If your mornings feel like a frantic sprint between the shower and the front door, you absolutely need to listen to me on this one! Seriously, my mornings used to be chaos until I figured out how to make breakfast taste like a decadent treat but take zero time when the alarm goes off. I’m talking about the absolute best Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats you will ever taste. They are sweet, spiced, and capture that gooey feeling of a bakery favorite without ever needing to turn on the oven!

I used to skip breakfast or grab something sad, but mastering these made me actually look forward to waking up. I swear they taste better the next day—it’s like magic how they soak up all that cinnamon goodness overnight. Trust me, for a truly quick breakfast game-changer, you need this recipe in your life. I even prep a few jars at once, like a slightly messy meal-prep genius. If you’re looking for another speedy bread option, you might want to check out my quick oat bread recipe too!

Why You Will Love These Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

Honestly, there are so many reasons these win every single time in my house. It’s the perfect marriage of speed and flavor, which feels impossible most days, right? You get all the comforting spices you crave without any messy baking drama or standing over a hot stove. It’s truly breakfast bliss in a jar!

They are the ultimate make-ahead breakfast! Mix them up Sunday night and you have grab-and-go mornings set until Tuesday.
The flavor profile is spot on—you genuinely think you’re eating a gooey cinnamon roll, but it’s packed with fiber and protein.
They are incredibly flexible. You can switch up the milk, the sweetener, or even the type of oats depending on what you have on hand.
Cleanup is ridiculously easy! You mix it right in the jar you’re going to eat it out of. Less mess means a better morning, hands down.
They keep you full! Thanks to the chia seeds and yogurt, this isn’t one of those breakfasts that disappears before your first meeting. If you love fun, portable breakfasts like I do, you must look at my breakfast cookies recipe next!

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

Okay, let’s talk about what goes into these glorious jars. This recipe is so simple because the ingredient list isn’t overwhelming, but every single item plays a huge role in getting that authentic cinnamon roll vibe without the actual rolling. You’ll need your base: half a cup of regular old rolled oats— don’t grab the instant stuff, we need the structure those hold in the fridge! I also insist you add one tablespoon of chia seeds; those little guys are the secret weapon for texture and honestly, they are amazing for you. See how easy chia seeds are when you make chia seed pudding?

For the creamy liquid part, we use half a cup of whatever milk you love—cow’s milk, almond, soy, it doesn’t matter! Then, one-quarter cup of Greek yogurt gives it that slight tang and protein boost that makes it feel less like dessert and more like actual breakfast. You simply must include the half teaspoon of ground cinnamon; that’s where the main flavor comes from. Don’t forget the tiny pinch of salt to balance the sweetness from your maple syrup or honey!

Now, for the really fun part which you can skip if you’re really short on time: the frosting swirl! If you want that true cinnamon roll experience, mix one tablespoon of softened cream cheese with just one teaspoon of milk and half a teaspoon of sweetener. Dollop that gorgeous, thick swirl on top in the morning. It just takes two extra minutes but totally elevates the whole experience!

Expert Tips for Making the Best Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

Listen, the basic instructions for these Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats are easy—you just mix and chill, right? But if you want them to go from ‘good’ to ‘I’m quitting my job to just eat these every morning,’ you need a few insider tricks. I’ve made these so many times that I know exactly what to do when things go sideways, or how to make them even more decadent! If you’re trying to get fancy with your creamy elements, you might want to check out my guide on how to make heavy cream at home, though it’s totally unnecessary for this recipe!

For instance, if you’re making a big batch, you might notice the jar on the bottom is way thicker than the one on top. That’s why I always suggest mixing everything thoroughly, really scraping the bottom of your container so those chia seeds don’t clump up into one giant gel blob. Also, make sure your syrup is totally incorporated before the chill time; nobody wants a pocket of pure maple syrup hiding at the bottom of their breakfast!

I also can’t stress enough: use good cinnamon! If your cinnamon has been sitting in the spice rack since the last millennium, it won’t have that warm, spicy punch required for a true cinnamon roll experience. Fresh spices make all the difference here. I even keep a small, sealed jar just for my overnight oat spices so the aroma really pops when I mix them in.

Adjusting Texture in Your Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

Morning emergency! Did you open the fridge and find a brick instead of oats? Don’t panic! This happens sometimes, usually because the chia seeds did their job a little *too* well, or maybe you used a thicker yogurt. If it’s solid, just stir in milk—a tablespoon at a time—until it pulls away from the sides nicely. If you forgot the chia seeds entirely and it’s soupy, I promise, it still tastes great, but it won’t have that satisfying firmness. If you really want it thicker next time, just add an extra half teaspoon of chia seeds. It’s all about finding that gooey-but-spoonable texture you love!

Sweetness Variations for Your Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

The recipe calls for maple syrup, which I love because it adds a deeper, almost caramelized note that mimics real baked goods. But hey, if honey is what you have, use honey! They are interchangeable here, flavor-wise. If you’re trying to cut back on processed sugars, you can definitely swap in a zero-calorie sweetener like monk fruit or stevia, but you might need a tiny splash less milk because those often dissolve differently. Just taste test before you seal it up for the night to make sure your perfect version of Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats is ready for morning enjoyment. Cooking is about what *you* like best, after all!

