Lemon Poppy Seed Overnight Oats

There's nothing that screams summer quite like lemon poppy seed cake! So why not turn this incredible flavor combination into some nutritious overnight oats to start the day? They are lemony, zesty, and super refreshing.

If you're someone who enjoys having breakfast but often skips it because the mornings are too busy, overnight oats might be the perfect solution. You can easily prep single servings ahead of time for the next few days and take them on the go if you need to.

If you like it fruity, you should absolutely try my overnight oats with fruit. The fruits get blended with the milk for a very intense flavor!

Key ingredients and substitutions

• Rolled oats: They easily soak up the milk but still have a bite when you eat them. You can use quick-cooking oats (which are a little thinner than rolled oats) but I don't use instant oats, which need to be cooked. Use gluten-free oats if you need to.
• Chia seeds: Optional but great to help thicken the oats.
• Plant-based milk: I like unsweetened soy milk which has a very neutral taste and 3.5 grams of plant protein/100g. You can also use the nut milk of your choice. However, I wouldn't recommend coconut milk (it doesn't pair too well with the lemon in this recipe).
• Plant-based yogurt: It makes the lemon poppy seed overnight oats extra creamy. Again, I like using unsweetened soy yogurt for its neutral flavor and protein content. But feel free to use your favorite plant yogurt.
• Lemon zest and lemon juice: For a very intense lemon flavor. Preferably, use an organic lemon as we'll need the zest.
• Poppy seeds: For the flavor and the crunch.
• Maple syrup: If you like your oats on the sweeter side, you can add a touch of maple syrup. I usually leave it out as I like the tanginess of the lemon.

Elo's tips

• Give the oats a good stir before refrigerating. This makes sure the flavors (especially the lemon zest) are evenly distributed and prevents the poppy seeds from clumping together. It also makes sure all the oats are covered in liquid so that you don't end up with some dry patches of oats.
• If you don't have individual jars, you can make a big batch in a large container. Just make sure it has a lid.
• Add hemp seeds for an extra dose of plant protein. By adding 1 tablespoon of hemp seeds per serving, you can increase the protein content of your breakfast by 3 grams.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Step 1: Dry ingredients. Add the oats, chia seeds, poppy seeds, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt to a small lidded jar. I use small Weck jars, but Mason jars work, too. Give it a good stir.

2. Step 2: Wet ingredients. Add the milk of your choice, lemon juice, maple syrup, and yogurt to the jars.