Creamy apple spice overnight grains soak steel-cut oats, quick barley, and cracked wheat in yogurt and milk while you sleep, so morning brings pudding-soft grains with no simmering to stand over. One batch, four jars of apple-pie-flavored breakfast.
Tired of the morning rush? Imagine waking up to a breakfast that’s not only ready to go but also incredibly delicious and nourishing. This Creamy Apple Spice Overnight Grains recipe is your new secret weapon for stress-free mornings. A hearty blend of steel-cut oats, barley, and cracked wheat soaks overnight in a spiced yogurt mixture, becoming wonderfully creamy and tender. In the morning, just a gentle warm-up and a sprinkle of fresh apple, dried fruit, and toasted nuts are all it takes to create a breakfast bowl that feels like a warm hug. It’s wholesome, satisfying, and the perfect way to fuel your day.
Ingredients
• PREP: 30 minutes | CHILL: 12 hours | MAKES 4 (3⁄4 -cup) servings
• 1 1/4 cups / 300 ml water
• 3 tbsp / 26 g steel-cut oats
• 3 tbsp / 30 g quick-cooking barley
• 3 tbsp / 30 g cracked wheat
• 2/3 cup / 160 g plain low-fat yogurt or vegan yogurt
• 1/2 cup / 120 ml fat-free milk or unsweetened plant-based milk
• 1 tbsp / 21 g honey or maple syrup for vegan
• 1/4 tsp / 1 g apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice
• 1/8 tsp / 0.75 g salt
• 1 small red-skin apple, chopped
• 3 tbsp / 30 g assorted dried fruit, such as cranberries, blueberries, or snipped apricots
• 1/4 cup / 30 g coarsely chopped almonds, pecans, or walnuts, toasted
Instructions
1. In a medium saucepan, combine the water, steel-cut oats, barley, and cracked wheat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 8 minutes. The grains will still be firm.
2. Pour the grain mixture into a medium bowl and let it cool for about 5 minutes. Stir in the yogurt, milk, honey, apple pie spice, and salt until well combined.
3. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 12 hours or up to 3 days to allow the grains to soften and the flavors to meld.
4. When ready to serve, gently reheat the cereal in a saucepan over low heat until warmed through. Stir in the chopped apple and dried fruit. Divide into bowls and sprinkle with toasted nuts.
Nutritional Information
• Nutrition Information
• PER SERVING: 203 cal., 4 g (0.14 oz) total fat (1 g / 0.04 oz sat. fat), 3 mg chol., 120 mg sodium, 36 g (1.27 oz) carb., 5 g (0.18 oz) fiber, 7 g (0.25 oz) pro.
Pro Tips
• Serve this cereal chilled for a refreshing breakfast. Simply let it stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before stirring in your toppings.
• For easy meal prep, portion the chilled cereal into individual airtight containers. In the morning, just grab one, add your fresh toppings, and go!
• Customize your grains by swapping the cracked wheat or barley for other quick-cooking grains like quinoa flakes or millet for a different texture.
• Add a pinch of cardamom or a dash of vanilla extract along with the apple pie spice for a more complex flavor profile.
FAQ
Q: Can I make these overnight grains vegan
A: Absolutely! This recipe is easily adapted for a vegan diet. Simply use a plant-based yogurt (like almond, soy, or coconut), an unsweetened plant-based milk, and substitute maple syrup for the honey. The result is just as creamy and delicious.
Q: How can I add more protein to this vegetarian breakfast
A: To boost the protein, stir in a tablespoon of chia seeds or hemp hearts with the yogurt. You can also add a scoop of your favorite vegetarian protein powder. Topping with extra toasted nuts and seeds before serving will also increase the protein content.
Q: How long do these overnight grains last in the fridge
A: The prepared grain mixture can be stored in a covered bowl or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For easy meal prep, portion the mixture into individual containers after the initial 12-hour soaking period.
Q: Is this overnight grains recipe gluten-free
A: As written, this recipe is not gluten-free because it contains barley and cracked wheat. To make a gluten-free version, use certified gluten-free steel-cut oats and replace the barley and wheat with gluten-free grains like millet or buckwheat groats.
Pro Tips
- The overnight soak is the entire method — it's what turns steel-cut oats creamy without cooking, so don't shortcut the waiting.
- Yogurt and milk together give the grains body and tang; the recipe offers vegan swaps for both, plus maple syrup in place of the honey.
- Apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice — either blend works, and your jar preference wins.
- Stir the jars before serving; grains settle and thicken overnight, and a splash of milk loosens them back to creamy.
- Add the chopped red-skin apple, dried fruit, and nuts at eating time so the crunch survives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the grains need any cooking at all?
Just a brief one — the recipe gives them about eight minutes before the overnight rest, which sets the texture. The soak does the rest.
Can I make this vegan?
Yes, and the recipe plans for it: vegan yogurt, unsweetened plant-based milk, and maple syrup instead of honey.
How long do overnight grains keep?
Three to four days refrigerated, which is roughly how the batch math works out. Keep toppings separate until serving.
Can I change the fruit?
Within reason — the chopped red-skin apple is the fresh element, and the dried fruit is flexible (the recipe suggests cranberries and friends), so mix those to taste.
Recipe card below.
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Creamy Apple Spice Overnight Grains
Ingredients
Method
- In a medium saucepan, combine the water, steel-cut oats, barley, and cracked wheat.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 8 minutes. The grains will still be firm.
- Pour the grain mixture into a medium bowl and let it cool for about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the yogurt, milk, honey, apple pie spice, and salt until well combined.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 12 hours or up to 3 days to allow the grains to soften and the flavors to meld.
- When ready to serve, gently reheat the cereal in a saucepan over low heat until warmed through.
- Stir in the chopped apple and dried fruit.
- Divide into bowls and sprinkle with toasted nuts.
- Add a pinch of cardamom or a dash of vanilla extract along with the apple pie spice for a more complex flavor profile.
