 1 minute.
2. Put the cashews and sugar (add the brown sugar now, if using) in a medium bowl along with the coconut oil, cinnamon, vanilla, salt, and stevia (if using). Stir until it comes together as a relatively smooth paste.
3. Spoon the cinnamon-cashew mixture into a small, zippered plastic bag and seal it.
4. The cinnamon swirl can be made ahead, and will keep for a couple weeks or more in the refrigerator. If it sets up too firmly, heat it gently or let it warm to room temperature.

To Serve

1. Optionally heat the overnight oats in the microwave or in a pan on the stove. Divided them between 4 bowls.
2. Snip off a small piece of a bottom corn of the plastic bag, and squeeze downward as you swirl the cinnamon-cashew mixture over each serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowlCalories: 436kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 10gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 7.5gSodium: 75mgFiber: 8.5gSugar: 19.5g

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Variations

• Cream Cheese Icing Option (pictured above): In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup dairy-free cream cheese alternative and 10 drops alcohol-free stevia, or powdered sugar to taste. Pipe a tablespoon of this icing onto each serving.
• Simple Non-Swirl Option: If presentation isn’t important, you can simply stir a dollop of the cinnamon-cashew mixture into each serving with a spoon. This tastes even better if the oats are warmed, in my opinion.
• Boost the Protein: Stir a tablespoon or two of your favorite vanilla or unflavored plant-based protein powder into the oatmeal for an extra-filling breakfast. If it’s sweetened, you might want to reduce the sweetener in your cinnamon swirl.
• Extra Toppings: Chopped pecans, raisins, or blueberries are delicious toppings for your dairy-free cinnamon roll overnight oats!

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