Step-by-Step Instructions for Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

This part is so fast, you’ll be amazed you ever considered buying those expensive little cups at the grocery store! You grab literally one jar or container—I use a mason jar because it looks cute, but any container with a lid works! Then, it’s just a matter of tossing everything in there to mingle.

We start by combining all the dry stuff first: your rolled oats and those powerful little chia seeds. Then, pour in your liquid elements: milk, Greek yogurt, and your sweetener—maple syrup or honey, whatever you prefer! Don’t forget the star of the show, the ground cinnamon, and just that tiny pinch of salt to make all those sweet flavors pop. If you want to see how I make a huge batch of simple overnight oats, check out that link, but the steps are basically the same!

Here is the crucial part: Stir it! Really stir it down to the bottom to make sure the chia seeds aren’t just sitting as a dry pile underneath everything. You want everything totally incorporated. Once it looks uniform, slap that lid on tight. Now, leave it alone! It has to sit in the refrigerator for a minimum of four hours, but come on, we know the real goal is overnight chilling. This gives the oats time to soften up and absorb all that milky sweet magic.

When you pull it out in the morning, give it a quick stir again, because sometimes things settle. If it looks too thick for your liking—maybe your yogurt was extra thick yesterday—just splash in a tiny bit more milk until it’s spoonable. If you’re feeling fancy and want that true gooey top, spend two minutes whipping up that optional cream cheese drizzle described earlier, and just dollop it right on top before digging in!

Customizing Your Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats: Variations

So you’ve mastered the basic mixture, and now you’re ready to start experimenting? That’s my kind of person! While the vanilla-cinnamon flavor of the Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats is perfect as is, sometimes you need to switch things up based on your mood or what you have in the fridge that needs using up by tomorrow. This recipe is so wonderfully adaptable, which is why I keep coming back to it!

A lot of people ask me about adding extra ‘oomph’ to their breakfast, and I always recommend throwing in some fruit or maybe swapping out some of the spice blend. If you are looking for ways to sneak in more flavor or nutrition without complicating the process, check out my recipe for spiced chai zucchini bread; those spice profiles often translate perfectly to oats!

Here are a few ways I like to jazz them up without making it a totally different meal:

Protein Power Boost: If you’re eating these post-workout or just need serious staying power, stir in one scoop of vanilla or unflavored protein powder right along with the dry ingredients. You might need an extra splash of milk in the morning because the powder sucks up liquid like crazy, but it makes them super filling!
Nutty Texture: Roughly chopped pecans or walnuts folded in right before chilling add the crunch factor that a baked good always has. It’s a great substitute for the usual fruit texture. Just remember to soak your nuts briefly in hot water first if you like them very soft, but I prefer them slightly crunchy against the smooth oats.
Swap the Spice Profile: If you’re getting bored, ditch the plain cinnamon for a bit! Try using half a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice instead, or maybe even a pinch of cardamom combined with the cinnamon. It changes the entire mood, making your Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats taste like a fancy winter latte instead of a classic roll. Remember, we are aiming for deliciousness here, not rigidity!

Serving Suggestions for Delicious Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

The beautiful thing about these Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats is that they are completely ready to eat straight out of the fridge. No fuss, no reheating needed. That convenience is really the whole point, isn’t it? But presentation matters, even if you’re just eating breakfast alone on a Tuesday morning!

When you pull that jar out, before you even stir it, take a moment. If you made that optional cream cheese glaze, swirl it around gently so it looks like the icing drip on a fresh roll. It’s just a little visual trick that makes me feel like I’ve put in twice the effort. If you skip the glaze, a light sprinkle of extra cinnamon right on top really wakes up the aroma before you take that first spoonful.

If you want to make this breakfast feel like a full brunch experience, pairing is everything. These oats are rich and sweet, so they go perfectly with something bright and acidic to cut through all that creamy goodness. My absolute go-to is a strong cup of coffee. If you want to elevate that coffee game, you should absolutely check out my recipe for easy homemade coffee creamer; suddenly your breakfast setup is five-star!

For fruit pairings, keep it simple and slightly tart. Berries are fantastic—a handful of fresh raspberries or sliced strawberries on half the surface look gorgeous against the tan oats. If you prefer baked flavors, chopping up one small apple, tossing it with a dash of cinnamon, and popping that on top is heavenly. It makes the whole jar taste like a baked apple crisp topping your Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats. Honestly, once you nail the base recipe, decorating it is half the fun!

Storage and Make-Ahead Guide for Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

The best part about these little jars of happiness is that they are practically begging you to make them ahead of time. Seriously, make a batch of these Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats on Sunday and you’re set for Tuesday morning. I usually prep three jars at a time because my teenager somehow knows exactly when I’ve made a batch and eats two of them!

