These maple-pecan overnight oats are my weekend lifesaver — creamy, lightly spiced oats soaked overnight, a glossy maple-pecan stripe in the middle, and a crunchy pecan finish on top. Make a batch on Sunday and grab a jar all week: they travel well, rehearse easily (add a splash of milk), and taste so good.
Why It’s So Good
The slow soak gives the oats a pudding-like creaminess while chia and yogurt add silkiness and body. The maple-pecan band gives a hit of caramelized crunch in every bite, and the maple-drizzle on top ties the flavors together. No cooking required (just a quick toast for the nuts), and the jars are ideal for make-ahead breakfasts, on-the-go mornings, or pretty brunch platters.
Serves & Timings
Serves: 6 jars (about 8 fl oz / 240 ml each)
Prep Time (active): 10 minutes
Cook Time (active): 0 minutes
Additional Passive Time (chill/soak/rest): Overnight, minimum 6–8 hours
Total Time (approx): 6 hr 10 min (includes overnight chill)
Ingredients
For the Oat Base (Makes 6 Jars)
- 3 cups rolled oats (old-fashioned)
- 2½ cups milk (dairy or plant), plus ½ cup reserved if needed
- 1½ cups plain Greek yogurt (or dairy-free yogurt)
- 6 tbsp chia seeds (1 tbsp per jar)
- 6 tbsp pure maple syrup (1 tbsp per jar)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch fine sea salt
For the Maple-Pecan Filling (Stripe)
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
Toppings & Glaze
- 1 cup pecan halves, toasted and roughly chopped (for topping)
- 6 tbsp pure maple syrup (for drizzling — 1 tbsp per jar)
- Optional: flaky sea salt for finishing
Equipment
- Six 8-oz (240 ml) wide-mouthed jars with screw lids
- Dry skillet for toasting nuts
- Mixing bowl and spoon
Method
- Toast the Pecans: Heat a dry skillet over medium. Add the 1 cup pecan halves and toast, stirring, for 3–4 minutes until fragrant and slightly darker. Remove from heat and cool; roughly chop enough for topping and reserve 1/2 cup chopped pecans for the filling.
- Make Maple-Pecan Filling: In the same skillet over medium, combine 1/2 cup chopped pecans and 2 tbsp maple syrup. Toast, stirring, 2–3 minutes until the nuts are glossy and the syrup is slightly caramelized. Transfer to a small plate and cool completely — cooling prevents bleeding into the layers.
- Mix the Oat Base: In a large bowl whisk together the rolled oats, 2½ cups milk, Greek yogurt, chia seeds, 6 tbsp maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon and salt until combined. (Reserve the remaining ½ cup milk to loosen jars if needed in the morning.)
- Layer the Jars:
a. Spoon about 1/3 of the oat mixture into each jar (roughly 1/3 full). Smooth the surface gently so the next layer sits neatly.
b. Add the Maple-Pecan Band: Divide the cooled Maple-Pecan Filling evenly and spoon a thin layer (about 1 tbsp) into each jar to create a dark stripe.
c. Add a Creamy Layer: Spoon 1–2 tbsp Greek yogurt over the pecan band and level lightly.
d. Top With Oats: Add the remaining oat mixture to fill each jar to the shoulder. Level the tops. - Finish: Scatter the toasted chopped pecans on top (about 2–3 tbsp per jar) and drizzle 1 tbsp maple syrup over the nuts. Seal jars with lids.
- Chill: Refrigerate overnight (6–8 hours) so the chia thickens and flavors marry. Before eating, stir if you want a more homogeneous texture or eat layered for the visual/texture contrast. If jars feel too thick in the morning, stir in 1 tbsp reserved milk and wait 5 minutes.
Storage & Make-Ahead
- Refrigerate sealed jars up to 5 days. Texture will thicken; stir in a splash of milk to loosen.
- Freeze fully assembled jars without the pecan topping for up to 1 month; thaw overnight in the fridge and add pecans and glaze before serving.
- For gifting or longer travel, store the pecan topping separately in a small pouch and add just before serving.
Variations & Swaps
- Pumpkin-Maple: Stir 1 cup pumpkin purée and 1 tsp pumpkin-pie spice into the oat base (reduce yogurt slightly if needed).
- Chocolate-Pecan: Add 3 tbsp cocoa powder to the oat base and fold in ½ cup dark chocolate chips.
- Nut-Free: Use toasted sunflower seeds or toasted oats as the crunchy layer and topping.
