Birthday Cake Overnight Oats

Name: Birthday Cake Overnight Oats
Total time: 270 min
Ingredients: 2 cups old-fashioned oats; 1 ½ cups milk; 2 cups vanilla yogurt; 2 tbsp sugar; 1 tsp vanilla extract; ¼ cup confetti sprinkles (+ more for decorating); birthday candles (optional)

By: Cayla Gallagher

Published: January, 17 2018 Last Updated: June, 5 2023

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You’ve probably heard of or seen the whole overnight oats craze that started some years ago. And for good reason; it’s a great on-the-go healthy breakfast! It’s so easy to make – mix some oats and milk, add in your favorite toppings (my go-tos are bananas, walnuts, and chocolate chips, sometimes with a dollop of peanut butter on top 😋), pop it in the fridge the night before, and you have breakfast waiting for you the next morning!

There are many different toppings that you can use for overnight oats, but you know me – I love a fun spin on things. Let me introduce you to birthday cake overnight oats! This overnight oats recipe turns boring oats into a colorful, yummy dessert that you can treat yourself to any day. Who says birthday cakes are only for birthdays?

Recipe Ingredients

This recipe for birthday cake overnight oats call for:

Oats – Old-fashioned rolled oats are best for making overnight oats as it soaks up liquids the easiest.
Milk – I use whole milk, but you can use your favorite milk!
Vanilla yogurt – This will give you a rich, creamy texture that’s similar to cake.
Vanilla extract – A teaspoon of this gives our oats that “birthday cake” flavor!
Sugar – I add just a couple of tablespoons to sweeten it.
Confetti sprinkles – Your overnight oats won’t just taste like cake, it’ll look like it, too!
Birthday candles – Obviously optional, but I recommend it to complete the whole “birthday cake” idea. You could even make a wish and blow the candles out for the full experience.

How to Make Birthday Cake Overnight Oats

Combine the oats, milk, yogurt, sugar, vanilla extract, and ¼ cup confetti sprinkles.
Pour into an airtight container or 4 mason jars and place in the fridge for 4 hours, or overnight, until the oats have softened and absorbed the liquid.
Divide into bowls, top with extra sprinkles, and a candle. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Old-fashioned rolled oats are the best type of oats to use for overnight oats because they can easily soak up the liquid. Steel-cut oats work (they are known to have some pretty good health benefits!), but they’ll end up with a chewy, crunchy texture. Want to make this carb-free? Replace the oats with chia seeds for a chia seed pudding!

This recipe can easily be a dairy-free one. Switch out whole milk for alternatives such as soy, almond, cashew, or other nut milk. You could even use oat milk if you’re an oat lover – the creaminess of oat milk pairs well with its solid form. Use a dairy-free yogurt alternative (there are many different plant-based options that you should be able to find at your grocery store) or substitute it for coconut milk or cream.

For a slightly healthier version of this birthday cake overnight oats, leave out the sugar, and opt for maple syrup or honey instead.

The great thing about overnight oats is that you can add any toppings you want! You can use my recipe as a base recipe and add in your own favorites, like nuts, seeds, dried fruit, nut butter, chocolate, and more! If you want to have some crunch, add in the nuts and seeds only after you’ve soaked the oats. Please let me know if you do try your own fun toppings!

How to Store Leftovers

Whether you’re making a bigger portion or have leftovers, store any extras you have in mason jars or an airtight container. Overnight oats can be stored and sealed in the refrigerator for 5 days.

What is the point of overnight oats? Do you eat them cold?

Not only are overnight oats an easy grab-and-go breakfast, they also typically taste better than cooked oats. Why? That’s because the oats are hydrated – since it’s left in liquids for hours – which allows more flavors to get soaked up. Yum! So if you’re looking for an easier, more convenient, and tastier way of eating oats, this is for you!
Overnight oats are typically eaten cold, but they can be popped into the microwave if you prefer them warm.

Why do you leave oats overnight?

Soaking the oats overnight replaces the typical cooking process. It breaks down starch and acid in the oats and increases nutrient absorption, making it easier to eat and digest.

Do overnight oats swell?

Unlike cooked oats that swell when heated and double in volume, overnight oats absorb water and soften rather than expand, only increasing about 25% in volume.

Why are my overnight oats slimy?

Don’t panic if your overnight oats get a little slimy! It’s normal for the starches in the oats to release liquid over time. You can use a ratio of 1:1 milk and oats to make it thicker and avoid an overly slimy texture.

This birthday cake overnight oats recipe contains yogurt and less milk, which helps reduce the sliminess and make it nice and creamy instead. You can also add dry toppings like nuts and leave them overnight so it is less slimy.

How long are overnight oats good for?

Overnight oats in airtight containers keep well in the fridge for up to five days. You’re good to make a bigger batch of overnight oats and have it for days! I sometimes portion the oats in mason jars and use different toppings so I have different flavors throughout the week. Win!