They keep perfectly well in the refrigerator for up to about four days. If you’re adding the cream cheese swirl on top, I usually wait to put that on until the morning I eat them. If you put the glaze on before chilling for three days, it can sometimes start to seep into the oats too much, and you lose that lovely thick frosting texture. They stay perfectly safe, but the texture is just better when you add the topping fresh.

Now, freezing? I wouldn’t recommend it for this specific mix. The yogurt and the chia seeds just don’t react well to the freeze/thaw cycle; they can get a bit watery or strange in texture once thawed out. Stick to the fridge for best results! If you need some fast bread options instead of cold oats, you can check out my keto breakfast bread recipe, which is actually super fast in the microwave!

Frequently Asked Questions About Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

I get so many questions about these oats because everyone wants to make sure their quick breakfast tastes exactly like a bakery treat. It’s smart to ask! I’ve rounded up the things people ask me most often about making sure their jars of oats turn out perfectly every single time.

Can I make Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats completely vegan?

Oh, absolutely! This recipe is so adaptable, which is one of the things I love about it. If you need a fully vegan version of these Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats, you just have two easy swaps to make. First, replace the Greek yogurt with a plant-based alternative—I find plain or vanilla soy yogurt works best for that familiar thickness, but coconut yogurt is great if you like a little tropical hint!

Second, make sure you swap out the milk for any non-dairy milk you prefer, like almond, oat, or soy milk. For the topping, if you’re skipping the cream cheese drizzle, just use a vegan cream cheese substitute or skip the frosting entirely since the base sweetening comes from the maple syrup. If you’re trying to up your hydration game while you’re working on meal prep, you might find my tips on how to drink eight glasses of water each day really helpful!

Do I have to use chia seeds in my Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats?

This is the big one! While you *could* technically leave them out and still have sweet, creamy oats, you’d be missing a massive part of what makes this recipe work so well. The chia seeds are essential because they absorb so much liquid and act as our natural thickener and binder. Without them, you won’t get that dense, slightly chewy texture that stops this from just being soggy cereal. They also pack a nutritional punch with fiber and omega-3s, so they help turn this treat into a proper, sustaining breakfast.

If you genuinely cannot stand them or are out, you can slightly increase the amount of Greek yogurt or add a teaspoon of quick-cooking rolled oats instead. But if you want the real deal—that satisfying, firm texture that eats like a soft dough—please put the chia seeds back in! Trust me on this one; they are the tiny powerhouses that make these Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats shine.

Nutritional Snapshot of Your Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

I know some of you are checking the macros while you look at this beauty, and I totally get it! Even though these Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats taste like indulgence, the base recipe is actually pretty balanced, especially since it’s packed with fiber from the oats and protein from the yogurt.

I ran the standard recipe through my usual calculator (using regular oats and low-fat milk, not low-fat yogurt, just so you know), and these are the estimated numbers you’re looking at per serving. Remember, toppings like the cream cheese swirl will change these numbers, so treat this as the baseline count for your main mixture before any extra decadence!

If you’re interested in seeing how these stack up against other amazing oat-based recipes, I have a great comparison chart when talking about my healthy chia pudding variations.

Calories: About 350 per standard serving. That’s a great fuel number for kicking off a busy morning!
Protein: Nearly 18 grams! That’s thanks largely to the Greek yogurt we sneak in there.
Total Fat: Around 10 grams. Most of this is healthy fat, especially if you use unsweetened almond milk.
Carbohydrates: Around 55 grams, with 10 of those coming from filling dietary fiber.
Sugar: In the ballpark of 18 grams. This will depend heavily on how much maple syrup or honey you decide to pour in!

It proves you can have that comforting cinnamon flavor you crave in a genuinely satisfying and quick breakfast package. Enjoy knowing you started your day smart!

Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

Author: memorecipes.com
Total Time: 5 min active time plus refrigeration
Yield: 1 serving 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

Simple recipe for make-ahead cinnamon roll flavored overnight oats.

Ingredients

Scale

1/2 cup rolled oats
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1/2 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)
1/4 cup Greek yogurt (plain or vanilla)
1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
Optional topping: 1 tablespoon cream cheese mixed with 1 teaspoon milk and 1/2 teaspoon sweetener

Instructions

In a jar or container, combine the rolled oats, chia seeds, milk, Greek yogurt, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt.
Stir all ingredients together until well mixed.
Cover the container and place it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight.
In the morning, stir the oats. If the mixture is too thick, add a splash more milk.
If using the optional topping, mix the cream cheese, milk, and sweetener until smooth. Dollop or swirl on top of the oats before serving.

Notes

You can adjust the sweetness level to your preference.
Use any type of milk you prefer, such as almond, soy, or cow’s milk.
For a thicker consistency, increase the amount of chia seeds slightly.

Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 0 min
Category: Breakfast
Method: No Cook
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl
Calories: 350
Sugar: 18
Sodium: 150
Fat: 10
Saturated Fat: 3
Unsaturated Fat: 7
Trans Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 55
Fiber: 10
Protein: 18
Cholesterol: 10

Keywords: cinnamon roll, overnight oats, breakfast, make ahead, quick breakfast, oats, chia seeds