Overnight oats in a jar are a quick, easy breakfast! And this vegan Cocoa Nib and Pomegranate Overnight Oats recipe is perfect for fall.
Pomegranates Are Edible
For a long time, I didn't know that pomegranates were edible. I thought they were for decoration. My mom used to have a jar filled with little dried pomegranates underneath the coffee table in the living room and when I was little, I liked to empty them out onto the carpet and shake them to hear the seeds inside. Many years later, when I was in college, a friend of mine mentioned eating pomegranates.
"Wait, what?! You can eat those?!"
I wasn't completely convinced.
Eventually I tried pomegranates for myself and I came to love them, even though they're a complete pain to prepare. My husband doesn't think it's worth the effort, but I do—I get excited about pomegranate season and I always feel bummed when it's over and I know I'm going to have to wait until next fall to have them again.
About the Recipe
With pomegranates in season now, I thought I'd try adding them to my overnight oats for breakfast. Lately when I make overnight oats, I've been using an equal amount of fruit and oats. It helps me feel like I've eaten more—because let's face it, ½ cup of oats is nothing. Nothing! So I added ½ cup of pomegranate seeds to the oats and almond milk.
And then I added chocolate. My first attempt at chocolate overnight oats was kind of icky—I realized that I don't like cocoa powder in my oats. It's a little too much first thing in the morning. So instead, I used cocoa nibs. They give the oats a chocolatey flavor without adding too much chocolatey flavor.
Like any overnight oatmeal recipe, there's a lot of room for adaptation. Use your favorite kind of milk! Add chia seeds or chopped nuts instead of flax meal! Put in protein powder if you insist! Whatever. It's all good and it's pretty much impossible to mess up.
Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup old-fashioned or rolled oats
- ½ cup vanilla almond milk
- ½ cup pomegranate seeds
- 1 tbsp ground flax seeds
- 1 tbsp cocoa nibs or coarsely chopped dark chocolate
Instructions
- Stir together ingredients in a resealable container.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Stir again before serving; add additional milk for a thinner consistency.
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
What a very Fall lookin' bowl you have there!
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
Yes! I'm a huge pomegranate fan and I can totally see how it'd work wonderfully with chocolate. Looks lovely!
Rachel @ Rachel's Giveaways says
Ooh, that sounds good. I noticed my Publix has tubs of pomegranate seeds available in the produce department so you don't have to spend all that time getting them out. The first time I ever bought a pomegranate, I don't want to admit how long it took me to get all the seeds out and it made such a mess!
Kiersten says
When I have a big pomegranate, I swear sometimes it takes me 45 minutes to get all the seeds out. And I do it underwater, so my fingers get all prune-y too.
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
I not only like eating nibs, I like saying NIBS! 😉 What a happy bowl of oats.
Kiersten says
I was half asleep when I wrote this post and I kept typing "nubs." Which is also fun to say, but not nearly as appetizing.
houstonalle says
This is probably a dumb question, but can you make overnight oats with steel cut oats? They are so hard, I wonder whether they would soften overnight in the milk.
Kiersten says
Yes, you can! Check out this post from The Kitchn: http://www.thekitchn.com/simple-breakfast-nocook-overni-125986
I've tried it myself, but they're still too tough for me--I'm not a fan. But other people seem to really like them, so it's worth a try!
houstonalle says
Wow, thanks. I'm going to try it. I LOVE them really chewy and texture-y!
Virginia says
I have a mother / pomegranate history too. My mother banned eating them in the living room. Too messy with the seeds that stained the rug.
Kiersten says
Yeah, I spilled a bunch of seeds all over myself last year--that is one stain that never comes out!
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
wow girl! So creative! Just pinned and tweeted this one
Kiersten says
Thanks, Alison!
[email protected] says
Did I get it right - you eat oats without cooking them? I've never tried them like this. I guess they are healthier this way, aren't they?
Kiersten says
Nope, you don't need to cook them because they get soft when they sit overnight. It's so easy to do and I actually prefer my oats cold now!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
This week I have stained two white shirts with pomegranate seeds ;-(
The overnight oats looks lovely.
Kiersten says
I have done that too!
Kathy - Panini Happy says
Lol, my kids still don't realize there's anything edible inside sugar packets - they know them as "shakers", to keep them occupied in restaurants! This is one lovely-looking bowl of oatmeal. 🙂
Kiersten says
That is so funny! When I was a kid, I kept myself occupied by trying to shake the little creamer containers and turn them into butter. I never got butter, but it sure kept me busy trying. 😉
Carol @ Always Thyme to Cook says
You come up with the most interesting and delicious ways to have oatmeal. Looks delicious!
