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Creamy banana cinnamon overnight oats are an easy make-ahead breakfast that tastes like a sweet treat. Mashed ripe banana and a hint of cinnamon naturally sweeten hearty rolled oats, and an optional spoonful of peanut butter makes them extra rich and satisfying.
This simple overnight oats recipe is vegan, dairy-free, oil-free, and gluten-free, and it's perfect for busy mornings. Prep one jar in minutes, chill, then add your favorite toppings in the morning for a quick, portable breakfast.
For more make-ahead breakfasts, try cinnamon raisin overnight oats, frozen cherry overnight oats, berry cheesecake overnight oats, or browse all of my dairy-free overnight oat recipes.
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Recipe features
- Easy, quick, and uses simple ingredients
- The recipe is great for adults, kids, and the whole family
- Dairy-free, plant-based, oil-free, vegan, and gluten-free
- Add a variety of toppings to change things up
Ingredient notes and substitutions
The banana cinnamon oatmeal uses simple ingredients for an easy, sweet breakfast, but please see the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and exact measurements.
Ripe banana - Use ½ a ripe banana and mash until mostly creamy. A banana with brown spots is best because it's sweeter and mashes easily. A solid yellow banana will be less sweet and have a milder banana flavor. For more banana-inspired breakfasts, try vegan oatmeal banana cookies or steel-cut banana oatmeal.
Rolled oats - Old-fashioned rolled oats give the best overnight oats texture. Quick oats can turn mushy, and steel-cut oats won't soften enough overnight. Same brands are much thicker and take longer to soften, while other brands soften quickly in just a couple of hours.
Dairy-free milk - Use your favorite non-dairy milk (unsweetened almond, oat, soy, or cashew milk). Water will still soften the oats, but milk makes them creamier. For more ways to use water in oatmeal, check out overnight oats without milk.
Ground flax or chia seeds - Flax seeds add a mild flavor and thicken the oats. Chia seeds also work well. If you can skip both, the oats will be looser.
- No flax or chia seeds: Skip the flaxseeds and chia seeds and use the same ratio for oats in the recipe, ½ cup oats to ½ cup of dairy-free milk. The brand of oats is the main factor in how creamy overnight oats will be and how long you soak them. As of writing this post, Trader Joe's gluten-free oats are much thicker and don't break down as much as other brands I've tried, making the overnight oats less creamy.
For more chia ideas, try chia seed pudding with oat milk. For more flax recipes, try flaxseed pudding with banana or a basic overnight oats recipe with flaxseed.
Maple syrup - Sweeten to taste. A very spotty banana may only need 1 teaspoon (or none), while a mostly yellow banana may taste best with 2 teaspoons. Agave or date syrup also works.
Ground cinnamon -Start with ¼ teaspoon for classic banana cinnamon flavor, or use ½ teaspoon if you love cinnamon. Pumpkin pie spice can also be used.
Peanut butter (optional) - Use natural peanut butter (just peanuts and maybe salt), swap in almond butter, or skip it. For more peanut butter oats, try chocolate peanut butter overnight oats or overnight oats with peanut butter powder for a lighter option.
How to make banana cinnamon overnight oats
1. Mash the banana. Mash ½ of a ripe banana with a fork until mostly creamy. Leaving a few small chunks is fine. I mash the banana right in the jar I'm using for storage.
2. Stir everything together. Add the rolled oats, dairy-free milk, flax or chia seeds, maple syrup, cinnamon, and peanut butter (if using). Stir well.
3. Chill. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is best).
4. Serve. Stir again, add toppings, and enjoy.
Tips
- If you prefer thinner cinnamon banana overnight oats, stir in an extra splash of dairy-free milk in the morning.
- If you prefer thicker dairy-free overnight oats, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of ground flax seeds or chia seeds, and let them sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Mashed banana mixed into the oats will help prevent the banana from turning brown. Make sure the mashed banana is submerged under the oats and liquid.
- Mash the banana until mostly creamy. A few small chunks will add texture.
Toppings and variations
Enjoy the banana and cinnamon overnight oats as-is, or switch them up with your favorite toppings. Some mix-ins can be added while prepping, while crunchy toppings are best added right before eating.
Add while prepping (mix-ins)
- Peanut butter or other nut/seed butter - Stir in peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter for extra creaminess.
- Shredded unsweetened coconut - Adds a little texture and subtle sweetness, skip the peanut butter.
- Hemp seeds - Stir in a tablespoon of hemp seeds.