- Lighter: Use low-fat Greek yogurt and skim milk to reduce calories.
Estimated Nutrition (Per Jar — Approximate)
Assumptions: recipe divided into 6 jars; includes the maple-pecan filling. Values rounded.
- Calories: ≈ 550 kcal
- Protein: ≈ 18 g
- Total Fat: ≈ 27 g
- Saturated Fat: ≈ 4 g
- Carbohydrates: ≈ 59 g
- Sugars: ≈ 22 g
- Fibre: ≈ 11 g
- Sodium: ≈ 150 mg
Quick Tips
- Use old-fashioned rolled oats for the best creaminess and texture.
- Make the Maple-Pecan Filling first and let it cool completely so it forms a distinct stripe.
- Keep the pecan topping separate if you need the nuts to stay extra crunchy for serving/gifting.
- To revive thick jars, stir in a tablespoon of milk and let sit 5 minutes before eating.
FAQ
Q: How long will these jars keep in the fridge?
A: Sealed and chilled, they’ll keep up to 5 days; stir in a splash of milk to loosen if too thick.
Q: Can I make these dairy-free?
A: Yes — use dairy-free yogurt and plant milk (coconut yogurt will add a mild coconut flavor).
Q: Can I freeze the jars?
A: Freeze fully assembled jars without the pecan topping for up to 1 month; thaw overnight in the fridge and add pecans and maple glaze before serving.
The Perfect Maple-Pecan Overnight Oats
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The slow soak gives the oats a pudding-like creaminess while chia and yogurt add silkiness and body. The maple-pecan band gives a hit of caramelized crunch in every bite, and the maple-drizzle on top ties the flavors together. No cooking required (just a quick toast for the nuts), and the jars are ideal for make-ahead breakfasts, on-the-go mornings, or pretty brunch platters.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Method
- Toast the Pecans: Heat a dry skillet over medium. Add the 1 cup pecan halves and toast, stirring, for 3–4 minutes until fragrant and slightly darker. Remove from heat and cool; roughly chop enough for topping and reserve 1/2 cup chopped pecans for the filling.
- Make Maple-Pecan Filling: In the same skillet over medium, combine 1/2 cup chopped pecans and 2 tbsp maple syrup. Toast, stirring, 2–3 minutes until the nuts are glossy and the syrup is slightly caramelized. Transfer to a small plate and cool completely — cooling prevents bleeding into the layers.
- Mix the Oat Base: In a large bowl whisk together the rolled oats, 2½ cups milk, Greek yogurt, chia seeds, 6 tbsp maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon and salt until combined. (Reserve the remaining ½ cup milk to loosen jars if needed in the morning.)
- Layer the Jars:
- a. Spoon about 1/3 of the oat mixture into each jar (roughly 1/3 full). Smooth the surface gently so the next layer sits neatly.
- b. Add the Maple-Pecan Band: Divide the cooled Maple-Pecan Filling evenly and spoon a thin layer (about 1 tbsp) into each jar to create a dark stripe.
- c. Add a Creamy Layer: Spoon 1–2 tbsp Greek yogurt over the pecan band and level lightly.
- d. Top With Oats: Add the remaining oat mixture to fill each jar to the shoulder. Level the tops.
- Finish: Scatter the toasted chopped pecans on top (about 2–3 tbsp per jar) and drizzle 1 tbsp maple syrup over the nuts. Seal jars with lids.
- Chill: Refrigerate overnight (6–8 hours) so the chia thickens and flavors marry. Before eating, stir if you want a more homogeneous texture or eat layered for the visual/texture contrast. If jars feel too thick in the morning, stir in 1 tbsp reserved milk and wait 5 minutes.
Nutrition
Notes
- Refrigerate sealed jars up to 5 days. Texture will thicken; stir in a splash of milk to loosen.
- Freeze fully assembled jars without the pecan topping for up to 1 month; thaw overnight in the fridge and add pecans and glaze before serving.
- For gifting or longer travel, store the pecan topping separately in a small pouch and add just before serving.
- Pumpkin-Maple: Stir 1 cup pumpkin purée and 1 tsp pumpkin-pie spice into the oat base (reduce yogurt slightly if needed).
- Chocolate-Pecan: Add 3 tbsp cocoa powder to the oat base and fold in ½ cup dark chocolate chips.
- Nut-Free: Use toasted sunflower seeds or toasted oats as the crunchy layer and topping.
- Lighter: Use low-fat Greek yogurt and skim milk to reduce calories.
