During one of my stints in Europe, I was introduced to the concept of eating cold oats. At first, I was resistant to the idea, considering warm, creamy, sweet oatmeal the only way to begin the day. Back then, I consumed a packet of Quaker instant oatmeal, with particular loyalty to the cinnamon roll flavor, every morning before my college classes.
Eventually, I gave into curiosity, and I tried a bite of an oat-y concoction that had been soaked in milk and yogurt overnight. Instantly, I discovered a new, very exciting treat with wonderful texture and chew, not to mention endless variety.
Swiss-style muesli has other perks as well: it’s an especially nice way to enjoy a big bowl of oats without the heat throughout the summer; it requires little time in the morning, ideal for busier days; and, it doesn’t involve the noise of a stove or microwave, which helps in keeping roommate peace in the early morning hours.
Even though cold breakfasts aren’t very typical this time of year, this one is at least slightly more apt for the season than yesterday’s, with an apple as the star.
Overnight in the fridge, I soaked:
- 1/2 c oats
- 1/4 c plain hemp milk
- 1/4 c plain yogurt
- 1 fuji apple, half grated, half chopped
- ~2 T raisins
- ~2 T almonds
- tons of cinnamon
In the morning, I added another 1/4 c hemp milk, stirred the mix well, and poured it into its bowl:
A sunflower seed butter jar with just a spoonful or two left. Just like eating cool apples and peanut butter, in a fun alternative form.
How do you prefer oats? Hot, cold, sweet, savory? As granola or in a cookie?
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Yum! I’m going to try your recipe tonight for the morning…I have a organic gala waiting to be chopped up! Thanks for the awesome idea!
I prefer my oats warm and sweet but as of lately I’ve found that topping salty rosemary oats with a crack peppered easy over egg is the ultimate oat breakfast. I guess it depends on my mood but I love oats really anyway!
Maggie
MYBREAKFASTBLOG.COM
I’m not an oatmeal person–or oatbran, for that matter–like the majority of bloggers. But one creation that always makes me second guess myself is swiss oats or cold overnight oats. It just sounds delicious chilled! Maybe one day…
I need to eat overnight oats more. I like them in a form of a breakfast cookie and this idea is great too!
I love cold breakfast cookies but when it comes to big bowls of oats, they have to be warm.
Your apple oats do look fabulous though! :-)
Yuummmm I had overnight oats this morning as well. :)
I will have to try it in a PB jar, never had cold ones in a jar.
love bircher mueseli, in the warmer months i was slightly obsessed with it haha, i would come up with such interesting creations, using flavored yogurts and adding in different mix ins. but my fav was the classic grated apple raisins and almonds, so delicious!! i need to have that again soon! but its just so cold atleast i am freeezing each mornng i need to be warmed up…but i miss those oaties :/ lol…
i prefer my oats creamy and hot, and sweet, love honey and fruit and nuts.
lots of love
xx
Eliza
I just discovered overnight oats a few months ago and admit that I’m hooked, as I can bring “real” oats to work instead of something else. However, even though I warm them up for a bit, nothing compares to a warm bowl with almond milk, bananas and almond butter at home, so I don’t even try to get fancy during the week…
And while I’ve seen savory oats around a lot lately, I have yet to try them myself. I’ve been oat obsessed lately, so I’m sure I’ll venture to those in the future (not cold and at work, but warm and at home) :)