- Raisins - Mix in before chilling so they soften overnight or try cinnamon overnight oats with raisins.
- Cream cheese - Stir in a tablespoon of dairy-free cream cheese for banana cheesecake overnight oats. Skip the cinnamon and peanut butter, and add ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Frozen berries - If you opt for frozen fruit as an oatmeal topping, it can be added the night before so it thaws by morning.
Add right before eating (toppings)
- Fresh berries or fresh fruit - Add just before serving for the best texture.
- Sliced bananas - Add right before eating so they don't turn brown.
- Chopped nuts - Peanuts, walnuts, or pecans add crunch.
- Chocolate chips - Stir in vegan chocolate chips for a sweeter treat.
- Plant-based granola - Sprinkle on top right before serving for crunch.
- Dairy-free yogurt - Add a dollop on top.
Easy flavor variations
- Banana bread vibes - Add chopped walnuts or pecans, and a ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Chocolate chip banana - Mix in chocolate chips and top with sliced strawberries.
- Fruity twist - Top with raspberries or cherries for a tart contrast.
- Chocolate banana - Add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder and skip the cinnamon. Start with 2 teaspoons of maple syrup. You can always add more if it's not sweet enough.
- Higher protein - Add a scoop of vegan protein powder. You'll need more milk to thin out the oats.
Storage
Store the banana and cinnamon overnight oats in an airtight container or a wide-mouth mason jar in the refrigerator.
- Best within 2 days when fully mixed with banana.
- If the oats become too thick, stir in a splash of dairy-free milk before eating.
- For longer meal prep (4 to 5 days): Mix and store the oat base without banana, then mash in fresh banana when you're ready to enjoy.
- Meal prep options: This recipe makes one serving, but you can easily multiply it. Make individual jars for grab-and-go breakfasts, or mix in a larger batch in one container, let it thicken, then portion into jars (or scoop out servings as needed).
Cinnamon banana oatmeal FAQs
Old-fashioned rolled oats give the best creamy texture. Quick oats can turn mushy, and steel-cut oats don't work because they won't soften overnight.
Not at all. Warm them in the microwave until heated through. If they thicken too much, stir in a splash of milk after warming.
No. They're ready after 2 to 3 hours, but soaking overnight makes the oats softer and creamier. If your brand of oats is much thicker, it may be best to soak them overnight.
Yes. The flax mainly helps to thicken the oats. If you leave it out, the oats will have a thinner texture. Reduce the milk slightly if you prefer thicker oats.
For the best texture and flavor, I recommend eating the fully mixed banana version within 2 days.
If you want to prep longer, make the oat base (oats + milk + cinnamon + sweetener + flax). Then store them for up to 5 days, then mash in a fresh banana the morning you plan to eat it.
They're great on their own, but I also love pairing them with fresh fruit, avocado toast, or other simple vegan toast toppings.
Related recipes
- Blueberry cheesecake overnight oats
- Mango overnight oats
- Cinnamon overnight oats
- Chia seed pudding with oat milk
- Overnight oats with water
I hope you enjoy the overnight oatmeal recipe! If you did, feel free to rate it and leave a comment. For more simple vegan breakfasts, check out all my healthy vegan breakfast recipes.
Recipe
Banana Cinnamon Overnight Oats
- Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Creamy banana cinnamon overnight oats are an easy make-ahead breakfast that tastes like a sweet treat. Mashed ripe banana and a hint of cinnamon naturally sweeten hearty rolled oats, and an optional spoonful of peanut butter makes them extra rich and satisfying.
Ingredients
- ½ ripe brown spotted banana, mashed
- ½ cup old-fashioned oats
- ½ cup dairy-free milk
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
- 1 to 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter (optional)
Instructions
- Mash half of a ripe banana in a container with a lid.
- Then mix in the rolled oats, dairy-free milk, ground flax seeds, maple syrup, ground cinnamon, and peanut butter (if using).
- Stir well and let them soak for the oats to soften for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator, but overnight is best.
- Before enjoying, give the oats a good stir, then add any toppings.
Notes
If you prefer a thinner consistency, stir in an extra splash of dairy-free milk in the morning.
If you prefer a thicker overnight oats, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of ground flax seeds or chia seeds, and let them sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- soak time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: breakfast
- Method: no bake
- Cuisine: american
Max says
We enjoyed the recipe, I’ll definitely make it again.
Allie says
I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe and thank you for leaving a comment.