• Adjust Servings. The Base Recipe makes one jar. To prepare more than one jar, use the slider next to the servings above and select the desired number of servings. Note, this will increase the Base Ingredients, but the Variation measurements will stay consistent for one jar/serving. This way, each jar can be a different variation as shown - yum!
• Mix the Base Ingredients. If making a single serving, stir the ingredients together in a 16-ounce mason jar (or bowl). These are the exact ones pictured. If making more than one serving, stir the Base Recipe ingredients together in a large bowl; then either soak in the bowl or divide between jars.
• Add Mix-Ins. Stir in desired mix-ins such as peanut butter or cocoa powder. If your fruit stores well, like pineapple, then you can mix it in now. If your topping is perishable or won’t keep well, like bananas or nuts, then reserve it for topping after soaking. (You can still prep any toppings and store them separately.)
• Soak. Cover and refrigerate the oats for at least 5 hours, but overnight is preferred, to achieve the creamiest texture. The oats can be stored for up to 5 days, but are best within the first 1-3 days.
• Adjust the consistency. If desired, thin with a bit of milk (the oats will get thicker the longer they stay in the fridge).
• Warm or don’t. To serve warm, microwave for 60 seconds, stir, then heat at 20-second intervals if desired.
• Add Toppings. Top with your favorite fruits and nuts and either stir or dig right in!

VARIATIONS

• Tropical Paradise: Use carton coconut milk (the kind sold as a beverage) as the base (optional), cream, and mix in one tablespoon of cream of coconut (NOT coconut cream, see notes) into the base. Top with pineapple and/or mango, shredded coconut, and crushed macadamia nuts or cashews.
• Berry Bliss: After soaking, mix in 1-2 tablespoons of strawberry, raspberry, or blackberry jam. Top with mixed berries, sliced almonds, and lemon zest.
• Cinnamon Apple Peanut Butter: Mix in 2 tablespoons of peanut butter and ¼ teaspoon extra cinnamon into the base. Top with apple chunks, crushed peanuts, and chocolate chunks or cocoa nibs.
• Chocolate Raspberry: Mix in 1 ½ tablespoons of cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon of extra honey or maple syrup into the base. After soaking, stir in 1-2 tablespoons of raspberry jam and top with raspberries, chocolate chunks, and chopped pecans.
• Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter: Mix in 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, 1½ tablespoons of cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon of honey or maple syrup, and ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon into the base. Top with sliced bananas, walnuts, and chocolate chunks.
• Blackberry Peach Crisp: Mix in dashes of nutmeg and additional ground cinnamon into the base. Top with chopped peaches, blackberries (or raspberries), and granola or sliced almonds.
• Peanut Butter and Jelly: Mix in 2-3 tablespoons of peanut butter into the base. After soaking, mix in 1-2 tablespoons of strawberry or raspberry jam and top with berries and crushed peanuts.
• Pumpkin Spice: Mix in 3 tablespoons pumpkin puree, 1 tablespoon extra maple, 1/4 teaspoon extra ground cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger, and a tiny pinch of ground cloves into the base before soaking. Top with optional pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, and cocoa nibs or chocolate chunks.