Connie Seattle Mom Blogger says
I just can't convince myself to try overnight oats. I'm not sure what it is about the consistency of them, but they look weird. I LOVE cooked oatmeal...maybe I'll try it one of these days 🙂
Kiersten says
Ha! I was hesitant at first too, but now I prefer my oatmeal cold to warm. 🙂
Jeanette says
I've never tried cocoa nibs in oatmeal - what a fun idea, and I just love how pretty pomegranate looks in this breakfast bowl.
Kelly says
It took me a while to get up the courage to eat pomegranates but now I ♥ them. They're good to flush parasites too. Ha! Sorry! Kinda gross but a fact. When I ate oatmeal, soaking it was the trick to turn it from ordinary to HEAVEN. I'll have to try this with chia seeds.
Kiersten says
Ha! I had no idea about the parasite thing. Well, I must be free and clear of them now because I am totally eating my share of pomegranates this fall. 😀
SCM (SocialCafe Magazine) says
This looks absolutely stunning. I love overnight oats, new ideas are always a plus since I'm running out LOL. Thank you for the wonderful recipe and a new idea 🙂
Kiersten says
I try to switch things up every few weeks--I get bored really easily! 🙂 I made them with peaches and berries a lot over the summer, so it's nice to have different fruits to play around with now that it's fall.
Lisa | With Style and Grace says
I think I'm the last person who hasn't tried overnight oats! This looks like the perfect start.
Kiersten says
I didn't try them until recently because I was convinced that cold oatmeal would be disgusting. But it's really not!
natasha says
I have never tried pamagranite fruit - but I need to. thanks for the recipe
Natalie says
I love snacking on pomegranate seeds but hate getting all the seeds out - not that it's hard but I always end up ruining my shirt or getting the juice everywhere! I'm always so tempted to buy those plastic containers of the prepared seeds but they're so much more expensive!
Kiersten says
I bought those once and when I went to eat them the next day, they were moldy. Not just a little bit moldy, but completely covered in white fuzz. After a day! I'm sure it was just a fluke, but now I'm scared to buy them again.
Daniela @ food recipes HQ says
I like this recipe so much! I shared it
Kiersten says
Thank you!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
Love those cocoa nibs! I'm passing this one to my mom, she's a big oatmeal person.
Kelly @ Texas Type A Mom says
I can't wait to try this! I just learned a few months ago that buying them from the bulk bins was only half the process and I needed to grind them. What do you use to grind your flaxseeds or do you buy them already ground?
Kiersten says
I buy them ground. I tried doing it in the food processor once and it didn't work, but I think it was because I was trying to do a small amount--maybe a few cups at a time would be better?
sarah @ two tarts says
just found you via a recipe recommendation from a friend. Love your blog & writing style. Thank you for admitting that pomegranates are a pain in the butt to prepare rather than saying you find it strangely relaxing to pick them out of their shell! 🙂
Kiersten says
No, they are the worst, really. There is absolutely nothing relaxing about standing hunched over a bowl of water and pomegranate seeds, juice spattered all over your shirt, back hurting, prune-y fingers--nope, not relaxing!
Thanks for stopping by and for the kind words! 🙂
Courtney Rae Jones says
The prettiest overnight oats ever! 🙂 Love the colour of pom seeds. Looks delicious. Love the addition of cocoa nibs!
rachel says
Pomegranates look like pods filled with rubies. but they are better than rubies. you can eat them! and they are amazing! i'm surprised by the addition of cocoa nibs, but it's a pleasant surprise. love it!
Kiersten says
They are so good, right? Definitely one of my favorite fall snacks!
Mary @ Fit and Fed says
I've got to get back into the winter routine of oatmeal done overnight in the rice cooker. I like steel cut oats cooked with the porridge setting of the rice cooker. Coincidentally, I just bought my first package of cocoa nibs and love them! Thanks for the idea of putting them in oatmeal! I love pomegranates, too, I got a tray of six jumbo ones at Costco that I'm still working through. I'll keep that pomegranate/cocoa nib combination in mind.
Kiersten says
I need to try doing steel-cut oats in my slow cooker overnight. I have a big tub of them sitting in the pantry because I never feel like making them in the morning! Cocoa nibs are definitely a nice addition to any oatmeal--a little more virtuous than chocolate chips. 🙂