10 Simple Ingredients To Give Your Overnight Oats A Taste Of Fall

As we slip into fall, the days become shorter and the nights become longer, which sometimes can give you the feeling that you somehow have less time in the day to accomplish everything. With the sun beginning to rise later and later, having an easy breakfast that's already partly prepared can help you feel like you're getting a bit more of your precious time back in the mornings. Overnight oats are a perfect way to go about this, as they can be prepared ahead of time either fully and ready to eat as is, or partially as a base that just needs some tasty toppings when you have a few moments to spare. 

While there are plenty of brands that sell pre-made overnight oats, those can quickly become expensive and you have no control over the ingredients. Making overnight oats at home is not only cheaper and generally healthier, but it gives you the opportunity to customize them and play around with flavors that are anything but boring, including all the fun ingredient opportunities that come along with the autumnal season. 

One important thing to note about overnight oats is that they should usually be made with rolled oats. Steel cut oats are a fantastic option that keep you feeling fuller for longer, but they do need to be cooked in some capacity, while instant oats will just turn into mush if soaked overnight — this makes rolled oats the best of these Goldilocks-esque options. Use your favorite overnight oats recipe for any of the ingredient suggestions below, but feel free to tinker with your recipe based on the overall flavor profile you're seeking.

If you've never tried apple butter before, it essentially packs sweet fall flavors into a jar. Think of apple butter as a more concentrated apple sauce that's enhanced with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and other fall spices. You can make your own at home (or buy one from a farmers market or grocery store) and stir it into your oats. If you have extra time, take inspiration from our apple breakfast parfait recipe and make stewed apples to top off your apple butter overnight oats. 

Who says that overnight oats can't be savory instead of sweet? A sweet winter squash like butternut has the potential to be both sweet and savory, so this is a great, choose-your-own-adventure mix-in. Roast a butternut squash, then mash or puree it, and prepare your overnight oats to use as a blank canvas for the next day. The following morning, swirl the roasted butternut squash puree into your oats. Go sweet by adding in maple syrup and pecans, or lean into the savory side with a topping of chili crisp for some extra pep in your step before work. 

A fall flavor that's impossible to escape, pumpkin spice is a no-brainer when it comes to easing your way into the fall spirit. You can purchase a pumpkin spice blend, or easily make your own pumpkin pie spice blend to have on hand all season long. Simply mix a few dashes into the milk you use to soak the oats. For an added caffeine boost and a twist on the pumpkin spice latte, include a shot of espresso into the liquid meant to soak your oats overnight. 

If you're unfamiliar with compote, it's basically fruit cooked down with some sugar on the stove, sometimes with the addition of spices. Commonly made with apples, peak-season pears make a beautiful fall compote, especially when simmered with warming spices and a bit of vanilla. Simply make the compote at the beginning of the week and use it to top your overnight oats. You can even freeze the leftover compote so you can enjoy it for months to come. 

Similar to the butternut squash overnight oats, you can stir in roasted and pureed sweet potatoes, mixing in a bit of brown sugar alongside them. Otherwise, take it a step further and coat sweet potatoes in a brown sugar butter before roasting. While you could turn these into savory overnight oats, there's something about the combination of brown sugar and sweet potatoes that feels extra cozy for autumn. Add a dollop of yogurt or crème fraîche into the oats for an even more luxurious breakfast, and top with pecans or mini marshmallows, if you're feeling whimsical. 

Although they may give off 1950s energy, candied pecans have never really gone out of fashion. Give your overnight oats a sweet and crunchy spin by making a big batch of stovetop candied pecans, adding any sort of spices that you prefer for extra coziness. Make your overnight oats with ample amounts of cinnamon (and a tiny sprinkle of nutmeg and clove) to round out the warm fall flavors mirrored in the candied pecans. 

Although fall is a time where we begin to don thick sweaters and light the fireplace, that doesn't mean every meal needs to feel warm and cozy. On the contrary, if you're looking for a fall-inspired breakfast that's still refreshing and light, autumn is prime season for pomegranates. Tart, juicy, and slightly sweet, ruby-hued pomegranate seeds (also known as arils) are both safe and pleasant to eat. They pop as you chew them, creating a refreshing sensation along with a great texture to contrast the soft oats. Sprinkle some on top before you eat, or go all out and use pomegranate juice as liquid for soaking your oats. 

Our maple roasted pumpkin seed snack mix is the perfect balance of sweet and savory, making it ideal for adding texture to overnight oats. Whether you make oats with cinnamon and maple syrup or keep them plain, the flavorful pumpkin seeds will add a delightful crunch after being scattered on top of a jar of soft oats. Feel free to omit the thyme from the recipe, if you prefer a sweeter topping. We do, however, recommend leaving in the cayenne as it adds a subtle kick without being overly spicy. 

Fall is the perfect time to take advantage of fresh mushrooms. For these savory oats, use vegetable or chicken stock in place of milk or water to soak your oats overnight, omitting any sweeteners you may normally add. Take inspiration from our miso mushroom pasta recipe and saute mushrooms and garlic until tender, followed by miso paste, butter, and a splash of soy sauce. You can warm your overnight oats in the microwave and top them with the umami-rich mushrooms, followed by sliced scallions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds for texture. 

Those who love a good cranberry sauce served at Thanksgiving don't need to restrict their joy to just one day in November. As the year creeps to a close, citrus and cranberry begin to appear on grocery store shelves, making it the perfect time to craft your own marmalade. While marmalade is usually just made with oranges, adding cranberries brings a tart element to balance the sweet condiment.