Vegan Pumpkin Overnight Oats

The pumpkin spice overnight oatmeal combines oats with pumpkin puree, dairy-free milk, ground flaxseed, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and a bit of peanut butter for a richer depth of flavor.

The overnight oats are a delicious vegan fall breakfast idea that only takes about 5 minutes for meal prep.  Enjoy them for breakfast, snack time, or even as a healthier dessert with a dollop of coconut cream.  

If you're looking for more plant-based pumpkin oatmeal recipes, try pumpkin steel-cut oat or vegan pumpkin baked oatmeal. For more overnight oat recipes, try cinnamon overnight oats, applesauce overnight oats, or basic overnight oats with flaxseed.

Recipe features

• Vegan, plant-based, gluten-free, and dairy-free!
• Fall-inspired recipe!
• An easy recipe using simple ingredients!
• Can be made in about 5 minutes for meal prep!

What are overnight oats?

Overnight oats use a method of softening uncooked oats without cooking them.  Instead of cooking your oats in the microwave or stovetop with liquid, they are soaked in liquid for at least a few hours or overnight.  The result is a creamy consistency for a cold, no-cook method for making oatmeal for the next morning.

Ingredient notes and substitutions

The recipe uses simple ingredients, but please see the recipe card below for exact measurements.

Old-fashioned oats - For the best texture, use rolled oats, not steel-cut oats or quick oats.  If you're looking for pumpkin oatmeal using steel-cut oats, try my recipe for pumpkin steel-cut oatmeal.

Dairy-free milk - Any plant-based milk will work.  Try almond, oat, soy, cashew, or coconut milk (the refrigerated kind, not the full-fat canned).  I prefer a 1:1 ratio of milk to oats, but if you like your oats a bit thinner, then add a splash more.

Pumpkin puree - Use creamy pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, for this easy breakfast.  Pumpkin pie filling already contains sugar and spices, making it suitable to use in pumpkin pie.  If you do substitute it, you'll want to eliminate or adjust the maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice in the recipe. For more vegan recipes with pumpkin, try oil-free vegan pumpkin muffins.

Natural peanut butter - Almond butter can be used instead of peanut butter.  For more oatmeal recipes with peanut butter, try overnight oats with banana and cinnamon or chocolate peanut butter overnight oatmeal.

Pure maple syrup -  For a touch of sweetness, add maple syrup.  If needed, it can be substituted with agave syrup or your sweetener of choice.  Add it to taste to suit your preference for sweetness.

Ground flax seeds - Ground flax seeds are used to help thicken the dairy-free overnight oats recipe, but can be substituted with whole chia seeds. 

Pumpkin pie spice - The pumpkin pie spice adds a pumpkin pie flavor to the oats, but if needed, ground cinnamon can be used as an alternative.

Vanilla extract - Just a little for extra flavor, but can be skipped.

Tips

• The overnight oats need to soak for at least 2 hours for the oats to absorb the liquid, but they do thicken more when left to soak overnight.  
• If you like the oats to have a thinner consistency, add a little more plant-based milk before consuming them.
• Make sure all of the oats are submerged in the milk.
• The recipe is for just one serving, but it is great for meal prepping.  It can easily be made in bulk on the weekend and used as grab-and-go creamy overnight oats for busy mornings.  
• I use jars with lids, but any container with a lid will work for this easy recipe.  

Topping ideas

The overnight oatmeal is great on its own, or add your favorite toppings.

• Candied or toasted pecans or walnuts
• Dried cranberries
• Shelled pumpkin seeds
• Vegan chocolate chips
• Coconut yogurt 
• Oil-free granola
• Coconut whip
• Banana slices or berries

How to make pumpkin overnight oats

1. Mix everything in a small bowl, an airtight container, or a jar with a lid.
2. Mix well and let soak for at least 2 hours or preferably overnight.
3. Give the oats a good stir, then add your toppings before consuming.

Storage

Store the overnight oats in the refrigerator in airtight containers.  They should last for up to 5 days, but are best consumed within 3 days.  

Frequently asked questions

Relate recipes

• Oil-free vegan pumpkin muffins
• Pumpkin steel-cut oats (Instant Pot)
• Pumpkin peanut butter muffins
• Vegan pumpkin baked oats

I hope you enjoy the recipe! If you did, feel free to rate it and leave a comment. For more simple vegan breakfasts, check out all my easy vegan breakfast recipes.